Plumbing Program
New Regulation of Installation of Sewer Liners
The Allegheny County Health Department's Plumbing Program will regulate the installation of sewer liners beginning on November 9, 2026. This is due to a code change made at the state level that was incorporated into Allegheny County's recent Article XV update.
These requirements will only apply to the lining of privately-owned laterals, they will not apply to publicly-owned mains.
ACHD will need to conduct a video inspection of the lateral that a plumber would like to service with a liner. ACHD inspectors, who have been certified through the National Association of Sewer Service Companies Lateral Assessment Certification Program (NASSCO LACP), will use NASSCO criteria to evaluate whether the line is an appropriate candidate for service with a liner. After installation of the liner, ACHD’s certified inspectors will conduct a post-installation video inspection to ensure that the liner was appropriately installed.
The workflow will require the plumber to upload a video to the Accela Citizen Portal, of the broken section of the sewer line that they would like to repair with a liner. ACHD will respond within two business days granting, or denying, permission to proceed with liner installation. After installation of the liner, the plumber will upload a video of the section of the lined sewer and also a signed certification form. ACHD will inspect this video to ensure that the liner was appropriately installed. If ACHD finds that the liner was installed incorrectly, or did not adequately service the underlying problem, corrective measures can be ordered - up to, and/or including excavation, to repair the underlying problem.
Plumbing Office Location Changes
The Plumbing Program has moved to two new offices. The former office at 3901 Penn Avenue is no longer open for business. The new locations are:
2121 Noblestown Road, Suite 207
Pittsburgh, PA 15205
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412-578-8123
345 Fifth Avenue (Wander Building)
McKeesport, PA 15132
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412-578-8397
All Plumbing Program services (permits, plan reviews, licenses, payments, etc.) are available at the Noblestown Road office. The McKeesport office offers only plan reviews. Please call the Office Supervisor/Plans Examiner at 412-578-8397 to schedule a plan review appointment in McKeesport. Please submit the relevant permit application within the Accela Citizen Portal prior to calling to schedule.
Both offices operate during the same business hours.
Plumbing Program
Allegheny County Health Department 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 the Plumbing Advisory Board.
Note:
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.
Registered Plumbers, Licenses, and Exams
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
All types of plumbing permits and plans can be filed online through the Citizen Access Portal.
Commercial plumbing plans can be filed online after undergoing pre-approval through the Commercial Plan Review process. Although Commercial Plan Reviews and Commercial Plans can be filed online, the workflow and approval requirement has not changed: you must receive approval from a commercial plans reviewer before filing for a commercial plan.
Get a plumbing permit in-person at:
2121 Noblestown Road, Room 207
Pittsburgh, PA 15205
412-578-8036
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For more detailed information on getting a permit, please visit the Plans and Permitting page, or contact the main plumbing office at 412-578-8123
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).
In addition, the online Plumbing Complaint Form can be used to submit a plumbing complaint.
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.
Cross Boring
Please call 811 or download the PA One Call brochure for more information before you attempt to clear a building sewer or building drain to insure the risk of cross bore is not an issue.