Kentucky Plumber License Renewal (HBC)

Last reviewed October 2026 · 5 min read

Kentucky's Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction (HBC) licenses master and journeyman plumbers, and plumbing licenses renew every year: by the last day of your birth month. You send proof of 6 hours of continuing education with the renewal and, as a master plumber, proof of at least $250,000 in general liability insurance. Miss the date and you pay a small revival fee; go 180 days without renewing and the license is canceled.

At a glance

Renews every: Year: master and journeyman plumber licenses expire on the last day of your birth month, every year
Fee: $250 for a master plumber; $60 for a journeyman plumber
Continuing education: 6 hours of approved CE, earned in the 12 months before renewal, in business, job safety, the Kentucky State Plumbing Code or the plumbing trade. No more than 2 hours of safety practices and procedures per 12 months count. Holding both a master and a journeyman plumber license, you complete the hours for one of them
First renewal: No CE is due for your first renewal if your license was issued within 12 months of it
Extra hours: Hours beyond the requirement carry forward into the next two educational years, up to 12 hours in total
Renewal notice: HBC sends a renewal notice to your last known address no later than 30 days before your license expires
Renew: Online in the HBC Online Licensing portal (a license shows there for renewal within 60 days of expiration), or with the paper Licensing Renewal Application, Form DHBC L-1, with proof of your CE
Master plumber insurance: Before a master plumber license is renewed, send proof of general liability insurance of at least $250,000 and of compliance with workers' compensation and unemployment insurance laws, as a certificate listing HBC as the certificate holder. The license isn't valid without the insurance, and insurers must tell HBC when a policy is canceled
Late renewal: After the license expires, you can still renew with the renewal fee, a revival fee ($5 for a master plumber, $3 for a journeyman; Form DHBC L-1 calls it a late fee) and proof of your CE
After 180 days: A license whose renewal and revival fees aren't paid within 180 days after it expires is canceled automatically. You can reinstate it by paying all the renewal fees you missed plus a $10 (master) or $6 (journeyman) revival fee
Inactive status: Going inactive costs $125 for a master plumber or $30 for a journeyman, and an inactive plumber can't do the work of that license (an inactive master can't pull permits). No CE is due while inactive; to reactivate, meet all the renewal requirements, including 6 CE hours from the 12 months before, and pay a $125 or $30 reactivation fee

A first license's fee may be prorated, and it still expires at the end of your birth month: check the date on your license.

The insurance requirement (general liability, workers' comp and unemployment) doesn't apply to an employee of a person, firm or corporation engaged in plumbing.

How to renew

Check your license's expiration date: the last day of your birth month.
Finish 6 hours of approved CE in the 12 months before renewal (no more than 2 of safety practices and procedures).
Master plumbers: get a current certificate of general liability insurance (at least $250,000), with proof of workers' comp and unemployment insurance compliance, listing HBC as the certificate holder.
Renew in the HBC Online Licensing portal once the license shows there (within 60 days of expiration), or mail Form DHBC L-1, and pay $250 (master) or $60 (journeyman).
Missed the date? Renew with the revival fee ($5 master, $3 journeyman), plus the renewal fee and CE proof, before 180 days pass: after that the license is canceled automatically.

Still tracking this in a spreadsheet? On a paid plan, get emailed 90, 60, 30, 7 and 1 days before it expires, by default.

Start free

Deadline checklist

3 months outCheck your expiration date (end of your birth month) and book the CE hours you still need with an approved provider.
60 days outThe license appears for renewal in the HBC Online Licensing portal. Master plumbers: get an insurance certificate listing HBC as certificate holder.
30 days outHBC's renewal notice is due by now. Renew online or mail Form DHBC L-1 with your CE proof and the fee ($250 master, $60 journeyman).
Expiration dateMissed it? Renew with the revival fee ($5 or $3). After 180 days, the license is canceled.

