Plumbing guides for Phoenix and the Valley, city by city

Three things stay the same everywhere in Arizona: the Registrar of Contractors licenses contracting businesses, the same license search applies, and the state's licensing exemptions for small jobs follow the same statute. Three things change by city:

• Water and sewer utility. Who to call for a main break or a sewer overflow, and where the city's responsibility for the sewer line ends.
• Building permits. Each city's building department decides which plumbing jobs need a permit, what it costs and how inspections are booked.
• Local housing and water factors, such as the age of the housing stock, slab construction and water hardness, which affect the most common repairs.

Each city page covers the local water and sewer provider, the permit office, housing and climate factors that affect plumbing, and how to check a contractor there.

• Chandler: the local water and sewer provider, Chandler's permit office and what to check before hiring in the southeast Valley.
• Gilbert: Gilbert's utility and permit contacts, local housing factors and how to verify a contractor there.
• Glendale: the west Valley city next to Phoenix, its water and sewer contacts and its building permit rules.
• Mesa: Mesa's utility and emergency contacts, its permit office and the plumbing issues most relevant to East Valley homes.
• Peoria: the northwest Valley city's water and sewer provider, permit office and how to check a contractor.
• Scottsdale: Scottsdale's water and sewer contacts, permit rules and local housing factors that affect plumbing.
• Surprise: the far west Valley city's utility contacts, permit office and what to check before hiring.
• Tempe: Tempe's water and sewer provider, permit office and plumbing questions common in its homes and rentals.

Phoenix itself is covered throughout this site, including the services section and the emergency checklist.

For Phoenix addresses, Phoenix Water Services says the city is responsible only for city-owned infrastructure and that everything from the sewer connection point back to the house belongs to the owner. It tells residents to shut off water at the valve near where the line enters the home and not at the meter. The water and sewer emergency hotline is 602-261-8000.

Phoenix's work-exempt-from-permit list exempts stopping leaks, clearing stoppages and like-for-like fixture replacement, and exempts water heater replacements in one- and two-family homes only when a licensed contractor does the work. Relocating pipes, valves or fixtures needs a permit, as does replacing sewer, drainage, water supply or gas piping. Other cities write their own versions of these rules, which is why the city pages exist.

• Which plumbing jobs need a permit, and which are exempt, for example a like-for-like water heater swap or a leak repair.
• Where the city's responsibility for the sewer line ends and yours begins.
• Which number to call for a water main break or a sewer overflow, day and night.
• Whether your home is on city water and sewer at all, or on a private water company or septic system, which changes who you call.

1. Search the ROC. Use the Arizona ROC contractor search. The ROC says a license is required when a project's total cost, labor and materials included, is over $1,000 or when the work needs a local permit.
2. Check the classification, not just the status. Plumbing work should be done under a plumbing classification.
3. Check again on signing day. The ROC recommends confirming the license is current on the day you sign the contract.
4. Get three estimates from licensed contractors, avoid door-to-door pressure, and do not pay in cash or sign over an insurance check.
5. Ask who pulls the permit in your city, and keep the permit number.

Yes. To reach a plumber, call one of the licensed contractors listed on this page or see all listed contractors. Questions about this guide or a correction: email hello@plumberphoenixpros.com. We do not take service requests and do not pass messages on to contractors. We are an independent guide and not a licensed contractor. See the contact page for what to include.