Bathroom Remodel — Maine license requirements
01 The project
The starting point is the work itself — Bathroom Remodel in Maine. The job determines which trades are involved, and the trades determine which license classifications may be required.
| Component | Trade |
|---|---|
| Plumbing | Plumbing |
| Electrical | Electrical |
| Tile | Tile |
| Framing | Framing |
| Drywall | Drywall |
| Painting | Painting |
02 Jurisdiction
This project is evaluated for Maine — the no-statewide-GC state. Maine issues no general or residential contractor license; the work is regulated by the individual trade credentials (electrician ch. 17, plumber ch. 49, fuel technician ch. 139), the ch. 128 door-to-door home-repair registration, and municipal building/plumbing permits (MUBEC; 30-A §4215). Maine jurisdiction page.
Building-permit and plumbing-permit fees are municipality-set and were not read — LOCAL_AUTHORITY_REQUIRED. Maine imposes no statewide surety bond and no statewide general-liability minimum on any board credential, so no amount appears here to verify against. State requirements are not the complete story for any locality.
03 Trade → license
Relations below are recorded per state — only this jurisdiction's classifications are shown.
Trades involved: Plumbing, Electrical, Tile, Framing, Drywall, Painting.
- May require MASTER-PLUMBER — Master Plumber confirmed S-ME-PEB-LICENSING rule ME-PLUMBING-LICENSEPlumbing portion: a licensed master plumber (the business-holding class) or journeyman under a master performs the plumbing; a municipal plumbing permit is required under 30-A §4215 and the municipality may not issue it unless satisfied the applicant complies with ch. 49 (§3302(2)). No separate 'plumbing contractor' license exists (research §B/§D).
- Component basis JOURNEYMAN-PLUMBER — Journeyman Plumber confirmed S-ME-PEB-LICENSING rule ME-PLUMBING-LICENSEWorker limb: a journeyman plumber works under the employment and direction of a master plumber; up to 3 trainees may work under the master/journeyman's direct supervision (§3302(3)).
- May require MASTER-ELECTRICIAN — Master Electrician confirmed S-ME-32-1102-C rule ME-ELECTRICAL-LICENSEElectrical portion: an electrical permit is required before the installation and only a master or limited electrician may apply for it (§1102-C(2)); the work is performed by licensed electricians. §1102-C(5)(A) exempts a single-family dwelling installation performed by a licensed electrician from the permit, but not from the licensing requirement.
- Component basis JOURNEYMAN-ELECTRICIAN — Journeyman Electrician confirmed S-ME-32-1202-B rule ME-ELECTRICAL-LICENSEWorker limb: a journeyman electrician installs while employed by a supervising master/limited electrician or an electrical company and may supervise a capped crew (2 helpers/2 apprentices/1 helper) — §1202-B(4).
- Alternative path DOOR-TO-DOOR-HOME-REPAIR-SELLER — Transient Seller of Home Repair Services (Door-to-Door Home Repair Seller) confirmed S-ME-32-14504 rule ME-DOOR-TO-DOORCONDITIONAL: if the remodel is sold door-to-door, the ch. 128 registration is additionally required (§14504) — IN ADDITION to the plumbing/electrical trade licenses, never instead of them.
04 Scope
What the official sources say about the work involved — typed assertions, never a boolean "covers". Interpretations are marked as such.
- Officially included MASTER-ELECTRICIAN Engaging In The Business Of Installing Electrical Wires Conduits Apparatus Fixtures And Equipment (may_perform) 32 MRSA ch. 17 (§1202-B; board class page) S-ME-EEB-MASTER Maine has no separate 'electrical contractor' license: the business-holding credential IS the master electrician license. A limited electrician shares the permit authority.
- Officially included JOURNEYMAN-ELECTRICIAN Electrical Installations While Employed By A Master Limited Or Electrical Company And Supervising A Capped Crew (may_perform) 32 MRSA §1202-B(4) S-ME-32-1202-B A journeyman may supervise a small crew but not hold the business or pull the permit — that is the master/limited class.
- Officially included MASTER-PLUMBER Engaging In The Business Of Installing Plumbing Or Plumbing Systems (may_perform) 32 MRSA ch. 49 (board definition; §3302(2)-(3)) S-ME-PEB-LICENSING As with electrical, there is no separate 'plumbing contractor' license — the master plumber license IS the business-holding credential.
- Officially excluded JOURNEYMAN-PLUMBER Plumbing Work Beyond A Master Plumber Employment Scope Or The Narrow Ch 139 Crossover Limits (may_not_perform) 32 MRSA §3302(1) S-ME-32-3302 The crossover exceptions are deliberately narrow: same room, existing piping, no new branch. Anything larger is full plumbing under a master.
