# PUB Licensed Plumber: what it means for your job

Source: https://honestfix.cf-migrate-pulse-web.workers.dev/guides/regulation-pub-licensed-plumber · checked 15 Sep 2026

the Honestfix team · checked 15 Sep 2026

PUB states that all regulated water service and sanitary plumbing works must be carried out by Licensed [Plumbers](/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.

## 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](/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.

**How do I check whether a plumber is licensed?**

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.

**Does a clogged sink need a licensed plumber?**

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.

## Sources

- [PUB, "Licensed Plumbers"](https://www.pub.gov.sg/professionals/requirements/licensed-plumbers) (fetched 15 Sep 2026)
- [PUB, "Plumbing Works"](https://www.pub.gov.sg/Professionals/Requirements/Licensed-Plumbers/Plumbing-Works) (fetched 15 Sep 2026)
- [PUB, "Application for Plumber Licence"](https://www.pub.gov.sg/Professionals/Requirements/Licensed-Plumbers/Application-for-Plumber-Licence) (fetched 15 Sep 2026)

[Compare plumbing providers](/plumbers) and check the plumber's name on PUB's directory first.

## Related

- [Plumbers in Singapore — compare providers](/plumbers) — Plumbers
- [How to check a plumber’s PUB licence](/guides/check-plumber-pub-licence) — Guide: How to check a plumber's PUB licence in Singapore: which jobs need a Licensed Plumber, which do not, and how to look a licence up before you book.
- [Blocked drain in Singapore: causes and who to call](/guides/blocked-drain-what-to-check) — Guide: Clearing a floor trap yourself is legal simple work; opening concealed pipework is not.
- [Water dripping from the ceiling: what to do before help arrives](/guides/ceiling-leak-at-night) — Guide: Water dripping from the ceiling in Singapore: keep clear of a sagging ceiling, stay away from wet electrics, find the source, and who to call tonight.
- [Burst pipe in Singapore: what to check first, what it costs, who to call](/guides/burst-pipe) — Guide: The first move on a burst pipe is the stop valve, not the phone.
- [Leak repair costs: what changes the quote](/guides/leak-repair-cost-singapore) — Guide: What decides a leak repair price in Singapore, and what to ask before you agree.