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Are You Licensed to Practice as a Plumber in San Diego?

The California Department of Consumer Affairs issues occupational licenses to plumbers in San Diego through its Contractors State License Board (CSLB). This board requires any plumber in San Diego who performs jobs worth more than $500, labor and materials inclusive, to have a valid C-36 Plumbing Contractor License.

Individuals who wish to obtain this license must be at least 18 years old and must have completed a minimum of four years of verifiable plumbing work experience. This experience must be obtained at the journeyman level, and it must be completed within a 10-year period before applying for the plumbing license. Individuals who meet this qualification will be required to submit a completed Application for Original Contractor License, pay an application fee, and sit for CSLB-administered licensing examinations. Note that this application fee is nonrefundable, so applicants are advised to ensure that they submit properly completed application forms.

Also, the CSLB offers a licensing reciprocity program for individuals who have a valid plumber's license issued in the State of Arizona. Per this program, the CSLB may waive the trade portion of its licensing examinations for these individuals. Interested parties can contact the CSLB at (800) 321-2752 to make inquiries about its license reciprocity program for plumbers. You can also contact the CSLB at the provided number to confirm that your intended contractor possesses a valid license. Alternatively, you can utilize this board's online license check portal to authenticate your plumber's licensing status.

Per the CSLB's requirements, performing plumbing work in San Diego without possessing a valid C-36 Plumbing Contractor License is a misdemeanor offense and is punishable by up to six months of jail time, fines of up to $15,000, or both. Note that this punishment is for first-time offenders, and repeat offenders will receive steeper punishments per subsequent violation.

How Much Do You Charge Compared to Plumbers in San Diego?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, plumbers in San Diego earn a mean hourly wage of about $30. The amount of money that you will be charged to hire one of these plumbers for a specific service is typically dependent on the type of service, the amount of labor the job will require, and the plumber's level of expertise.

Other factors that influence the cost of hiring a plumber include the types of materials that may be needed to perform the job, as well as the cost of obtaining any permits required for the job. Nonetheless, you should consider getting estimates from no less than three plumbers near you before hiring one, as this helps you compare prices and select the most qualified plumber within your budgeted price range.

A plumber in San Diego earns an annual average wage of $63,910. Below is a breakdown of the average hourly wages for plumbers in San Diego compared with plumbers in other parts of California and other major cities in the country:

Do You Comply with the San Diego Building Code for Plumbing?

While San Diego utilizes the California Plumbing Code for the regulation of plumbing-related systems within its jurisdiction, it also implements certain local city-specific amendments to this code. The plumbing code, and especially the local amendments and modifications, is designed to reduce any potential hazards to the life and property of the residents of San Diego from the use of any plumbing systems or appliances in the city. To this end, it spells out the requirements for the installation, assembly, manufacture, quality, maintenance, and repair of these plumbing systems and appliances in the city.

Carrying out any plumbing work that violates the plumbing code can result in several penalties, ranging from citations and abatement to civil penalties of up to $400,000 and possible prosecution. This makes it imperative to ensure that any plumber you hire for your project is conversant with not only the California Plumbing Code but also the local San Diego amendments. While licensed plumbers in the city are typically conversant with the requirements of the plumbing code, it is always a good idea to get confirmation on this from your intended plumber.

You can contact the Code Enforcement Division of the San Diego Development Services Department (DSD) at (619) 236-5500 to get information on the city's plumbing code and circumstances under which this code may be violated.

Will You Get the Plumbing Permits as Required by the San Diego Code?

Article 9, Division 4 of the San Diego Municipal Code states that a plumbing permit must be obtained for the installation of a plumbing system, or a portion of this system, on any structure or premises in the city. Permits are also required for the alteration, addition, or replacement of any existing plumbing systems in the city. However, certain plumbing permit exemptions are also stipulated in this law. These plumbing permit exemptions are:

• The stoppage of leaks in vents, drains, soil, or waste pipes. Note that this exemption does not extend to the replacement of any of these pipes with any new material as part of the repair.
• The replacement in kind of plumbing fixtures. However, this does not include installations that require the alteration or replacement of vents, waste, water supply, or drainage piping.
• The clearing of stoppages, the replacement of exposed traps in existing plumbing systems for lavatories, laundry trays, sinks, and other similar fixtures, and the repair of leaks in soil, vent, or waste pipes, fixtures, and valves

Note that these plumbing permit exemptions do not authorize plumbers to perform any work that violates the city's plumbing regulations.

