Plumbing guides across Portland and the metro

Plumbing rules are statewide in Oregon, but permits, water service and sewer service are local. A house a few blocks outside Portland city limits can have a different permit office, a different water provider and a different emergency number. Each page below explains what applies in that city and how to verify a contractor there.

• Beaverton: the local water and sewer providers, where plumbing permits are issued, and housing factors that affect drains and water heaters.
• Gresham: the city's water and sewer service, its permit office, and what to check in older and newer neighborhoods.
• Hillsboro: local utilities, permits, and plumbing points for its mix of older and newer housing.
• Lake Oswego: water and sewer service, permits, and local factors that affect sewer lines and drainage.
• Milwaukie: the city's utilities, permit office, and what its housing stock means for plumbing.
• Oregon City: local utilities, the permit office, and what older homes tend to need.
• Tigard: water and sewer providers, the permit office, and common plumbing issues.
• Tualatin: local utilities, permits, and drainage factors.

Inside Portland, the City of Portland issues plumbing permits. A permit is needed to repair, replace or move pipes, install or replace fixtures, and replace a water heater. Homeowners may do their own work only if they are the recorded owner, not an LLC. Sewer repairs between the property line and the curb need a separate right-of-way permit, according to the city's broken sewer lines page.

Outside Portland, the permit office depends on the city or county. Clackamas County, for example, says a permit is required before modifying or installing any plumbing, and that the fee doubles if installation starts before the permit is issued, except for proven emergencies, which need a permit within 5 days. It also notes that contractors doing sanitary building sewer installations need a BCD Plumbing Business License in addition to a CCB license, enforced since April 1, 2022.

The Portland Water Bureau and Portland Environmental Services numbers on our emergency checklist apply to their own service areas. In the suburbs, use the emergency number on your water or sewer bill. Some steps are the same everywhere: close your main shutoff first, and if you smell gas, leave the house and call NW Natural at 800-882-3377 or 911.

Licensing is statewide. The Oregon Building Codes Division says plumbing contractors need a CCB license and a BCD plumbing contractor license, and advises checking both before work starts. A company licensed in Oregon can work in any of these cities, but it still needs the local permit. Ask which office it will pull the permit from; a contractor unfamiliar with your city's process is worth a follow-up question. Our guide to choosing a plumber has a full checklist.

Requests from anywhere in the Portland metro are welcome. Questions about this guide: email us. We do not take service requests. Service-specific costs are on the services pages.

We are an independent guide and do not do this work. To reach a plumber, call one of the licensed contractors listed on this page or see all listed contractors. If you prefer, you can email us your question through our contact page.