Put this renewal in your calendar

Know your expiration date? Download a free calendar file with reminders before it, no sign-up needed. It's made in your browser: nothing you type is sent to us (your browser keeps it only if you follow the sign-up link, for your new ledger). A Google Calendar button sends just that one event to Google.

The file covers one date: once you renew, make a new one. How to add it to your calendar

The license isn't the only thing expiring

Most lapses that cost contractors work aren't the license itself. They're one of these, renewing on a different date:

Master plumbers: the general liability insurance HBC must have on file (insurers report a cancellation to HBC)
Your yearly CE hours
General liability insurance policy
Workers' compensation policy (or exemption)
Certificates of insurance (COIs) you've given to clients and GCs
Commercial auto insurance

LicenseLedger keeps every one of those dates in one place and emails you before each one expires, with reminders far enough ahead to finish CE and paperwork.

Track your renewal dates free

Frequently asked questions

How often do you renew a Kentucky plumber license?

Every year: master and journeyman plumber licenses expire on the last day of your birth month, every year.

How much does it cost to renew a Kentucky plumber license?

$250 for a master plumber and $60 for a journeyman plumber. Renewing after the license expires adds a revival fee: $5 for a master plumber, $3 for a journeyman.

How many CE hours do Kentucky plumbers need?

6 hours of approved CE, earned in the 12 months before renewal, in business, job safety, the Kentucky State Plumbing Code or the plumbing trade. No more than 2 hours of safety practices and procedures per 12 months count.

What insurance does a Kentucky master plumber need to renew?

Proof of general liability insurance of at least $250,000 and of compliance with workers' compensation and unemployment insurance laws, as a certificate listing HBC as the certificate holder.

What happens if my Kentucky plumber license expires?

You can still renew with the renewal fee, a revival fee ($5 for a master plumber, $3 for a journeyman) and proof of your CE. A license whose fees aren't paid within 180 days after it expires is canceled automatically; you can reinstate it by paying all the renewal fees you missed plus a $10 (master) or $6 (journeyman) revival fee.

Official sources

Rules, fees and CE requirements change. Confirm the current requirements with the official source before you renew:

Kentucky Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction (HBC), eServices

This guide is general information, not legal advice.

Other Kentucky guides

All Kentucky guides on one page

Plumber guides for other states

Get a reminder before this renewal is due

Add this license, your insurance policies and the COIs you collect from subs to LicenseLedger, and get an email before each one expires. Free for up to 3 records, no credit card required.

Start free

How LicenseLedger works for plumbers

Not ready to sign up? Get the free tracking spreadsheet

Kentucky Plumber License Renewal (HBC)

Last reviewed October 2026 · 5 min read

At a glance

Renews every: Year: master and journeyman plumber licenses expire on the last day of your birth month, every year
Fee: $250 for a master plumber; $60 for a journeyman plumber
Continuing education: 6 hours of approved CE, earned in the 12 months before renewal, in business, job safety, the Kentucky State Plumbing Code or the plumbing trade. No more than 2 hours of safety practices and procedures per 12 months count. Holding both a master and a journeyman plumber license, you complete the hours for one of them
First renewal: No CE is due for your first renewal if your license was issued within 12 months of it
Extra hours: Hours beyond the requirement carry forward into the next two educational years, up to 12 hours in total
Renewal notice: HBC sends a renewal notice to your last known address no later than 30 days before your license expires
Renew: Online in the HBC Online Licensing portal (a license shows there for renewal within 60 days of expiration), or with the paper Licensing Renewal Application, Form DHBC L-1, with proof of your CE
Master plumber insurance: Before a master plumber license is renewed, send proof of general liability insurance of at least $250,000 and of compliance with workers' compensation and unemployment insurance laws, as a certificate listing HBC as the certificate holder. The license isn't valid without the insurance, and insurers must tell HBC when a policy is canceled
Late renewal: After the license expires, you can still renew with the renewal fee, a revival fee ($5 for a master plumber, $3 for a journeyman; Form DHBC L-1 calls it a late fee) and proof of your CE
After 180 days: A license whose renewal and revival fees aren't paid within 180 days after it expires is canceled automatically. You can reinstate it by paying all the renewal fees you missed plus a $10 (master) or $6 (journeyman) revival fee
Inactive status: Going inactive costs $125 for a master plumber or $30 for a journeyman, and an inactive plumber can't do the work of that license (an inactive master can't pull permits). No CE is due while inactive; to reactivate, meet all the renewal requirements, including 6 CE hours from the 12 months before, and pay a $125 or $30 reactivation fee

