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Tacoma Emergency Plumbers

Tacoma checklist

How to hire an emergency plumber in Tacoma

A backed-up drain in Tacoma can turn into a side sewer job, and the City has its own rules for that. Know who may work where before anyone starts digging.

Check the company and the plumber

  • Company: a Washington plumbing contractor license. Any business that employs plumbers has needed one since 2021.
  • Plumber: an L&I certificate, carried on the job with photo ID. Trainees need a supervisor present.
  • Both are on L&I Verify. Law: RCW 18.106.020.

Side sewer rules in Tacoma

Tacoma requires a permit for every side sewer repair, on your lot or in the street. Clearing roots or a clog needs no permit. You may fix the part on your own property yourself, but work in the right-of-way needs a licensed and bonded contractor. (Tacoma S-205) Full details in our Tacoma side sewer guide.

Questions to ask

  1. What is your plumbing contractor license number?
  2. If this turns out to be the side sewer, will you pull the City permit?
  3. Is your drain cable long enough to reach the city main under the street or alley? Tacoma tells owners to ask. (S-205)
  4. Is there a charge to come out, and do nights cost more?
  5. Can I see your insurance certificate?

Red flags

  • A plumber who wants to dig in the street without mentioning a permit.
  • One bid, high pressure. Tacoma suggests three to five bids for sewer repair. (S-205)
  • Payment in full before the work is done, or in a personal name. (L&I)

Prices and help paying

We found no Tacoma survey of plumbing prices, so ask up front whether there is a charge to come out or for after hours, and get the quote in writing. For a side sewer, Tacoma offers low-interest Sewer Conservation Loans; call Site Development at 253-591-5030. (S-205)

A WA plumbing contractor license badge on a listing here means we matched that business by phone and name to an active record in L&I contractor license data on October 17, 2026. Records change. Run the lookup yourself before work starts.

Sources

We read each source on October 17, 2026. Rules and prices change, so check the linked page before you rely on a number.

  1. RCW 18.106.020, plumbing certificates and contractor licenses
  2. Washington L&I: Verify a Contractor, Tradesperson or Business
  3. City of Tacoma Tip Sheet S-205: Fixing your side sewer (PDF)
  4. L&I publication F625-084-000, What You Should Know About Hiring a Contractor (10-2024)

Written by the Tacoma Emergency Plumbers team. We list businesses; we do not employ, bond or insure them. Spot a mistake? Use the claim page to tell us.

Tacoma water emergency: the first ten minutes

  1. Shut it off. Use your whole-house shutoff valve. It is often in a crawl space, a valve box, or near the water heater. In an emergency, Tacoma Water says you may use the yoke stop valve inside the city meter box. (Tacoma Public Utilities — Find & fix leaks)
  2. Call Tacoma Water if the problem is theirs. Leaks, meter issues and emergency turn on/off: 253-502-8384 (Mon–Fri 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m.). Evenings and weekends: 253-502-8344. (Tacoma Public Utilities — Help)
  3. Brown water after a main break. Tacoma Water says the sediment is harmless. Take the aerators off your faucets and run cold water for three to five minutes. If it does not clear, call 253-502-8344.
  4. Then call a plumber. For anything on your side of the meter (burst supply line, failed water heater, sewer backup) call a plumber from the list. Get the after-hours rate in writing.

Checked against the official pages linked above on 2026-10-08. Numbers change, so confirm on the utility’s site.