The Vermont Attorney General's office recently issued a rule confirming that only licensed individuals can perform plumbing and specialty work in Vermont. It was issued in response to a request from the state's labor department and the Vermont Licensed Plumbers Association.

Prior to the ruling, the Vermont Department of Labor and Industry's position was that a person performing such work need only be licensed when working in public buildings or buildings connected to public water and public sewer systems. The ruling now includes plumbing work done in private single-family residences not connected to public water or sewer; violators are subject to fines of up to $1,000.

The ruling does not affect the seven exceptions to the plumbing statutes where a plumber is not required to be licensed, including plumbing work performed by an owner in his own owner-occupied, single-family residence.