I can remember when I built my addition to my house many years ago. I went down to the city of Denver zoning and building permit section. I got information on the homeowners electrical, plumbing, & building permits and what tests I would need to take to build my own addition. At that time I also provided the building department a hand drawn blue print of what I was going to build and do on my property.
The inspection department sold me a study guide for a few bucks and a few days later I went back and took the home owners exam for electrical and passed. I was a licensed plumber so I did not have to take a test for that part and as far as a building test, one was not needed. As I built my addition I called for each appropriate inspection and the inspectors where nice and friendly offering advice when necessary.
To get a plumbing permit you will need to verify that you are the owner of the property. As proof of ownership you must show a deed of trust or the city has your property on file and who the owner is. They will check this for you for a small fee.
You must first pass the plumbing homeowners exam and the work you do must be on your property. You must perform the plumbing work yourself. Each state, city, county, will have their own set of rules and regulations. My advice is to check with your local building department in your area.
I can remember years ago on my second home I went to the city to pull a permit to replace my entire sewer. The chief inspector wanted me to post a half a million dollar bond before I could begin digging. I explained to them that I was on my property and I can do what ever I want as long as I follow the plumbing code. As I did my work and installed a new sewer the plumbing inspector stood over my ditch all day to insure I was doing my work properly. This inspection department went a little overboard with the rules for what ever reason but I got my sewer in that day with the help of a good back-hoe operator.
As an owner of a house, condominium, or commercial property you can take the plumbing homeowners exam and install all the plumbing you want.
With the invention of plastic pipe and a little reading you may be able to be a great homeowner plumber for your installations.
If your a handyman, or handy-woman and are doing some plumbing as part of your job, take a look at my new book on amazon.com called “Flush Your Plumbing Troubles Down The Toilet” You will find some valuable information for you.
As the name suggests, a handyman can come in handy when you are striving to find someone to do various odd jobs or small tasks that often contractors handling major projects do not have the time or refuse to do. Often, it is a daunting task to find someone to do odd tasks at home or to repair something in this custom-made era of ready solutions; the handyman comes to your rescue!