A first license's fee may be prorated, and it still expires at the end of your birth month: check the date on your license.

The insurance requirement (general liability, workers' comp and unemployment) doesn't apply to an employee of a person, firm or corporation engaged in plumbing.

How to renew

Check your license's expiration date: the last day of your birth month.
Finish 6 hours of approved CE in the 12 months before renewal (no more than 2 of safety practices and procedures).
Master plumbers: get a current certificate of general liability insurance (at least $250,000), with proof of workers' comp and unemployment insurance compliance, listing HBC as the certificate holder.
Renew in the HBC Online Licensing portal once the license shows there (within 60 days of expiration), or mail Form DHBC L-1, and pay $250 (master) or $60 (journeyman).
Missed the date? Renew with the revival fee ($5 master, $3 journeyman), plus the renewal fee and CE proof, before 180 days pass: after that the license is canceled automatically.

Still tracking this in a spreadsheet? On a paid plan, get emailed 90, 60, 30, 7 and 1 days before it expires, by default.

Start free

Deadline checklist

3 months outCheck your expiration date (end of your birth month) and book the CE hours you still need with an approved provider.
60 days outThe license appears for renewal in the HBC Online Licensing portal. Master plumbers: get an insurance certificate listing HBC as certificate holder.
30 days outHBC's renewal notice is due by now. Renew online or mail Form DHBC L-1 with your CE proof and the fee ($250 master, $60 journeyman).
Expiration dateMissed it? Renew with the revival fee ($5 or $3). After 180 days, the license is canceled.

Put this renewal in your calendar

The file covers one date: once you renew, make a new one. How to add it to your calendar

The license isn't the only thing expiring

Most lapses that cost contractors work aren't the license itself. They're one of these, renewing on a different date:

Master plumbers: the general liability insurance HBC must have on file (insurers report a cancellation to HBC)
Your yearly CE hours
General liability insurance policy
Workers' compensation policy (or exemption)
Certificates of insurance (COIs) you've given to clients and GCs
Commercial auto insurance

LicenseLedger keeps every one of those dates in one place and emails you before each one expires, with reminders far enough ahead to finish CE and paperwork.

Track your renewal dates free

Frequently asked questions

How often do you renew a Kentucky plumber license?

Every year: master and journeyman plumber licenses expire on the last day of your birth month, every year.

How much does it cost to renew a Kentucky plumber license?

$250 for a master plumber and $60 for a journeyman plumber. Renewing after the license expires adds a revival fee: $5 for a master plumber, $3 for a journeyman.

How many CE hours do Kentucky plumbers need?

What insurance does a Kentucky master plumber need to renew?

Proof of general liability insurance of at least $250,000 and of compliance with workers' compensation and unemployment insurance laws, as a certificate listing HBC as the certificate holder.

What happens if my Kentucky plumber license expires?

Official sources

Rules, fees and CE requirements change. Confirm the current requirements with the official source before you renew:

Kentucky Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction (HBC), eServices

This guide is general information, not legal advice.

Other Kentucky guides

All Kentucky guides on one page

Plumber guides for other states

Get a reminder before this renewal is due

Add this license, your insurance policies and the COIs you collect from subs to LicenseLedger, and get an email before each one expires. Free for up to 3 records, no credit card required.

Start free

How LicenseLedger works for plumbers

Not ready to sign up? Get the free tracking spreadsheet