Philadelphia Plumber License Renewal (L&I)

Last reviewed October 2026 · 5 min read

Philadelphia's Department of Licenses and Inspections (L&I) says plumbing work needs to be done by a licensed master plumber, and issues three plumbing licenses: Master Plumber, Journeyman Plumber and Plumber Apprentice. All three must be renewed every year, online through eCLIPSE or in person at the Permit and License Center. Renewal costs $253 for a master plumber, $126 for a journeyman and $25 for an apprentice. A master plumber must be current on City taxes to renew, and an apprentice files proof of continued employment. Renewing more than 60 days after the due date adds 1.5% of the license fee for each month since the license expired.

At a glance

Who needs which: L&I says plumbing work needs to be done by a licensed master plumber, and individual plumbers can apply for the Master Plumber license. A Journeyman Plumber license allows you to do plumbing work under a licensed master plumber, and an apprentice performs plumbing work as an employee of a licensed master plumber. Neither the journeyman nor the apprentice license allows you to operate a business
Plumbing work: The construction, alteration, or repair of drainage, cesspools, traps, waste vents, water piping, and fixtures attached to plumbing elements, excluding gas or electric heaters
Renews every: Every year: L&I says each of the three licenses must be renewed annually
Renewal fee: $253 for a Master Plumber, $126 for a Journeyman Plumber and $25 for a Plumber Apprentice
Late renewal: If you renew more than 60 days after the due date, L&I charges 1.5% of the license fee for each month since the license expired
What renewal asks for: Master Plumber: you must be current on City of Philadelphia taxes. Plumber Apprentice: federal tax records showing continued employment and a statement of employment confirming apprenticeship, and you must notify L&I of any change in employment
How to renew: Online through eCLIPSE, or in person at the Permit and License Center (1401 John F. Kennedy Blvd., MSB, Public Service Concourse, Philadelphia, PA 19102), where you need an appointment. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, closing at noon on the last Wednesday of each month
Linking your license in eCLIPSE: To add an existing trade license to your eCLIPSE account, L&I asks for the license number and the Online Identification Number listed on your renewal invoice
Master plumber insurance: A certificate of insurance showing at least $500,000 per occurrence of general liability (including products and completed operations), $300,000 of automobile liability, and workers' compensation with $100,000 per accident, $100,000 per employee and a $500,000 policy limit
Certificate of insurance: L&I's instructions for the ACORD 25 certificate name the City of Philadelphia, Department of Licenses & Inspections, 1401 John F. Kennedy Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19102 as certificate holder, and ask for the Commercial General Liability and Occur boxes to be selected. For automobile liability a declarations page from the insurer with the minimum amounts is accepted instead
No employees: If all the contracting work is done by you as the sole proprietor, a business partner or a corporate officer, L&I's instructions ask for a notarized statement or a State Workers' Insurance Fund (SWIF) certificate attesting that you have no employees in place of workers' compensation. If you hire employees, you must update your license with workers' compensation
On a permit: A licensed master plumber must oversee plumbing work under a Plumbing Permit, and must have an active license, be current on all City of Philadelphia taxes and have current insurance on file with L&I
Deactivating a master license: A master plumber may temporarily deactivate the license by submitting a request to L&I online or by calling 311. While it's deactivated, all business operations must stop and all advertisements must be removed, and the plumber's journeyman license is reactivated
Safety training: The OSHA 30 supervisor requirement for Philadelphia's general Contractor License does not apply to plumbing contractors. Workers on a construction or demolition site, trades contractors included, complete OSHA 10 Construction (or an approved alternative), with proof kept on the job site; L&I's exceptions include delivery people, design professionals and their staff, special inspectors, and workers who aren't doing permit-regulated construction or demolition
Other City requirements: L&I lists a Business Income and Receipts Tax (BIRT) ID and a Commercial Activity License among the Master Plumber license's requirements
Contact: Submit an online request to 311 or call 311; from outside Philadelphia, call (215) 686-8686

L&I's pages for these three licenses don't list continuing education. The rules behind them are in the Philadelphia Code (Title 9-1003 and 9-1004), so check with L&I before assuming nothing else applies.

