# Licensed Plumber or Handyman in Singapore? PUB's Rules | Plumbline

> Which plumbing jobs need a PUB Licensed Plumber in Singapore and which a handyman may legally do: chokes, taps, floor traps, pipes and water heaters, explained.

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# Licensed Plumber or Handyman? What PUB Allows

Updated 2026-10-11 · by Plumbline 

 Short answer: Since 1 April 2018 it has been an offence to engage a plumber not licensed by PUB for regulated water service and sanitary plumbing works. Simple works are exempt and a handyman may do them: replacing taps and mixers and some accessories, clearing blockages in toilets, sanitary appliances and floor traps, replacing floor trap gratings, and installing or removing sinks and basins. 
[Plumbline](/) writes these guides from PUB and government sources and published Singapore price data; each claim links to where it comes from. 

## The rule

PUB’s position is direct: with effect from 1 April 2018, it is an offence for anyone to engage a plumber who is not licensed by PUB for regulated works, and all regulated water service and sanitary plumbing works must be carried out by Licensed Plumbers ([PUB](https://www.pub.gov.sg/Professionals/Requirements/Licensed-Plumbers/Plumbing-Works)). 

## What a handyman may do (simple works)

PUB lists these as simple works that do not need a Licensed Plumber: 

 On the water supply side 

- Replacing or removing taps and mixers, and some connected accessories such as a shower hose or showerhead

- The pipe between a stop valve and an instantaneous water heater

- Some flushing cistern parts

 On the used-water side 

- Installing, replacing or removing washbasins, sinks, bathtubs, shower trays or enclosures, floor waste outlets and urinals

- Replacing floor trap or floor waste gratings and covers

- Clearing blockages in floor traps, water closets and sanitary appliances

- Clearing and flushing drainage pipes and related fittings

## What needs a PUB Licensed Plumber

Anything outside that list on your water service or sanitary plumbing, such as replacing or rerouting pipes , falls under regulated work. 

## How to check a licence

Search PUB’s online register of Licensed Plumbers ([PUB online search](https://eservices.pub.gov.sg/bpp/searchlicensedplumber)), or find one through the Singapore Plumbing Society or your Town Council. A 2026 comparison of eight plumbing firms found only three publishing a licence number on their website, so ask for it. 

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## More questions

 How do I check if a plumber is licensed? + 
PUB lists its Licensed Plumbers on its online search. You can also find them through the Singapore Plumbing Society or your Town Council. Can a handyman install a water heater? + 
PUB lists the pipe between a stop valve and an instantaneous water heater among the simple works. Other water service work is regulated, and any wiring needs an EMA-licensed electrical worker. [Related servicePipe leak repairA dripping joint is a quick fix. A leak inside a wall is a different job. Know which you have.](/pipe-leak-repair/) 

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- Water Bill Suddenly High? Check for a Hidden Leak in 30 Minutes
- How Much Does a Plumber Cost in Singapore? (2026 Prices) 

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