STATE LICENSE
RequiredMassachusetts Board of State Examiners of…
M.G.L. c. 142, § 3 prohibits engaging in business as a master plumber, or working as a journeyman or apprentice plumber, without a license — and also bars advertising regulated work without one. Licenses run two years and renew on or before May 1 (c. 142, § 6); the Board opens renewals February 1 of each even-numbered year. Journeyman and master plumbers complete 12 hours of approved continuing education per renewal; gas fitters complete 6.
Current Board fees: journeyman plumber $31 application + $52 license; master plumber $31 application + $78 license; renewals $52 (journeyman) and $78 (master); corporation or partnership renewal $225; late renewals add $57. Plumbing businesses organized as corporations or LLCs must name a licensed master plumber as an officer or manager. The Uniform State Plumbing Code, 248 CMR 10.00, was amended effective December 8, 2023.
The state sets the license floor; the county or city permit office controls filing, inspections, and local rules wherever the job site sits.
Licensing is statewide and licenses are valid throughout the Commonwealth (c. 142, § 6); local plumbing and gas inspectors issue permits and inspect under 248 CMR.
The local offices section below names the exact permit desk for every Massachusetts 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 October 2026. Local permit fees vary by project and jurisdiction — the basis is stated where a flat number does not exist.
All plumber and gas fitter licenses renew on one statewide cycle: renewal opens February 1 of each even-numbered year and closes May 1.
Gas fitting has its own master/journeyman/apprentice licenses (master gas fitter renewal $97); a plumbing license alone does not cover gas piping.
248 CMR 10.00 amendments took effect December 8, 2023 and apply to jobs permitted on or after that date.
A practical sequence for a new plumbing contractor in Massachusetts. 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.
Working or doing business as a plumber or gas fitter without a license, or a master employing unlicensed journeymen or apprentices.
The examiners may suspend or revoke a license for violating plumbing or gas fitting law, failing to follow Board rules, or other sufficient cause.
Inside city limits, the city office listed here issues the permit; the county office serves unincorporated areas. Every office links to its official page.
| County · City | Permit office | Portal |
|---|---|---|
| Hampden County Springfield (consolidated gov.) | City of Springfield Department of Code Enforcement — Building Division ↗ | Springfield Building Permit Lookups (OpenGov) ↗ |
| Suffolk County Boston (consolidated gov.) | City of Boston Inspectional Services Department (ISD) ↗ | ISD Online Permits and Licenses ↗ |
Every fact in this file was checked against these official sources on October 2026.
Pending verification: Required apprenticeship hours and theory-school hours for journeyman and master plumber eligibility (set in 248 CMR, not retrieved) · PSI exam fees for plumbing exams · Initial plumbing business certificate fee (only the $225 renewal was retrieved)
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.