South Dakota Plumber License Renewal

Last reviewed October 2026 · 6 min read

South Dakota plumbing contractor and plumber licenses from the State Plumbing Commission expire every year on December 31, so the next deadline is December 31, 2026. To renew, plumbing contractors, plumbers, their restricted versions and third-year apprentice plumbers licensed by exam need 4 hours of continuing education completed during the year the license expires (for a 2027 license, in 2026), at least 2 of them on code, and the Commission won't process the renewal until it has proof. The renewal fee is $275 a year for a plumbing contractor and $105 for a plumber. The Commission says the one-month grace period is no longer in effect: renew by December 31, or you'll owe additional fees.

At a glance

Who needs it: Plumbing on property connected to a public water or sewer system must be done by someone licensed by the Commission. The law exempts plumbing in a home you own and live in, in a single-family home you're building to live in, plumbing repair where you're employed and doing the repair, and plumbing repair on your own property, if the work meets the Commission's minimum standards
Renews every: 1 year: plumbing contractor and plumber licenses expire on December 31 each year. Next: December 31, 2026
Renewal fee: Every year: $275 for a plumbing contractor and $105 for a plumber. An apprentice license is $20 for the first year, $30 for the second, $40 for the third and $50 for four or more years. Fees are non-refundable
Continuing education: 4 hours relating to the plumbing trade each year, at least 2 of them on code, for plumbing contractors, restricted plumbing contractors, plumbers, restricted plumbers and third-year apprentice plumbers licensed by exam. An hour is at least 50 minutes of classroom time
When CE is due: During the year the license expires: for a 2027 license, CE completed in 2026. Proof must reach the Commission's office before it will process the renewal, so send your certificate of completion yourself if the provider doesn't send it to the Commission. Keep your own records of your hours too
Approved courses: Courses from the Plumbing Commission, the South Dakota Association of Plumbing, Heating, Cooling Contractors, the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials, the National Association of Plumbing, Heating, Cooling Contractors, the South Dakota Rural Water Association or a preapproved private organization, plus the online providers the Commission lists. The Commission's CE page says courses from those associations need its prior approval, and that courses the education providers list on StateReporting.com have it: check a course is approved before you book it. A course offered in another state may be accepted if it meets or exceeds South Dakota's requirements
CE extensions: The Commission may make exceptions and grant extensions for health, military service or other reasonable cause, if adequate proof is provided
Pay: Submit your renewal application with the renewal fee; contact the Commission if you don't have the application. Renewals are processed once the payment arrives. The Commission's forms page takes credit card payments through its Pay Online button, or mail a check or money order with your license number to the South Dakota Plumbing Commission, 217 W. Missouri Ave., Pierre SD 57501
Late renewal: The Commission says the one-month grace period is no longer in effect: renew by December 31, or you'll owe additional fees to renew. The Commission's forms page offers reinstatement applications for expired licenses. Don't work on an expired license: anyone still working, or offering to work, 60 days or more after their license expired is subject to disciplinary proceedings
Specialty licenses: Sewer and water, appliance, manufactured and mobile home, underground irrigation and water conditioning contractor and installer licenses, and the individual and small on-site wastewater system installer license, expire every year on June 30 instead. Renew them with the Annual Specialty License Renewal Form: $200 a year for a contractor license ($235 for sewer and water) and $105 for an installer license. Specialty apprentices contact the office to renew
Address changes: Tell the Commission promptly about any change of your business or residence address
Contact: South Dakota Plumbing Commission, 217 W. Missouri Ave., Pierre, SD 57501. Phone 605.773.3429. Email SDPlumbing@state.sd.us

The law, the Commission's rules and its forms page give different windows for renewing or reinstating an expired license: ask the Commission before you let a license lapse.

The Commission is in the process of adopting rule changes (its public hearing was October 2, 2026), so check its laws page for anything that changes the CE or fee rules before you renew.

A third-year apprentice plumber who has passed the state exam may work without supervision during the third and fourth years, but only on single-family dwellings.

