How to File a Complaint Against a Plumber in NC

When a plumbing job goes wrong — botched installation, unlicensed work, or a contractor who disappeared mid-project — the instinct is to assume the state board will fix everything. The NCPHFS does investigate complaints and can impose real consequences, but its authority is narrower than most people expect.

What the Board Investigates

The North Carolina State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating and Fire Sprinkler Contractors handles complaints related to:

• Unlicensed practice — someone performing plumbing work without holding an active state license (a Class 1 misdemeanor under G.S. 87-21)
• License violations — a licensed contractor working outside their classification scope (e.g., a Class II residential contractor doing commercial work)
• Code violations — installations that violate the active North Carolina State Building Code
• Employee misclassification — contractors using 1099 labor instead of W-2 employees for licensed trade work
• Employer verification refusal — a licensed contractor refusing to honestly document a former employee's qualifying hours

That last one matters to tradespeople specifically. If a former employer refuses to sign your experience verification, filing a Board complaint is the official escalation path. Licensed employers have a legal duty to accurately verify hours worked under their supervision.

How to File

Contact the NCPHFS office in Raleigh directly:

• Phone: 919-875-3612
• Email: [email protected]
• Legal Coordinator: 984-884-5804

The Board will ask you to describe the issue, identify the contractor (name and license number if you have it — check with the license lookup tool), and provide any documentation: contracts, photos, correspondence, inspection reports, or permit records.

The Board's field investigators may visit the job site, interview the parties, and review the technical work against code requirements. The investigation timeline varies, but expect several weeks for the Board to complete its review and reach a determination.

Disciplinary Outcomes

If the Board finds a violation, the available actions escalate in severity:

• Letter of Caution — a formal warning placed in the licensee's file.
• Field Resolution Agreement — the contractor agrees to correct specific violations within a set timeframe. Failure to comply escalates the matter.
• Consent Agreement — a negotiated settlement where the contractor accepts specific penalties (fines, additional supervision, mandatory training) without a formal hearing.
• License Suspension or Revocation — the Board can suspend a license for a defined period or permanently revoke it, effectively ending the contractor's ability to work in NC.

All finalized actions beyond Letters of Caution are published through the Board's Attorney's Report and Resolution Agreements pages — meaning clients, general contractors, and potential employers can see them.

What the Board Cannot Do

The NCPHFS does not award money. If a contractor's bad work caused property damage, you need to pursue financial recovery through:

• Small claims court (within that court's monetary jurisdiction)
• Civil court for larger amounts
• Your homeowner's insurance claim

The Board's jurisdiction is limited to licensing status and code compliance. It can revoke the contractor's license, but it can't order them to refund your money or pay for repairs. These are separate legal tracks — the Board complaint protects future customers, and civil action protects your wallet.

The North Carolina Plumber License Guide details the full disciplinary framework, including how the Board handles investigations and what licensed contractors should know about staying compliant.

See more North Carolina guides →