Per the city's Municipal Code, all required plumbing permits must be obtained before any work on the project commences, except in situations where an urgent necessity or emergency for carrying out the work without a permit exists. In these situations, the required plumbing permits must be obtained no later than two days after the commencement of the work.

The San Diego Development Services Department (DSD) is responsible for issuing plumbing permits, and its permit application processing timeline depends on factors like the nature and complexity of your project, the department's workload, and the correctness of your application. The Development Services Department issues simple œno-plan plumbing permits for minor plumbing work, like the repair or replacement of drains, and plan (required) plumbing permits for plumbing work that involves the addition, alteration, or replacement of plumbing systems on structures or premises.

Permit applications can be made online via the DSD's online permitting system, and the department provides interested parties with a user guide on how to utilize this platform. Alternatively, permit applications can be made by completing and submitting a General Application Form DS-3032 to the DSD at:

Note that parties that wish to obtain plan (required) plumbing permits will have to provide a stamped and signed plumbing plan for the intended project in a DSD-approved format and validate these documents before applying for a permit. This is regardless of whether the permit application is being done online or not. You can contact the DSD at (619) 446-5000 to make inquiries concerning its permit-issuing process and to verify that your plumber has obtained all necessary permits required for your project.

Finally, once your project commences, you will be required to schedule an inspection with the DSD before any plumbing work that you carry out is covered or concealed. The DSD offers several types of construction-related inspections, and construction work in the city is not considered approved until it has been duly inspected and accepted by this department. Inspections are scheduled online, and individuals who encounter problems trying to do this can contact the DSD at (858) 492-5070. General inspection-related queries can also be directed to this number.

What Kind of Plumbing Services Do You Offer?

Plumbers in San Diego offer a wide array of plumbing services, including, but not limited to, water heater repair and installation, drain cleaning, plumbing system maintenance, faucet and toilet repair and installation, leak and pipe location, and repiping. You should always find out the types of services that a plumber offers and make sure that this plumber specializes in your required service before concluding any arrangements with this individual.

Plumbers in San Diego typically charge an average of $100 - $150 for their services, and this fee usually includes the cost of an initial consultation to determine the extent of your plumbing problem. Other factors that affect plumbing costs in San Diego include the type of plumbing job, its level of difficulty, the types of tools and materials required for the job, and whether or not the job is an emergency. Listed below are cost estimates for common services offered by plumbers in San Diego:

Do You Offer Emergency Plumbing Services in San Diego?

More than 3,000 gallons of water can be wasted by a single leaky faucet dripping at the rate of one drip per second. While leaky faucets may not seem like a serious problem, these types of issues may be symptoms of bigger problems that can result in an emergency plumbing situation, like faucet malfunctions and overflowing toilets. These emergency plumbing situations can result in extensive damage to your property and also pose substantial risks to the health of any residents in your home if they are not tackled immediately.

When you find yourself in need of emergency or time-sensitive plumbing services, you should always make sure that the plumber you contact is licensed, duly experienced, and close enough to tackle the matter as soon as possible. To this end, you can utilize third-party websites like Better Business Bureau, Yelp, and Google Review to find licensed and qualified emergency plumbers near you. You can also find plumbers near you via the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association of San Diego's affiliate members search portal. Note that emergency plumbing services typically cost more than regular plumbing services. It is also advisable to confirm the licensing status of any plumber whose services you plan to retain.

Do You Carry the Necessary Insurance Policy for Plumbers in San Diego?

Plumbing can be a potentially dangerous task, and plumbers are regularly exposed to numerous physical, chemical, and biological hazards. These include falls, trips, and slips; exposure to toxic agents in sewage systems, and cuts, burns, and lacerations from sharp or hot tools and equipment. In light of this, it is always in your best interest to make sure that your intended plumber has proper insurance coverage. Failure to do this can make you liable for any injuries that may occur whilst your plumbing project is ongoing.

Note that although there are no mandatory general liability insurance requirements for plumbers in San Diego, plumbers who have employees must maintain an active workers' compensation insurance plan. San Diego plumbers are also required to post surety bonds of $15,000 with the California Contractors State License Board to maintain their plumbing licenses. You can confirm that your plumber has an active insurance plan by requesting a copy of the plumber's insurance certificate and validating it with the issuing organization.