South Shore, Massachusetts
Burst pipe, clogged drain, or no hot water? Call or send a request and we'll connect you with an independent plumber who serves your town, from Quincy to Plymouth.
Start with the problem
Pick the problem closest to yours. Each guide covers what to do first, what a plumber will check, and how to hire with confidence. If water is spreading or you smell gas, start with safety and call.
How it works
Call or fill out the short request form with your town and the problem: a leak, a clog, a water heater, or something else.
We connect you with an independent plumbing business that serves your town. You talk with them directly about timing and the job.
Look up the plumber's license, ask for a written estimate, and decide on your terms. You never pay us; you pay only the plumber you choose to hire.
Service areas
Each town page covers who runs the local water and sewer, where plumbing permits are issued, and what the age of the housing means for your pipes. Choose your town to start.
Local knowledge
Plumbing on the South Shore varies more from town to town than most people expect. A few examples:
Quincy · Older Housing
About 37% of Quincy's housing units were built in 1939 or earlier. Original drains, galvanized supply lines, and old shutoff valves are common, so a plumber may find more than one aging part on a visit.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · Quincy page
Braintree · Sump Pump Rules
Braintree runs separate sewer and stormwater systems, and sump pumps must discharge outside or to a storm drain. If yours ties into a sink or floor drain, ask a plumber about rerouting it.
Source: Town of Braintree · Braintree page
Scituate · Sewer At Sale
When a sewered Scituate property is sold, private sewer lines of clay, cast iron, or asbestos concrete must be replaced. The work needs a sewer permit and an inspection before backfill.
Source: Town of Scituate · Scituate page
Milton · Service Lines
In Milton the utility owns the water service up to the curb stop valve, and the owner owns it from there to the house. The town has an address lookup for service line material.
Source: Town of Milton · Milton page
Plymouth · Corrosive Water
Plymouth's water report says its groundwater is naturally corrosive, so the town adjusts the pH before delivery. Ask a plumber what that means for older copper pipes and water heaters in your home.
Source: Town of Plymouth · Plymouth page
Brockton · Lead Line Inventory
Brockton is cataloging water service lines to find lead. The city is responsible from the main to the curb stop, and the owner from the curb stop into the home.
Source: City of Brockton · Brockton page
Hire smart
Plumbing and gas fitting in Massachusetts require a license from the Board of State Examiners of Plumbers and Gas Fitters, and most plumbing work needs a permit from the town's plumbing inspector.
A few minutes of checking protects you on any plumbing job, large or small.
Massachusetts licenses master and journeyman plumbers. Search the plumber's name or number on the state's license lookup before work starts. Check a Massachusetts plumber or gas fitter license
The local plumbing inspector must issue a permit before piping is installed, replaced, or repaired, and only a plumber with a state license can get one. Minor fixes like a leaky faucet are the exception. Read the state's consumer fact sheet
A written estimate should name the work, the materials, the permit, and cleanup. It makes comparing two plumbers simple. Questions to ask a plumber before you hire
The Board of State Examiners of Plumbers and Gas Fitters sets the state plumbing code and handles licensing and complaints. Board of State Examiners of Plumbers and Gas Fitters
Why start here
Town pages draw on water reports, town permit offices, and Census housing figures, and each fact links to where it came from.
Our guides show how to check a license, when a permit applies, and what to ask before you sign, whoever you hire.
Calling or sending a request costs you nothing, and you're never required to hire the plumber you speak with.
We explain how the site is paid for and what we do and don't do, so you know exactly who you're dealing with.
Learning Center
Plain-English guides to hiring, permits and planning, written for homes like yours.
A short list of the right questions tells you more about a plumber than any ad. Use these on the phone, during the site visit, and before you sign off on an estimate.
Read the guide
Massachusetts has some of the clearest plumbing rules in the country. Here is how to use them to pick a plumber with confidence, whether the job is a dripping shutoff or a full repipe.
Read the guideQuestions
Still not sure? Send a short request and a local pro can answer the specifics.
No. South Shore Plumber Finder is a referral service. We connect you with independent local plumbing businesses, and the plumber you hire does the work and is responsible for it.
No. There's no charge to call or send a request. You pay the plumber you choose to hire, based on the estimate you agree to with them.
Thirty-eight South Shore towns, from Quincy, Milton and Canton down to Wareham, Marion and Rochester. Each town has its own page plus a page for every plumbing service there, all listed under Service Areas.
Use the state's online license search and look up the plumber by name or license number. The Board of State Examiners of Plumbers and Gas Fitters issues master and journeyman plumber licenses.
Close the main water shutoff, usually where the water line enters the basement, and keep away from wet outlets or the electrical panel. Then call to reach a local plumber.
Leave the house right away and call 911 once you're outside, or call your gas company from outside. Don't use switches, phones, or appliances while you're inside.
That's up to the plumber and their schedule. When you're connected, ask directly about timing and any charge for the visit so you can decide.
Get connected
Share a few details and an independent local plumber who serves your town can follow up about the job. There’s no charge to use this site, and you decide whether to hire anyone.
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