STATE LICENSE
RequiredVermont Plumber's Examining Board — Divis…
26 V.S.A. § 2198 requires all plumbing and specialty work in Vermont to be performed by persons licensed under chapter 39, administered by the Plumber's Examining Board within the Department of Public Safety. A journeyman needs an apprenticeship verified by the Vermont Apprenticeship Council (or equivalent) and an exam; a master needs 12 months as a licensed journeyman (or equivalent) and an exam, and is the license that runs a plumbing business and employs plumbers. Specialist licenses cover water heaters, hydronic heating systems, and water treatment only. Licenses run two years at $120 (master), $90 (journeyman), or $50 (specialist), and renewal requires 8 hours of approved instruction in the prior 24 months plus the Vermont Energy Goals module.
The Plumbing Rules apply to all public buildings and to every building connected to a public water or sewer system; in covered installations, work cannot start until the Division of Fire Safety validates a work notice ($10 per fixture with a $50 minimum, $15 per water heater or hydronic unit). Exceptions include an owner's work in an owner-occupied freestanding single-family home. Unlicensed plumbing is fined up to $1,000 per offense (§ 2197), and the Commissioner may assess administrative penalties up to $1,000 per violation (§ 2175(d)).
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 issued only by the state. Work notices and inspections come from the Division of Fire Safety unless the Commissioner has assigned inspections to a town (26 V.S.A. § 2174); municipal standards must at least equal state standards and may exceed them only with Plumber's Examining Board approval, and town inspection fees replace the state fees.
The local offices section below names the exact permit desk for every Vermont 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.
The license requirement applies statewide (§ 2198); the plumbing code applies to public buildings and buildings on public water or sewer (§ 2173(a)).
The Division of Fire Safety points plumbing license applicants to the International Code Council for testing; exam fees are paid to the testing service.
Vermont limits plumbing solder and flux to 0.2% lead and fixture wetted surfaces to a 0.25% weighted average.
A practical sequence for a new plumbing contractor in Vermont. 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.
Installing plumbing or specialty work, or advertising it, without the appropriate license, or employing an unlicensed person.
Violations of the chapter or an order, by licensed or unlicensed persons.
Fraud, gross negligence, incompetency, misconduct, or rule violations.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Chittenden County Burlington (consolidated gov.) | City of Burlington Department of Permitting & Inspections ↗ | Burlington OpenGov Permitting Portal ↗ |
Every fact in this file was checked against these official sources on October 2026.
Pending verification: Plumbing exam fees charged by the testing service · Apprenticeship hour requirements for the journeyman exam (set by the Vermont Apprenticeship Council program, 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.