Washington — plumbing code & licensing
Verified
The code
| Code family | UPC |
| Edition in force | Uniform Plumbing Code, 2021 Edition (IAPMO), adopted by reference as part of the State Building Code in ch. 51-56 WAC, with state additions, deletions and exceptions in the chapter itself; UPC chapters 12 and 14 are not adopted, and the UPC ch. 5 venting/combustion-air provisions and building-sewer portions are not adopted |
| Effective date | 2024-03-15 |
| Adopted by | Washington State Building Code Council, under ch. 19.27 RCW (WAC 51-56-001) |
| Adoption source | https://apps.leg.wa.gov/WAC/default.aspx?cite=51-56&full=true |
| State amendments | Amendments ride in the adoption document itself — https://apps.leg.wa.gov/WAC/default.aspx?cite=51-56&full=true |
Licensing
| Model | State individual certification by the Department of Labor and Industries Plumber Certification Program - certification is required to work in the plumbing trade: Journey Level (PL01), Medical Gas (MG01), Residential (PL02), Residential Service (PL04), Pump and Irrigation (PL03), Domestic Well (PL03A), and Backflow (PL30) certificates, entered through plumber trainee status. Journey-level reciprocity with Idaho |
| Authority | Washington State Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) |
| Licensing source | https://lni.wa.gov/licensing-permits/plumbing/plumber-certification/ |
| License classes | https://lni.wa.gov/licensing-permits/plumbing/plumber-certification/ |
Permits & inspections
Not yet recorded.
How this record was verified
| Adoption | Verified |
| Amendments | Verified |
| Licensing | Verified |
| Permits & inspections | Not yet verified |
Working notes
Effective date is stated in the rule itself: WAC 51-56-008 makes the chapter effective in all counties and cities on March 15, 2024. The state amendments are not a separate document - ch. 51-56 WAC IS the amendment package layered on the adopted 2021 UPC, which is why adoption_source_url and amendments_url are the same. Certification scope note from L&I: certification covers plumbing within the property lines of the premises; work outside a building (water/sewer connections to mains) generally does not require certification except pump and irrigation work.
Reference only. Compiled from the cited official sources as of the date shown; adoptions and rules change. Confirm with the authority having jurisdiction before designing or permitting work.