The facts -

Yes you need a license to be a practicing plumber in the State of Ohio

Commercial Plumbing:

• According to the Ohio Dept of Commerce: If you do not have a license to practice a trade (electric, plumbing, hydronics, ect.), there is a $250,000 if caught practicing on a commercial zoned building.

Residential Plumbing:

• According to the Ohio Dept of Commerce: Residential restrictions are not regulated state-wide and are controlled by the county building departments

• According to the Lucas County Building Regulations office: There is not necessarily a fine stated in the by-laws for not having a license. There is a law stating that you can not obtain a permit for residential plumbing without a license. If you are caught plumbing without a permit the fines are as follows:

• First offense: 250.00

• Second Offense: 500.00

• Third Offense: 1000.00

• Fourth offense: 2000.00

• Fifth offense: 4000.00

• Sixth offense: 8000.00

• And so on - doubling the fine after every offense.

• According to the Lucas County Building Regulations office: You can not work under the permit of someone else while practicing a trade (plumbing, electric, ect). Every person working on the site must obtain a permit for their trade

This would mean that if Joe is not a licensed plumber (which according to the State of Ohio, he is not) - he can not legally do any plumbing (at least for trade pay). Stating that Joe is a plumber is a lie. Joe may know how to do plumbing responsibilities, but he is not a plumber -