How to renew

Check your license: plumbing contractor and plumber licenses expire on December 31 every year (the next deadline is December 31, 2026).
Finish 4 hours of plumbing CE the Commission has approved during the year your license expires (in 2026 for a 2027 license), at least 2 of them on code, and keep each certificate.
Make sure proof of your CE reaches the Commission's office: send your certificate yourself if your provider doesn't send it in.
Submit your renewal application and pay the fee ($275 plumbing contractor, $105 plumber) by December 31: by credit card through the forms page's Pay Online button, or by check or money order with your license number. No application? Contact the Commission.
Missed it? Contact the Commission: you'll owe additional fees and may need a reinstatement application. Don't work on an expired license; anyone working 60 days or more after expiration is subject to disciplinary proceedings.

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

6 months outBook 4 hours of plumbing CE the Commission has approved for this calendar year, at least 2 of them on code.
2 months outCheck that your CE certificates reached the Commission; send them yourself if your provider didn't.
Renewal seasonSubmit your renewal application and pay the fee ($275 plumbing contractor, $105 plumber) by credit card through the forms page's Pay Online button, or by check or money order with your license number.
December 31Your license expires. The one-month grace period is no longer in effect: renewing after this costs additional fees, and you may need a reinstatement application: contact the Commission.

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:

Your specialty licenses (sewer and water, appliance, water conditioning and the others): they expire on June 30, not December 31
Your apprentice plumbers' licenses
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 South Dakota plumbing license?

Every year: plumbing contractor and plumber licenses expire on December 31. The next deadline is December 31, 2026.

How much does it cost to renew a South Dakota plumbing license?

$275 a year for a plumbing contractor and $105 for a plumber. An apprentice license is $20 for the first year, $30 for the second, $40 for the third and $50 for four or more years.

How many CE hours does a South Dakota plumber need?

4 hours relating to the plumbing trade each year, at least 2 of them on code, completed during the year the license expires: for a 2027 license, in 2026. Proof must reach the Commission's office before it will process the renewal.

Is there a grace period for a South Dakota plumbing license?

The Commission says the one-month grace period is no longer in effect: renew by December 31, or you'll owe additional fees to renew. The law, the Commission's rules and its forms page give different windows for renewing or reinstating an expired license, so ask the Commission before you let a license lapse.

When do South Dakota specialty plumbing licenses expire?

Every year on June 30: sewer and water, appliance, manufactured and mobile home, underground irrigation and water conditioning contractor and installer licenses, and the individual and small on-site wastewater system installer license.

Official sources

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

South Dakota Plumbing Commission

This guide is general information, not legal advice.

