STATE LICENSE
RequiredMichigan LARA — Bureau of Construction Co…
Article 11 of the Skilled Trades Regulation Act makes plumbing a fully state-licensed trade: only a licensed master or journey plumber may perform plumbing, a master plumber must be in charge, and no plumbing may proceed until the responsible plumbing contractor obtains a permit (MCL 339.6107(1)).
The Plumbing Contractor license requires holding a master plumber license or employing a master plumber as your representative; the contractor and master are jointly and severally responsible for compliance. Journey plumbers sit both a PSI written exam and a hands-on practical exam that LARA schedules at fixed dates — and they fill up months ahead.
The state sets the license floor; the county or city permit office controls filing, inspections, and local rules wherever the job site sits.
Plumbing licenses are state-issued; permits and inspections come from the state or the local governmental subdivision authorized to issue them. The permit must be pulled by the responsible plumbing contractor (MCL 339.6107(1)).
The local offices section below names the exact permit desk for every Michigan 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.
LARA's journey practical exams run on fixed dates (one per day, capped at 50–100 candidates); every 2026 date through October was at capacity, and none are scheduled for December 2026 or January 2027.
A plumbing contractor and its representing master plumber are jointly and severally responsible for supervision and code compliance (MCL 339.6111(5)).
Installing a building sewer or water service pipe needs no plumbing license if a permit is secured and inspections are performed (MCL 339.6107(2)(b)).
A practical sequence for a new plumbing contractor in Michigan. 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.
Practicing a skilled trade without the required license: first offense misdemeanor (up to $500 or 90 days); second offense misdemeanor (up to $1,000 or 1 year); third or subsequent offense a felony.
License limitation, suspension, denial, revocation, restitution, censure, or probation.
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 October 2026.
Pending verification: Journey plumber experience hours and individual license / renewal fees · Plumbing license renewal cycle and any continuing-education requirement · PSI written exam fee amount · Whether lawn-irrigation piping downstream of a backflow preventer requires a plumbing license
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.