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- License
- NJ [PLACEHOLDER] #[PLACEHOLDER]
- Checked
- November 4, 2026
- Insured
- Yes, through January 1, 2027
- Serves
- Ridgewood, Paramus, Hackensack
Plumbers in Bergen County, NJ
Every plumber listed here holds a New Jersey Master Plumber license we've looked up. Compare local pros, see what common jobs cost and request quotes from up to two of them.
- License checked with the state
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1 vetted pro serving Bergen County, NJ
Common plumber jobs in Bergen County
What plumbers cost in Bergen County
| Job | Typical cost | Data from |
|---|---|---|
| Clogged drain cleared (standard drain cleaning) | $150–$300 per job | National |
| Water heater replacement (tank, installed) | $1,200–$2,300 per job | National |
| Toilet replacement / installation | $300–$800 per job | National |
| Sewer line camera inspection | $100–$500 per job | National |
| Burst pipe repair | $1,000–$4,000 per job | National |
| Leaking pipe repair | $150–$450 per job | National |
"National" figures are US averages, not local prices. Last updated November 4, 2026. Sources: Fixr, 2026; This Old House, 2026. Full cost guide
How to choose a plumber in Bergen County
In New Jersey, plumbing has to be done by a licensed plumber, and a licensed master plumber has to sign the permit. That makes the license the first thing to check, not an afterthought. A plumbing company works under a master plumber who owns at least 10% of the business, and that plumber's name and license number must be on the company's trucks, invoices and ads. If you can't find a number, ask for it, then look it up on the state's license lookup under "Master Plumbers".
Next, get the price in writing before work starts. For a small repair, ask whether they charge a flat rate or by the hour, and whether there's a call-out or after-hours fee on top. For bigger jobs such as a water heater or a sewer line, ask for a written quote that names the equipment (brand, size, model) and says whether removal of the old unit, the permit and the inspection are included.
Ask who will actually do the work. Board rules require a plumbing contractor to tell you before work starts if it plans to subcontract your job. And ask how permits will be handled: a like-for-like water heater swap is still permit work in New Jersey, even though it can start once the town has been notified.
Questions to ask
- What is your master plumber license number?
- Is the price flat-rate or hourly, and is there a call-out fee?
- Does the quote include the permit, inspection and haul-away?
- Will your own staff do the work, or a subcontractor?
Red flags
- No “Plumbing Lic. #” on the truck, invoice or ads. Board rules require it (N.J.A.C. 13:32-3.1).
- Asks you to take out the plumbing permit yourself. Only a single-family homeowner doing their own work is exempt from the licensed-plumber rule (N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.15).
- Says a water heater swap doesn’t need a permit. A like-capacity replacement is minor work and still needs one (N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.17A).
- The license holder isn’t actually part of the company. The master plumber acting as bona fide representative must own at least 10% of it (N.J.S.A. 45:14C-2).
- Plans to subcontract the job without saying so. A plumbing contractor that subcontracts consumer work must tell you who the subcontractor is before work starts (N.J.A.C. 13:32-3.3).
New Jersey licensing
What to check: New Jersey Master Plumber license. It appears as “Plumbing license number” or “Plumbing Lic. #” followed by the number on the company’s vehicles, invoices, stationery and ads. The number’s format was not confirmed.
Plumbing work in New Jersey must be done by people licensed under the plumbing licensing law. A plumbing company has to act through a bona fide representative, a licensed master plumber who owns at least 10% of the business (N.J.S.A. 45:14C-2). That representative must make sure permits are obtained, and a licensed master plumber must sign every permit. The representative also supervises the company’s journeymen and apprentices (N.J.A.C. 13:32-3.3). Both sides of the company’s vehicles, plus its invoices, stationery and ads, must show the master plumber’s name and “Plumbing Lic. #” (N.J.A.C. 13:32-3.1). Master plumbers working within their license are exempt from Home Improvement Contractor registration (N.J.S.A. 56:8-140). To verify, use the license lookup (Person Search, profession “Master Plumbers”).
Permits
Under the Uniform Construction Code, several common plumbing jobs count as minor work. A permit is required, but work can start once the local construction office has been notified, and the application is filed within five business days. These jobs include replacing a water heater with one of like capacity, replacing existing piping with like-capacity material, and adding fixtures without upsizing the water distribution system, water service or house drain (N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.17A). Replacing faucets, traps, valves or a similar fixture with no piping change is ordinary maintenance, which needs no permit (N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.7). The licensed plumber’s seal and signature go on the plumbing application (N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.15). Permits come from your town’s construction office.
Plumbers by town
Common questions
Do I need a permit to replace a water heater in New Jersey?
Yes. Replacing an existing water heater with a new one of like capacity is “minor work” under the Uniform Construction Code. It needs a permit, but the work can begin once the plumber notifies your town’s construction office, as long as the permit application follows within five business days. The work still has to be inspected, and the construction official issues a certificate of approval afterward. (Source)
Can a handyman or general contractor do plumbing work in NJ?
No, unless they hold a plumbing license. The Uniform Construction Code says plumbing work may be done only by people licensed to do it under state law. The one exception is a single-family homeowner working on their own home. The licensed plumbing contractor’s seal and signature must be on the plumbing permit application, so a remodeler needs a licensed plumber for the plumbing portion. (Source)
Do I need a permit to replace a faucet or toilet?
Usually not. Under the Uniform Construction Code, replacing faucets or their working parts, valves and traps, and replacing a fixture with a similar one with no change to the piping arrangement, are all “ordinary maintenance.” Ordinary maintenance needs no permit, inspection or notice to the construction office. Relocating fixtures or changing the piping does need a permit. (Source)
How do I verify a plumber’s license in New Jersey?
Use the Division of Consumer Affairs license verification site. Choose Person Search and the profession “Master Plumbers”, then search by name, license number or city. Board rules require plumbing companies to put the master plumber’s name and “Plumbing Lic. #” on their vehicles, invoices and advertising. Check that this number matches the lookup and is active. (Source)
Does a licensed plumber also need Home Improvement Contractor registration?
Not for plumbing work within their license. The Contractors’ Registration Act does not apply to people the state regulates as master plumbers, electrical contractors or other licensed professions when they act within the scope of that license. If a plumbing company also does general remodeling outside plumbing, ask how that work is covered. (Source)
How long does a construction permit take in New Jersey?
Under the Uniform Construction Code, the local construction official must approve or deny a complete permit application within 20 business days, unless you agree to an extension. Once work is ready, inspections must be done within three business days of the request, or another time within 30 days that you agree on. For minor work, the contractor can start after notifying the office and file the application within five business days. (Source)
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