Other South Dakota guides

South Dakota Electrician License Renewal

All South Dakota guides on one page

Plumber guides for other states

2027 license renewal deadlines, month by month

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

South Dakota Plumber License Renewal

Last reviewed October 2026 · 6 min read

At a glance

Who needs it: Plumbing on property connected to a public water or sewer system must be done by someone licensed by the Commission. The law exempts plumbing in a home you own and live in, in a single-family home you're building to live in, plumbing repair where you're employed and doing the repair, and plumbing repair on your own property, if the work meets the Commission's minimum standards
Renews every: 1 year: plumbing contractor and plumber licenses expire on December 31 each year. Next: December 31, 2026
Renewal fee: Every year: $275 for a plumbing contractor and $105 for a plumber. An apprentice license is $20 for the first year, $30 for the second, $40 for the third and $50 for four or more years. Fees are non-refundable
Continuing education: 4 hours relating to the plumbing trade each year, at least 2 of them on code, for plumbing contractors, restricted plumbing contractors, plumbers, restricted plumbers and third-year apprentice plumbers licensed by exam. An hour is at least 50 minutes of classroom time
When CE is due: During the year the license expires: for a 2027 license, CE completed in 2026. Proof must reach the Commission's office before it will process the renewal, so send your certificate of completion yourself if the provider doesn't send it to the Commission. Keep your own records of your hours too
Approved courses: Courses from the Plumbing Commission, the South Dakota Association of Plumbing, Heating, Cooling Contractors, the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials, the National Association of Plumbing, Heating, Cooling Contractors, the South Dakota Rural Water Association or a preapproved private organization, plus the online providers the Commission lists. The Commission's CE page says courses from those associations need its prior approval, and that courses the education providers list on StateReporting.com have it: check a course is approved before you book it. A course offered in another state may be accepted if it meets or exceeds South Dakota's requirements
CE extensions: The Commission may make exceptions and grant extensions for health, military service or other reasonable cause, if adequate proof is provided
Pay: Submit your renewal application with the renewal fee; contact the Commission if you don't have the application. Renewals are processed once the payment arrives. The Commission's forms page takes credit card payments through its Pay Online button, or mail a check or money order with your license number to the South Dakota Plumbing Commission, 217 W. Missouri Ave., Pierre SD 57501
Late renewal: The Commission says the one-month grace period is no longer in effect: renew by December 31, or you'll owe additional fees to renew. The Commission's forms page offers reinstatement applications for expired licenses. Don't work on an expired license: anyone still working, or offering to work, 60 days or more after their license expired is subject to disciplinary proceedings
Specialty licenses: Sewer and water, appliance, manufactured and mobile home, underground irrigation and water conditioning contractor and installer licenses, and the individual and small on-site wastewater system installer license, expire every year on June 30 instead. Renew them with the Annual Specialty License Renewal Form: $200 a year for a contractor license ($235 for sewer and water) and $105 for an installer license. Specialty apprentices contact the office to renew
Address changes: Tell the Commission promptly about any change of your business or residence address
Contact: South Dakota Plumbing Commission, 217 W. Missouri Ave., Pierre, SD 57501. Phone 605.773.3429. Email SDPlumbing@state.sd.us

The law, the Commission's rules and its forms page give different windows for renewing or reinstating an expired license: ask the Commission before you let a license lapse.

The Commission is in the process of adopting rule changes (its public hearing was October 2, 2026), so check its laws page for anything that changes the CE or fee rules before you renew.

A third-year apprentice plumber who has passed the state exam may work without supervision during the third and fourth years, but only on single-family dwellings.

How to renew

Check your license: plumbing contractor and plumber licenses expire on December 31 every year (the next deadline is December 31, 2026).
Finish 4 hours of plumbing CE the Commission has approved during the year your license expires (in 2026 for a 2027 license), at least 2 of them on code, and keep each certificate.
Make sure proof of your CE reaches the Commission's office: send your certificate yourself if your provider doesn't send it in.
Submit your renewal application and pay the fee ($275 plumbing contractor, $105 plumber) by December 31: by credit card through the forms page's Pay Online button, or by check or money order with your license number. No application? Contact the Commission.
Missed it? Contact the Commission: you'll owe additional fees and may need a reinstatement application. Don't work on an expired license; anyone working 60 days or more after expiration is subject to disciplinary proceedings.

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

6 months outBook 4 hours of plumbing CE the Commission has approved for this calendar year, at least 2 of them on code.
2 months outCheck that your CE certificates reached the Commission; send them yourself if your provider didn't.
Renewal seasonSubmit your renewal application and pay the fee ($275 plumbing contractor, $105 plumber) by credit card through the forms page's Pay Online button, or by check or money order with your license number.
December 31Your license expires. The one-month grace period is no longer in effect: renewing after this costs additional fees, and you may need a reinstatement application: contact the Commission.

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:

Your specialty licenses (sewer and water, appliance, water conditioning and the others): they expire on June 30, not December 31
Your apprentice plumbers' licenses
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 South Dakota plumbing license?

Every year: plumbing contractor and plumber licenses expire on December 31. The next deadline is December 31, 2026.

How much does it cost to renew a South Dakota plumbing license?

$275 a year for a plumbing contractor and $105 for a plumber. An apprentice license is $20 for the first year, $30 for the second, $40 for the third and $50 for four or more years.

How many CE hours does a South Dakota plumber need?

Is there a grace period for a South Dakota plumbing license?

When do South Dakota specialty plumbing licenses expire?

Official sources

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

South Dakota Plumbing Commission

This guide is general information, not legal advice.

Other South Dakota guides

South Dakota Electrician License Renewal

All South Dakota guides on one page

Plumber guides for other states

2027 license renewal deadlines, month by month

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