Plumbing Program
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Allegheny County Health Department's Plumbing Program inspects and permits new or modified residential and commercial plumbing installations to assure compliance with the Health Department's Plumbing Code Article XV. Learn more about Plumbing Advisory Board.
The Plumbing Division will no longer be permitting partial lead line replacements or repairs to lead water service lines. All lead water service lines must be replaced with approved materials and inspected by the plumbing division.
Cross Boring: Please call 811 or visit the PAonecall website before you attempt to clear a building sewer or building drain to insure the risk of cross bore is not an issue.
Registered Plumbers, Licenses, and Exams
To find a Registered Plumber in your area visit the Allegheny County is available by searching the online directory.
The Plumbing Program issues licenses for Apprentice, Journeyman, and Master Plumbers upon passage of the exam. Licenses are renewed annually on the plumbers birthdate.
Plumber exams are administered twice a year to qualified applicants in the spring and fall. Exams are administered over two days. Applications must be turned in on time in order to sit for the exam.
Plumbing Permits
Certain plumbing permits, including Level 1 Plans, Level 2 Plans, Transmittals and Blue Cards, can now be filed online. For all other plumbing permits, including commercial plan reviews, please call the main number at 412-578-8036.
There are two Plumbing Inspection Offices in Allegheny County where you can get a plumbing permit in-person:
Southwest Office
2121 Noblestown Rd., Room 207,
Pittsburgh, PA 15205
Clack Office
3901 Penn Ave., Building 5,
(Lawrenceville)
Pittsburgh, PA 15224
For more detailed information on getting a permit, please visit our Plans and Permitting page, or contact the main plumbing office at 412-578-8036.
Inspections
Approximately 40,000 plumbing inspections are conducted throughout the county each year. Inspections are conducted in phases, beginning with the roughed-in plumbing and ending with the final inspection when the "Certificate of Final Inspection" is issued.
Note: The Plumbing Program requires a representative from the plumbing contractor to be present during the inspection to answer any questions or concerns and to sign the inspection report.
Complaints, Referrals and Service Requests
Complaints, referrals, and service requests may originate from many different sources including the general public, the Health Department’s Housing and Food Safety Programs, the Mayor's 311 Service Center, the Pittsburgh Water and Sewage Authority, municipal officials, the City of Pittsburgh or any borough or township, and City of Pittsburgh Department of Permits, Licenses, and Inspections (formerly BBI).
Our inspectors work to investigate/inspect all complaints in a timely fashion to have plumbing violations corrected and abated. If we do not get a response to a notice of violation or the problem is not fixed, legal action or a civil penalty assessment occurs.