Master plumber licence

A buyer of a plumbing or heating firm in Québec may meet two things that are easy to run together. Under the Master Pipe-Mechanics Act, only members of the Corporation may, subject to its regulations, use the name “master plumber”. The contractor licence is a separate document issued under the Building Act, which, subject to the exceptions in section 42, says no one may act as a building contractor unless they hold a current licence.

What happens to the licence in a sale

The Building Act says the holder of a licence may not transfer the licence. Section 67 of the Building Act also says the licence holder must, within 30 days, inform the Régie in writing of any change in its legal structure, in particular a merger, sale or transfer. See do trade licences transfer when I sell for the wider picture.

What to check or ask

• Which licence the firm holds, and whether the buyer’s team meets the Building Act’s qualification conditions
• Whether the deal changes the holder’s legal structure, which brings the notice rule into play
• Whether membership in the Corporation applies to the people doing the work

This entry covers Québec only; check the rules where you are. Compare licence re-application.