STATE LICENSE
RequiredOregon Building Codes Division — State Pl…
ORS 447.040 bars anyone from working or advertising as a plumbing contractor — or laying out or superintending plumbing installations — without a plumbing contractor license issued under State Plumbing Board rules. BCD issues it as the Plumbing Business (PB) license, and BCD contractor licensees must also keep an active CCB license.
The labor layer is separate: ORS 693.030 requires a journeyman plumber license to work at the trade, and makes it a violation for a plumbing contractor to let an unlicensed person work as a journeyman or bill an apprentice at journeyman rates. Apprentices may work only under a licensed journeyman's supervision (ORS 693.040).
The state sets the license floor; the county or city permit office controls filing, inspections, and local rules wherever the job site sits.
Plumbing permits and inspections run through the city or county program or BCD. Locals may not add a contractor license on top of state licensure (ORS 701.325(6)); permits issue only to properly licensed contractors.
The local offices section below names the exact permit desk for every Oregon 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.
ORS 447.060 exempts plumbing not done for hire and regular employees working on their employer's own property — never contract work.
Charging a journeyman wage for an apprentice's work, or passing an apprentice off as a journeyman, is a violation of ORS 693.030(2).
Any CCB licensee may install a building sewer (starting five feet outside the building) after obtaining a plumbing permit (ORS 701.348).
A practical sequence for a new plumbing contractor in Oregon. 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.
Violating the plumbing contractor or journeyman licensing statutes exposes the business to State Plumbing Board civil penalties.
Undertaking, offering to undertake, or bidding construction work for compensation without a current CCB license violates ORS 701.021 — a crime, not just a licensing infraction.
A contractor that was not licensed and properly endorsed when it bid or contracted, and continuously while working, may not perfect a construction lien, file a CCB complaint, or sue or arbitrate for payment.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Multnomah County Portland | City of Portland — Portland Permitting & Development ↗ Unincorporated: Multnomah County Land Use Planning (Department of Community Services) ↗ | Development Hub PDX (DevHub) ↗ |
| Lane County Eugene | City of Eugene — Planning and Development, Building and Permit Services ↗ Unincorporated: Lane County Public Works — Land Management Division, Building Program ↗ | eBuild |
| Marion County Salem | City of Salem — Permit Application Center (Building and Safety Division) ↗ Unincorporated: Marion County Public Works — Building Inspection ↗ | Permit Application Center Portal |
| Deschutes County Bend | City of Bend — Community Development, Building Safety Division ↗ Unincorporated: Deschutes County Community Development — Building Safety ↗ | Online Permit Center Portal (CityView) |
| Jackson County Medford | City of Medford — Building Safety Department ↗ Unincorporated: Jackson County Development Services — Building Division ↗ | ProjectDox ↗ |
Every fact in this file was checked against these official sources on October 2026.
Pending verification: Plumbing business fee of $150 is from BCD Form 440-2888 (revision 1/15); a newer fee schedule may apply · Journeyman plumber apprenticeship hours, license fee, term, and CE hours (set by State Plumbing Board rules; not 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.