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From the Field
How to Check a Plumber's License in Georgia
It takes a few minutes, it is free, and it works on any plumber, including us. Here is how to do it from your phone.
Short answer: ask the plumber for a license number, then look that number up on the Georgia Secretary of State website. The state's licensee search is the official record.
- Who it is for: any homeowner about to hire a plumber, especially for work inside a wall, under a house or on a well or septic system.
- What to confirm: the name matches the person or company, the license is valid, and it is a plumbing license.
- When to do it: before you agree to the work, not after the truck is in your driveway.
- Ryan's number: MPR108473. You are welcome to look it up before you call.
Why Georgia homeowners check
Plumbing is regulated work in Georgia. According to the Georgia Attorney General's consumer education pages, plumbers are regulated by the Georgia Construction Industry Licensing Board, and you can verify a license on the Secretary of State's website. That is the same place the state keeps its own record, so it beats any logo on a truck or a page on a website.
The same state page points out that some trades are not licensed by the state at all, such as roofers, painters, drywall contractors and repair handymen. A plumber is different. If someone offers to do your plumbing and has no license number to give you, that is worth a pause.
Step by step: look up a license
- Ask for the number first. A licensed plumber knows it by heart and will not mind. Ask for the license number and the exact name it is under, which may be the person or the business.
- Open the Georgia Secretary of State website. From the main menu, choose Licensing, then Licensee Search. Menus on government websites change, so if you do not see those words, use the search box on the website and type "license verification."
- Search by the license number. A number gives one clear answer. A name can bring up several people with the same or a similar name.
- Read what comes back. Check three things: the name is the one you were given, the status shows the license is valid, and the license is for plumbing and not some other trade.
- Take a screenshot. Save it with the estimate. If a question comes up later, you have the record from the day you hired.
This page does not list the license types Georgia issues or what each one allows. Those rules belong to the licensing board, and they can change. Read them on the board's own pages if you want the detail.
Want to try it on a real number?
Ryan's license is MPR108473. Look it up, then call or text him with any question the search leaves you with. He is a licensed Master Plumber and answers his own phone.
What if the search finds nothing
Do not jump to a bad conclusion. Common reasons for a blank result are a typo in the number, a spelling difference in the name, or searching a business name when the license is under the owner's personal name. Try the number alone, then try the person's name.
If it still finds nothing, ask the plumber to read the number off the card or paperwork again. If you cannot get a clear answer, you can wait on the job and call another plumber. A real license holder can clear this up in one text. The Georgia Attorney General's consumer pages also say to check with your county or city government about local licensing, and to report anyone working without a required local license.
Questions to ask besides the license
A valid license tells you the state has a record of the person. It does not tell you how they treat customers, so ask a few plain questions too. Our guide to the questions to ask before you hire a plumber covers estimates, warranty and who shows up. If you are puzzled by the title "Master Plumber," read what a Master Plumber is in Georgia.
A note for mountain and second-home owners
Many homes around Ellijay, Jasper and Blue Ridge are cabins, vacation rentals or second homes. The owner may be hours away and hiring someone they have never met to open the door and work alone. That is when a quick license check matters most, because you cannot watch the work.
If you are hiring remotely, text the plumber and ask for the license number and a photo of the shutoff and the problem area you are describing. Ryan prefers text anyway, because cell service drops in the mountains and a text gets through when a call may not. Our page on leaving your home for a vacation has more on protecting an empty house.
The same goes for wells and septic systems. A well pump, a pressure tank or a septic repair is specialized work, so ask the plumber if they do that kind of job before you book. Ryan works on well pumps, well pressure tanks and septic repairs. You can see what he does on the services page.
Where Ryan fits in
Ryan Chastain is a licensed Master Plumber, Georgia license MPR108473, based in Ellijay. His number is also printed in the footer of every page on this website, so you can check it without calling. Free estimates, no trip fee and no diagnostic fee mean you can check the license, then ask for a look at the job without paying to find out what it is.
Common Questions
Is it rude to ask a plumber for a license number?
No. Licensed plumbers expect the question and can answer it right away. If someone gets defensive about it, that tells you something.
Where do I look up a plumber's license?
On the Georgia Secretary of State website. Choose Licensing, then Licensee Search, and enter the license number. The Georgia Construction Industry Licensing Board regulates plumbers.
Does a handyman need a plumbing license in Georgia?
The state's consumer pages say repair handymen are not required to be licensed by the state, but plumbers are regulated by the licensing board. If the job is plumbing, ask for a plumbing license number.
What is Ryan's license number?
MPR108473. Ryan Chastain is a licensed Master Plumber. You can type the number into the state search yourself.
Can I text the plumber to ask for the number?
Yes, and it leaves you a written record. Ryan prefers text. Send the question to (706) 669-5727.
License checked? Ask Ryan your question.
Call or text. Estimates are free, and you know the price before any work starts.