Someone offered to fix it today, and you are not sure they are licensed
Emergencies attract offers. A neighbor knows someone, a flyer is on the mailbox, a truck stops by after a storm. Some of those people are licensed plumbers and some are not, and in Georgia the difference is not cosmetic. Plumbing work covered by the state plumbing code requires a state license, and the permit offices in Jasper and Pickens County check that license before work is approved.
This page explains the license types the state issues, how to look a plumber up, and how the county's affidavit ties the license to your permit. It relies on the Georgia Secretary of State's Division of Master and Journeyman Plumbers, the Board's rule on statewide licenses, and guidance from the Georgia Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division.
What the Georgia license types mean
The Secretary of State's FAQ lists three licenses. A Journeyman Plumber must have at least one year of experience in plumbing work covered by the Georgia State Plumbing Code. A Class I Master Plumber is limited to plumbing involving single-family dwellings, one-level dwellings designed for not more than two families, and commercial structures not exceeding 10,000 square feet. A Class II Master Plumber has no restrictions.
The Board's rule, Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 121-3-.02, sets the path to those licenses. Applicants for a statewide master plumber license must document a minimum of five years of experience in plumbing work covered by the Georgia State Plumbing Code, obtain a minimum score of 70 on the appropriate examination, and provide references; for Class I at least one of the three references must be a licensed Master Plumber, and Class II has a stricter reference requirement. The FAQ adds that Georgia has no reciprocity with other states for master or journeyman plumbers, and that only licensed master plumbers may have a plumbing business, not journeymen.
For a typical Jasper house, either class of master plumber can do the work. For a large commercial building, the job needs a Class II master plumber.
How to look up a license
The Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division points consumers to the Secretary of State's website: choose Licensing, then Licensee Search. Its article walks through the residential and general contractor category, and the same search covers plumbers under their own board. The search shows whether a license is active.
Ask the plumber for the license number and the name it is issued under, then confirm they match the person or company you are hiring. Under the FAQ, only licensed master plumbers may operate a plumbing business, so for a company, ask which master plumber's license covers your job.
Water still moving? Close your own shutoff valve first, then send a Free Quote Request.
Free Quote RequestHow Pickens County ties the license to your permit
Pickens County Planning & Development requires a Plumbing / HVAC subcontractor affidavit for permitted work. The form asks the plumber to certify responsibility for the plumbing on the permit and to mark the state license being used: Master Plumber Class I (restricted) or Class II (unrestricted). It also asks for the county business license number and expiration date and the state license number and expiration date. The county's page says affidavits submitted without copies of the current driver's license, business license and state license are not accepted, and plumbing affidavits must be on file before the rough inspection can be called in.
Inside the City of Jasper, permits go through the Building Department, which requires a permit before regulated plumbing is installed, repaired or replaced. Unpermitted work is penalized in both places; the permit fee page lists the penalties along with the city's re-inspection and minimum fees.
| License | What it covers | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Journeyman Plumber | At least 1 year of experience in plumbing work covered by the Georgia State Plumbing Code | Georgia Secretary of State FAQ |
| Class I Master Plumber | Single-family dwellings, one-level dwellings for not more than two families, commercial structures up to 10,000 square feet | Georgia Secretary of State FAQ |
| Class II Master Plumber | No restrictions | Georgia Secretary of State FAQ |
| Renewal | Online by November 30 of even-numbered years; 4 continuing education hours required annually | Georgia Secretary of State FAQ |
A two-minute checklist before work starts
Ask for the full name on the license and the license number. Look it up on the Secretary of State's Licensee Search and confirm it is active and that the class fits the job. Ask who will pull the permit and confirm the same license appears on the county affidavit or city permit. Ask for a certificate of insurance and confirm it is current. Get a written scope and price before work begins, and avoid paying the full amount up front. Keep copies of the license lookup, the permit and the invoice. If anything does not match, pause the job and ask questions before more work is done.
Insurance and other checks
The Attorney General's guidance says businesses that act as residential or general contractors are required to carry general liability insurance, and businesses with three or more employees must also carry workers' compensation. The simplest step is to ask for a certificate of insurance and call the insurer to confirm it is current. The Division also explains how to report an unlicensed contractor to the Secretary of State's licensing board.
If you would rather not vet strangers in the middle of an emergency, the Free Quote Request on this page sends your details to an independent plumber who serves Pickens County. Check that plumber's license the same way before work starts.
Where these facts come from: Georgia Secretary of State: Division of Master and Journeyman Plumbers FAQ; Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 121-3-.02, Statewide Master and Journeyman Plumber License (LII copy); Georgia Attorney General Consumer Protection Division: How can I verify that a contractor is licensed and insured?; Pickens County Planning & Development: Plumbing / HVAC Subcontractor Affidavit, updated 2/15/2023 (PDF); Pickens County, GA: Planning & Development (permits, inspections, affidavits); City of Jasper: Article IV, Building Permits and Certificates (PDF); City of Jasper: Building Department (2026 codes, permit fees, inspections); Pickens County Planning and Development Fee Schedule, effective 12/01/2020 (Master Fee Schedule, PDF). Checked 2026-10-26.
Describe the problem once. Independent plumbers who work in Pickens County can follow up.
Free Quote RequestQuestions Pickens County homeowners ask
What is the difference between a Class I and Class II master plumber in Georgia?
Class I is limited to single-family homes, one-level two-family dwellings and commercial structures up to 10,000 square feet. Class II has no restrictions.
Does Georgia accept plumbing licenses from other states?
No. The Secretary of State's FAQ says Georgia has no reciprocity with any other state for master or journeyman plumbers.
What license information does Pickens County require for a plumbing permit?
The county affidavit asks for the state license class and number, the county business license number, and copies of the driver's license, business license and state license.