What PUB licenses
The duty falls on you too. PUB states that it is an offence for anyone to engage a plumber who is not licensed by PUB to carry out regulated water service and sanitary plumbing works, a rule in force since 1 April 2018.
The licence is not a one-off qualification. PUB requires applicants to have at least 2 years of relevant post-qualification experience, and licensed plumbers must attend the LP refresher course before the licence expires, once every three years.
Failure to keep it current ends it. PUB states that failure to do so will result in the cancellation of the LP license, so a licence seen on an old invoice is not evidence that the plumber is licensed today.
How to check
Check the name before work starts. PUB publishes a Find a Licensed Plumber directory at https://eservices.pub.gov.sg/bpp/searchlicensedplumber. Search the individual attending, not the company that answered your call.
What it does not cover
What the licence does not cover is most of what a plumber is called for. PUB lists clearing blockages in floor traps or water closets, and replacing taps, mixers, sinks and washbasins, among the simple works a handyman may do.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a PUB Licensed Plumber?
PUB states that all regulated water service and sanitary plumbing works must be carried out by Licensed Plumbers (LPs), except for simple plumbing works that can be carried out by handymen. The licence is held by a person, not by a company.
Sources
- PUB, "Licensed Plumbers" (fetched 15 Sep 2026)
- PUB, "Plumbing Works" (fetched 15 Sep 2026)
- PUB, "Application for Plumber Licence" (fetched 15 Sep 2026)
Compare plumbing providers and check the plumber's name on PUB's directory first.
