Columbia, MO Building Safety: Plumbing Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Adopted code
- 2018 International Plumbing Code
- License required
- master plumber license, § 101.5
- Permit fee
- $35 minimum
- Max penalty
- $1,000 fine, 90 days jail
Summary
Columbia, Missouri has adopted the 2018 International Plumbing Code, and plumbing work in the city requires both a permit and a City of Columbia master plumber's license.
Sec. 6-51. - Adopted. The 2018 Edition of the International Plumbing Code, published by the International Code Council, Inc., ... is hereby adopted by reference and made a part of the Code of Ordinances, City of Columbia, Missouri as fully as if set forth in its entirety. ... 101.5 License Required. (a) No individual shall engage in the business of plumbing in the City of Columbia unless licensed as a master plumber under the provisions of this code.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 138).
Full Breakdown
The City of Columbia, Boone County, adopted the 2018 International Plumbing Code by Code of Ordinances § 6-51, amended locally at § 6-52. Under § 101.5(a), no individual may engage in the business of plumbing in Columbia without a City-issued master plumber license, and all permitted work must be under the direct supervision of a licensed master or journeyman plumber, with apprentice ratios capped at 1:3. Permit fees, set at § 106.6.2, run per fixture with a $35 minimum for structures not previously plumbed or for plumbing alterations and extensions.
Violations & Fines
Plumbing without the required license or in violation of an approved permit is an ordinance violation under § 108.4, punishable by a fine up to $1,000 and/or up to 90 days imprisonment, with each day of continued violation a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
What plumbing code applies in Columbia, Missouri?
Do I need a licensed plumber for permitted work in Columbia?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Columbia
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