Local service guide
Plumbing services in London, ON: hiring and permits
For plumbing services in London, ON, choose a plumber after identifying whether you need an indoor repair, a water-service investigation or basement drainage work. Ask who will perform the work, check their Skilled Trades Ontario registration and request a written scope with permit responsibilities. If all cold-water taps stop working or you cannot locate the problem, contact the City's water emergency line at 519-661-4739 before arranging a private water-service repair. [1] [4]
Choose the right first call
For a suspected frozen pipe, try different cold-water taps. The City says that water flowing from even one tap suggests an internal plumbing problem; call a plumber for that investigation. If none has water, or you cannot tell where the problem starts, call the City at 519-661-4739. The City operates this water emergency number around the clock and also accepts reports of possible watermain breaks and leaking water meters. [1]
For an isolated leak, clogged fixture or planned replacement, describe the affected fixture and ask what the plumber needs to diagnose it. Send photographs of accessible pipes and the work area. Ask for the visit charge and the amount you must approve before the plumber moves from diagnosis to repair.
During basement flooding, stay out if water has contacted electrical outlets, baseboard heaters, the furnace or electrical panel. Call London Hydro at 519-661-5555 to disconnect power and contact your insurer. Report flooding to the City at 519-661-4570 during weekday office hours or 519-661-4965 during evenings, weekends and holidays. The City checks its sewer system; a plumber or wet basement contractor can investigate the cause at your property. [2]
Check the worker and define the repair
Plumber is a compulsory trade in Ontario. Skilled Trades Ontario says a person practising it must hold a Registered Training Agreement, Provisional Certificate of Qualification or Certificate of Qualification and appear on its Public Register. Certificate of Qualification holders must renew their certificate to keep it valid. Ask for the worker's name and credential status before booking. [4]
Ask the business for proof of insurance and experience with your proposed work. For a faucet or toilet replacement, specify who supplies the fixture, who removes the old one and whether the quote includes connection parts. For concealed leaks, ask who opens and restores walls or floors. Keep diagnosis, plumbing repair and surface restoration as separate items in the written scope.
Investigate basement drainage before selecting equipment
Ask the plumber to distinguish a blocked sanitary lateral, sump-pump failure and water entering around the foundation. London's flooding guidance assigns homeowners responsibility for the condition and maintenance of the entire sanitary lateral. A plumber can inspect it to locate a blockage; the City notes that some laterals need lining or replacement. [2]
Tell the contractor whether you know where the weeping tiles connect. The City describes sanitary connections in some homes built before 1985, with exceptions. Do not choose a valve from house age alone. If the weeping tiles connect to the sanitary sewer, you must disconnect them before installing a backwater valve. Ask the contractor to document the connection and quote any disconnection work. [2]
Request a maintenance explanation before accepting flood-protection work. The homeowner must clean the backwater valve according to manufacturer guidance. If the valve closes during rain, stop using household plumbing until it opens again: the closed valve also prevents wastewater from leaving your home. Ask the installer to show you how to check it. [2]
Budget permits and compare complete quotes
London's permit-fee schedule effective March 1, 2026 through February 28, 2027 lists $260.37 for the specified single-detached or semi-detached buried-piping category, $260.37 per sanitary backwater valve and $260.37 per testable backflow prevention device. These are municipal fees, not installed plumbing prices. The City states that more than one fee category may apply to a project. [3]
Ask the contractor to confirm permit requirements for your exact scope and identify who applies, pays and arranges inspections. London's by-law allows the owner or an agent authorized in writing to apply. It also requires the permit holder to notify the City at mandatory inspection stages. For permitted work, request the permit number and inspection records with your completion documents. [3]
Compare quotes using the same fixture specifications and repair boundaries. Ask each contractor to itemize labour, materials, diagnosis, permits, disposal, restoration and applicable taxes. Request written approval of changes before extra work starts. The supplied municipal sources do not establish local labour rates or complete prices for drain clearing, leak repairs or fixture replacement; obtain job-specific quotes for those costs.
Selected London plumbing permit fees
Local details that affect your job
Coordinate both sides of a lead water service
London offers free tap-water lead testing for residents of older homes. Request it at [email protected] or 519-661-2489 extension 5780. If you have a lead service, the City says the homeowner must arrange replacement of the private portion and obtain plumbing permits; the City then replaces the public portion at no cost to the homeowner. Contact the City before accepting a replacement scope so you can coordinate the two portions. [1]
Ask about flood-protection funding before booking
London's Basement Flooding Grant Program offers qualifying homeowners assistance toward eligible weeping-tile disconnection, sump-pit and pump work, backwater valves and sump-pump battery backups. Ask the City about eligibility and application requirements before committing to the installation. Contact [email protected] or 519-661-2489 extension 5489. Do not deduct an assumed grant from your budget until the City confirms your eligibility. [2]
Match the problem to the next step
| Situation | First contact | What to arrange |
|---|---|---|
| All cold-water taps stop working | City water emergency line: 519-661-4739 | Ask the City to help locate the service problem. |
| Some cold-water taps work during suspected freezing | Plumber | Request an investigation of the indoor plumbing. |
| Basement water contacts electrical equipment | London Hydro: 519-661-5555 | Stay out, arrange power disconnection and contact your insurer. |
| Repeated sanitary backup | Plumber and City flooding contact | Request a lateral assessment and report flooding for a municipal sewer check. |
| Proposed backwater valve | Plumber or drainage contractor | Confirm weeping-tile connections and disconnect sanitary-connected tiles before installation. |
Your hiring checklist
- Photograph the affected fixture, accessible pipes and work area.
- Record which taps or drains have problems and when symptoms started.
- Ask for the names and credential status of the people doing the work.
- Request proof of insurance and relevant project experience.
- Separate diagnosis, repair, permits and surface restoration in the quote.
- Agree on who supplies fixtures and approves changes.
- Ask who handles applications, inspections and completion records.
- Request maintenance instructions and written warranty terms.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does every plumbing repair need a permit?
Confirm the requirement for your specific scope rather than treating all repairs alike. London's water guidance requires a plumbing permit for a new testable backflow prevention device. Replacing one also requires a permit if its type, size or location changes. Ask the contractor to confirm your project's requirements with the City. [1]
Can a registered apprentice do plumbing work?
Skilled Trades Ontario lists a Registered Training Agreement as one authorized pathway for practising the compulsory Plumber trade. It also recognizes Provisional Certificates of Qualification and Certificates of Qualification. Ask who will attend and verify their status in the Public Register. [4]
Does the City maintain my entire sewer connection?
London assigns homeowners responsibility for the condition and maintenance of the entire sanitary lateral. This differs from its water-service boundary at the property line. Ask the plumber to identify the pipe involved before assuming the City will pay for a repair. [1] [2]
Does the $260.37 valve fee include installation?
No. It is the City's scheduled permit fee per sanitary backwater valve for March 1, 2026 through February 28, 2027. Obtain a separate installation quote, and ask whether the project attracts additional permit categories. [3]
Sources and scope
This guide combines the sources below with practical planning guidance. Figures apply to the stated geography and period; request a written quote for your property.