Get Quotes from Top Plumbers in Tulsa, OK

Are You Licensed to Practice as a Plumber in Tulsa?

In Tulsa, plumbers are mandatorily required to obtain a plumber license or registration from the Oklahoma Construction Industry Board to be eligible to provide their services. The plumbing registration and license types regulated and issued by the Construction Industry Board include the apprentice plumber registration, the journeyman plumber license, and the plumbing contractor license, and each of these licenses has different licensing requirements. For instance, to register as a plumbing apprentice, applicants must be no less than 16 years of age and have started learning the plumbing trade under the direct supervision of a licensed plumbing contractor. Similarly, to obtain a Journeyman plumbing license, interested persons must be at least 18 years old and have completed plumbing training as an apprentice under a licensed plumbing contractor.

Additionally, applicants must have three years of experience in the plumbing trade while working for a licensed plumbing contractor, and they are required to pass the journeyman exam approved by the Oklahoma Construction Industry Board. Note that a journeyman plumber can not do your plumbing work unless the individual is employed by or working under the supervision of a licensed plumbing contractor. For more information concerning the requirements for obtaining a plumbing license or registration, interested persons can go through the Oklahoma plumbing license law or contact the Construction Industry Board at (405) 521-6550.

Before hiring a plumber near you, confirming that the individual is licensed to work in your city is crucial. You can confirm your plumber's license status by utilizing the Oklahoma Construction Industry's licensee search tool. In addition to state-issued licenses, plumbing contractors are also required to register with the Tulsa Development Services Department. The Department handles contractor registration via its Permit Center. You can confirm if your plumber is registered with the Department by calling (918) 596-9456. Note that you can not apply for a construction work permit without registering with the Department.

How Much Do You Charge Compared to Plumbers in Tulsa?

The hourly cost of hiring a plumber in Tulsa to handle your plumbing job is often influenced by the nature of the job, the cost of materials, and the plumber's experience. Accordingly, you should always ask the individual you intend to hire for a work estimate clarifying the amount of work to be done and the list of materials needed to complete the job. You can ask up to three plumbers for work estimates to ascertain which plumber is economically best for you.

A plumber in Tulsa earns an annual average wage of $55,010. Listed below is a breakdown of the average hourly wages for plumbers in Tulsa compared with plumbers in other parts of Oklahoma and other major cities in the country:

Do You Comply with the Tulsa Building Code for Plumbing?

All plumbing works done in Tulsa must comply with the provisions of the Plumbing Code of Tulsa. The city's Plumbing Code regulates the construction, alteration, addition, repair, and modification of Tulsa's plumbing and water supply systems.

Furthermore, the Code specifies the minimum plumbing standards for all plumbing works in Tulsa, with the exception of plumbing works in one and two-family dwellings and townhouses of not more than three stories whose structures comply with the Tusla revised ordinances. Before hiring a plumber to do your plumbing work, confirming if they are familiar with the city's Plumbing Code is crucial. This is particularly important as section 108.4 of the Code clearly states that violating any provision of the Plumbing Code is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than $1,200 or imprisonment of not more than six months, or both. All queries related to the Plumbing Code can be directed to the city's Permit Center by calling (918) 596-9456.

Will You Get the Plumbing Permits as Required by Tulsa Code?

Any contractor who intends to install, repair, change, or erect a plumbing system, the installation of which is regulated by the city's Plumbing Code, must first obtain the necessary permits for the job from the city's Permit Center. Note that a licensed plumber or contractor can only make all construction work permit applications in Tulsa. Accordingly, you should ensure that your plumber obtains the required permit before starting your plumbing work. This protects you from penalties and administrative fines that may result from code violations.

In Tulsa, anyone who performs work on a plumbing system without obtaining the necessary permit will be mandated to pay a $208 penalty fee or three times the cost of the initial permit fee. However, homeowners can perform plumbing work without obtaining a permit first when there is a plumbing emergency. Nonetheless, permit applications for such emergency plumbing work shall be submitted on the next working day. Applicants can apply for plumbing permits in Tulsa online or by mailing a completed plumbing permit form to:

To obtain a plumbing permit, your licensed contractor will be required to submit the necessary plans and specifications for the project, details of the type of plumbing work you intend to carry out and permit fees alongside the permit application. Construction work permit applications are reviewed by a Permit Specialist. Once the review is complete, your project plans will be compiled, stamped, and counted before a permit is issued to your licensed plumber or contractor. However, to reduce the time spent on plan reviews, Tulsa created the Third Party Plans Review and Inspection Program to allow contractors to choose a third-party provider that has been approved by Tulsa to review their plans and conduct inspections.

All queries concerning plumbing permits can be directed to the Permit Center by calling (918) 596-9456. Once a permit has been issued for a plumbing project and the work has started, your contractor can schedule an inspection with the city's Inspection Services Unit. The Inspection Services Unit inspects all plumbing works for which a permit is issued to ensure compliance with relevant city codes. Inspections can be scheduled online or by calling (918) 596-9656.

What Kind of Plumbing Services Do You Offer?

Professional plumbers in Tulsa offer various plumbing services ranging from fixing minor leaks to replacing and installing all kinds of plumbing systems. However, hiring a plumber specializing in providing the plumbing service you need is always good. You can confirm if a plumber is qualified to handle a particular type of plumbing problem by asking for a list of past clients with similar plumbing needs. More so, you should ensure that the plumber provides the contact details of these clients to enable you to call and confirm if they are satisfied with the plumber's services. You can also ask about the plumber's years of practice to assess their level of experience in the plumbing area.

Listed below are some of the cost estimates for plumbing services in Tulsa:

Do You Offer Emergency Plumbing Services in Tulsa?

Professional plumbers in Tulsa perform emergency plumbing services as requested. Such emergency services include stopping plumbing leaks, replacing fixtures, and clearing clogged toilets. While all plumbing issues should be fixed on time, a plumbing emergency typically requires immediate attention.

Other plumbing emergencies include running toilets, leaky water heaters, backed-up sewer systems, and clogged garbage disposal. Once you discover a plumbing issue, it is always important to ensure that the problem is handled by a licensed and qualified plumber. This is particularly essential considering that plumbing issues not only affect the water distribution in your home but may also result in high water charges. For example, it is estimated that a leaking faucet can result in over 3000 gallons of water wastage annually, increasing your water bill significantly. Contacting an incompetent plumber can worsen the situation.

You can find experienced plumbers near you by exploring third-party websites like Better Business Bureau, Yelp, and Google Review. These platforms assist you in searching for a plumber near you, as well as helping you to access the plumber's expertise and experience based on other customers' reviews. Regardless of how you find your plumber, it is always good to confirm if they are licensed by utilizing the Oklahoma Construction Industry's licensee search tool.

Do You Carry the Necessary Insurance Policy for Plumbers in Tulsa?

All contractors must maintain general liability insurance and vehicle insurance before operating in Tulsa, while contractors with employees are required to maintain workers' compensation with the Oklahoma Workers Compensation Commission. Before hiring a plumbing contractor near you, you should ensure that the individual you intend to hire is insured. You can verify whether your plumber is insured by requesting certificates of insurance and confirming from the insurance company that issued the certificates. Likewise, you can verify if the contractor has workers' compensation insurance by contacting the Oklahoma Workers' Compensation Commission at (405) 522-8680.

Generally, when you hire insured plumbers, you are largely protected from claims that may result from work accidents during your plumbing work. Residents of Tulsa must understand that there are several cases of construction work-related accidents in Oklahoma. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, 17 such cases across Oklahoma resulted in fatalities in 2019.