Your insurance matters all year: L&I says every contractor named on a construction permit must have current insurance on file with it.

Also doing work that isn't plumbing? Philadelphia's general Contractor License has its own renewal: see the Philadelphia contractor license guide.

How to renew

Master plumbers: check you're current on City of Philadelphia taxes, which renewal requires. To keep pulling permits, also make sure L&I has a current certificate of insurance with the City of Philadelphia, Department of Licenses & Inspections as certificate holder.
Apprentices: gather federal tax records showing continued employment and a statement of employment confirming your apprenticeship.
Renew online through eCLIPSE, or book an appointment at the Permit and License Center, and pay the renewal fee: $253 for a master plumber, $126 for a journeyman, $25 for an apprentice.

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

Before the due dateMaster plumbers: settle any City taxes, which renewal requires. Apprentices: get your statement of employment confirming your apprenticeship.
By the due dateRenew through eCLIPSE and pay the fee. More than 60 days late adds 1.5% of the license fee for each month since it expired.
When a policy renewsMake sure L&I has a current certificate on file, naming the City of Philadelphia, Department of Licenses & Inspections as certificate holder.
If you change employersApprentices: notify L&I of the change in employment.

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:

The insurance policies behind the master plumber's certificate L&I has on file
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 I renew a Philadelphia plumber license?

Every year: L&I says each of the three licenses must be renewed annually. Renewal costs $253 for a Master Plumber, $126 for a Journeyman Plumber and $25 for a Plumber Apprentice.

What insurance does a Philadelphia master plumber need?

A certificate of insurance showing at least $500,000 per occurrence of general liability (including products and completed operations), $300,000 of automobile liability, and workers' compensation with $100,000 per accident, $100,000 per employee and a $500,000 policy limit.

Can a journeyman plumber run a business in Philadelphia?

No. A Journeyman Plumber license allows you to do plumbing work under a licensed master plumber, and it doesn't allow you to operate a business.

What if I renew my Philadelphia plumber license late?

If you renew more than 60 days after the due date, L&I charges 1.5% of the license fee for each month since the license expired.

Official sources

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

City of Philadelphia Department of Licenses and Inspections (L&I), Master Plumber's License

This guide is general information, not legal advice.

Other Pennsylvania guides

All Pennsylvania 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

Philadelphia Plumber License Renewal (L&I)

