STATE LICENSE
RequiredDivision of Master and Journeyman Plumber…
Georgia licenses plumbers individually through the Division of Master and Journeyman Plumbers of the State Construction Industry Licensing Board. Journeymen work under masters; Class I Masters are limited to single-family homes, one-level two-family dwellings, and commercial buildings up to 10,000 square feet; Class II Masters are unrestricted.
The business rule is the one that trips people: a journeyman cannot run a plumbing company. Operating a plumbing business requires a Master Plumber license. Georgia offers no plumbing reciprocity with any state.
The state sets the license floor; the county or city permit office controls filing, inspections, and local rules wherever the job site sits.
The license is expressly statewide; local offices issue plumbing permits and inspections per job. Under § 43-14-13, irrigation backflow preventers are licensed-plumber work even though downstream sprinkler piping is open.
The local offices section below names the exact permit desk for every Georgia county on file.
Each row names the issuing authority, cost, timeline, citation, and status behind the requirement — verified against the official source.
Published fees from the issuing authorities, as of September 2026. Local permit fees vary by project and jurisdiction — the basis is stated where a flat number does not exist.
A plumbing business must be operated by a licensed Master Plumber — a journeyman card alone cannot anchor a company.
The division's FAQ is blunt: no plumbing reciprocity with any state. Out-of-state plumbers take the Georgia exam.
Under § 43-14-13, only a licensed plumber may install an irrigation backflow preventer — steady sub work from landscapers.
A practical sequence for a new plumbing contractor in Georgia. Actual agency processing times are noted in the ledger above.
Each item names the issuing authority, cycle, and citation.
Statutory consequences with their citations — not estimates, not “commonly cited” guesses.
Plumbing services may not legally be performed without an active license.
A plumbing company operating without a licensed Master Plumber is out of compliance with the division's rules.
Local offices enforce permit requirements independent of state licensure.
Inside city limits, the city office listed here issues the permit; the county office serves unincorporated areas. Every office links to its official page.
Every fact in this file was checked against these official sources on September 2026.
Pending verification: PSI exam fee (set at registration, not published officially) · Journeyman experience requirement — the FAQ says 1 year, the official application says 3 years; both are official sources · Whether the GOALS-era application fee is now $110 like electrical/HVAC — the plumber guide shows no amount
General information, not legal advice. Always confirm requirements, deadlines, and forms with the issuing authority before filing or contracting.
Store licenses, permits, policies, and renewal dates in one place.