Last reviewed October 2026 · 5 min read

At a glance

Who needs which: L&I says plumbing work needs to be done by a licensed master plumber, and individual plumbers can apply for the Master Plumber license. A Journeyman Plumber license allows you to do plumbing work under a licensed master plumber, and an apprentice performs plumbing work as an employee of a licensed master plumber. Neither the journeyman nor the apprentice license allows you to operate a business
Plumbing work: The construction, alteration, or repair of drainage, cesspools, traps, waste vents, water piping, and fixtures attached to plumbing elements, excluding gas or electric heaters
Renews every: Every year: L&I says each of the three licenses must be renewed annually
Renewal fee: $253 for a Master Plumber, $126 for a Journeyman Plumber and $25 for a Plumber Apprentice
Late renewal: If you renew more than 60 days after the due date, L&I charges 1.5% of the license fee for each month since the license expired
What renewal asks for: Master Plumber: you must be current on City of Philadelphia taxes. Plumber Apprentice: federal tax records showing continued employment and a statement of employment confirming apprenticeship, and you must notify L&I of any change in employment
How to renew: Online through eCLIPSE, or in person at the Permit and License Center (1401 John F. Kennedy Blvd., MSB, Public Service Concourse, Philadelphia, PA 19102), where you need an appointment. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, closing at noon on the last Wednesday of each month
Linking your license in eCLIPSE: To add an existing trade license to your eCLIPSE account, L&I asks for the license number and the Online Identification Number listed on your renewal invoice
Master plumber insurance: A certificate of insurance showing at least $500,000 per occurrence of general liability (including products and completed operations), $300,000 of automobile liability, and workers' compensation with $100,000 per accident, $100,000 per employee and a $500,000 policy limit
Certificate of insurance: L&I's instructions for the ACORD 25 certificate name the City of Philadelphia, Department of Licenses & Inspections, 1401 John F. Kennedy Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19102 as certificate holder, and ask for the Commercial General Liability and Occur boxes to be selected. For automobile liability a declarations page from the insurer with the minimum amounts is accepted instead
No employees: If all the contracting work is done by you as the sole proprietor, a business partner or a corporate officer, L&I's instructions ask for a notarized statement or a State Workers' Insurance Fund (SWIF) certificate attesting that you have no employees in place of workers' compensation. If you hire employees, you must update your license with workers' compensation
On a permit: A licensed master plumber must oversee plumbing work under a Plumbing Permit, and must have an active license, be current on all City of Philadelphia taxes and have current insurance on file with L&I
Deactivating a master license: A master plumber may temporarily deactivate the license by submitting a request to L&I online or by calling 311. While it's deactivated, all business operations must stop and all advertisements must be removed, and the plumber's journeyman license is reactivated
Safety training: The OSHA 30 supervisor requirement for Philadelphia's general Contractor License does not apply to plumbing contractors. Workers on a construction or demolition site, trades contractors included, complete OSHA 10 Construction (or an approved alternative), with proof kept on the job site; L&I's exceptions include delivery people, design professionals and their staff, special inspectors, and workers who aren't doing permit-regulated construction or demolition
Other City requirements: L&I lists a Business Income and Receipts Tax (BIRT) ID and a Commercial Activity License among the Master Plumber license's requirements
Contact: Submit an online request to 311 or call 311; from outside Philadelphia, call (215) 686-8686

Your insurance matters all year: L&I says every contractor named on a construction permit must have current insurance on file with it.

Also doing work that isn't plumbing? Philadelphia's general Contractor License has its own renewal: see the Philadelphia contractor license guide.

How to renew

Master plumbers: check you're current on City of Philadelphia taxes, which renewal requires. To keep pulling permits, also make sure L&I has a current certificate of insurance with the City of Philadelphia, Department of Licenses & Inspections as certificate holder.
Apprentices: gather federal tax records showing continued employment and a statement of employment confirming your apprenticeship.
Renew online through eCLIPSE, or book an appointment at the Permit and License Center, and pay the renewal fee: $253 for a master plumber, $126 for a journeyman, $25 for an apprentice.

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

Before the due dateMaster plumbers: settle any City taxes, which renewal requires. Apprentices: get your statement of employment confirming your apprenticeship.
By the due dateRenew through eCLIPSE and pay the fee. More than 60 days late adds 1.5% of the license fee for each month since it expired.
When a policy renewsMake sure L&I has a current certificate on file, naming the City of Philadelphia, Department of Licenses & Inspections as certificate holder.
If you change employersApprentices: notify L&I of the change in employment.

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:

The insurance policies behind the master plumber's certificate L&I has on file
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 I renew a Philadelphia plumber license?

Every year: L&I says each of the three licenses must be renewed annually. Renewal costs $253 for a Master Plumber, $126 for a Journeyman Plumber and $25 for a Plumber Apprentice.

What insurance does a Philadelphia master plumber need?

Can a journeyman plumber run a business in Philadelphia?

No. A Journeyman Plumber license allows you to do plumbing work under a licensed master plumber, and it doesn't allow you to operate a business.

What if I renew my Philadelphia plumber license late?

If you renew more than 60 days after the due date, L&I charges 1.5% of the license fee for each month since the license expired.

Official sources

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

City of Philadelphia Department of Licenses and Inspections (L&I), Master Plumber's License

This guide is general information, not legal advice.

Other Pennsylvania guides

All Pennsylvania 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