- Officially included DOOR-TO-DOOR-HOME-REPAIR-SELLER Municipal Building Permit Enforcement Of The Maine Uniform Building And Energy Code (may_pull_permit) 10 MRSA §9724(1)/(1-A)/(5) S-ME-10-9724 The statewide LOCAL model; permit fee schedules and the list of enforcing municipalities were not read (LOCAL_AUTHORITY_REQUIRED).
- Requires another classification MASTER-ELECTRICIAN A Maine Licensed Electrician For Plug In Photovoltaic Or Battery Systems Over 420 Watts Up To 1200 Watts (requires) 35-A MRSA §3475 (LD 1730 / P.L. 2025 c. 644) S-ME-EEB The only solar-specific Maine provision found; ordinary rooftop PV has no separate license and is ch. 17 electrical work.
05 Requirements
| Requirement | Kind | Statement | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| A license is required for any individual engaged in plumbing or performing plumbing installations 32 MRSA §3302(1)/(3) verbatim (read 2026-10-05) | license | 32 MRSA §3302(1): 'A license is required for any individual who is engaged in plumbing or performing plumbing installations.' The licensed classes are Master (engages in the business), Journeyman (works under the employment and direction of a master), Trainee (works under direct supervision) and Journeyman-in-Training (a one-time four-year non-renewable license). A master or journeyman plumber may not have more than 3 trainee plumbers working under direct supervision (§3302(3)). | S-ME-32-3302Source S-ME-32-3302 — Maine Legislature — Maine Revised Statutes (legislature.maine.gov)32 MRSA §3302 — Applicability — 32 MRSA §3302(1)/(3) verbatim (read 2026-10-05) https://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/32/title32sec3302.html Retrieved 2026-10-05 · last verified 2026-10-05 Read in full 2026-10-05. 'A license is required for any individual who is engaged in plumbing or performing plumbing installations. A license is not required for any activity for which a permit is not required under Title 30-A, section 4215.' Exceptions: public-utility employees (A), ch. 139 oil/propane licensees limited to hot/cold connections to existing piping in the same room and not beyond an existing branch (B), a person in a single-family residence they occupy/will occupy as bona fide personal abode (C), ch. 69-C pump installers within the ≤15 ft same-room limits (D). (2) Municipal licenses not required and municipalities may not issue a plumbing permit unless satisfied the applicant complies with ch. 49. (3) A master/journeyman may not supervise more than 3 trainee plumbers. Backs REQ-ME-PLUMBING-LICENSE-001, REQ-ME-PLUMBING-EXCEPTIONS-001, REQ-ME-PLUMBING-PERMIT-001, REQ-ME-TRAINEE-LIMIT-001 and rules ME-PLUMBING-LICENSE / ME-PLUMBING-EXCEPTIONS / ME-PLUMBING-PERMIT / ME-TRAINEE-SUPERVISION. |
| A municipal plumbing permit is required for installing plumbing into a building; municipalities may not license plumbers 30-A MRSA §4215(1)-(4) + 32 MRSA §3302(2) (read 2026-10-05) | permit | 30-A MRSA §4215(1) requires a permit for 'the installation of plumbing into a building', subsurface waste-water disposal systems, and seasonal-dwelling conversion; the permit is valid for work commenced within 24 months and is issued by the local plumbing inspector on a municipality-set fee subject to a state minimum. 32 MRSA §3302(2) provides that 'a municipality may not require plumbers to be municipally licensed nor may any municipality issue a permit for any plumbing installation unless satisfied that the person, firm or corporation applying for the permit complies' with ch. 49. | S-ME-30A-4215Source S-ME-30A-4215 — Maine Legislature — Maine Revised Statutes (legislature.maine.gov)30-A MRSA §4215 — Permits (plumbing, subsurface waste water) — 30-A MRSA §4215(1)-(4) + 32 MRSA §3302(2) (read 2026-10-05) https://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/30-A/title30-Asec4215.html Retrieved 2026-10-05 · last verified 2026-10-05 Read in full 2026-10-05: a permit is required for 'the installation of plumbing into a building', subsurface waste-water disposal systems, and seasonal-dwelling conversion; valid 24 months; issued by the local plumbing inspector on a municipality-set fee subject to a state minimum; violations penalized under 30-A §4452. Cross-referenced by 32 MRSA §3302(1), which ties the plumbing licensing requirement to the §4215 permit requirement. Backs REQ-ME-PLUMBING-PERMIT-001 and rule ME-PLUMBING-PERMIT. |
| An electrical installation may not be made unless by an electrician licensed by the board 32 MRSA §1201 verbatim + §1202-B (read 2026-10-05) | license | 32 MRSA §1201 verbatim: 'An electrical installation may not be made unless by an electrician licensed by the board except as provided in this chapter.' The licensed classes under §1202-B are master, journeyman, limited, journeyman-in-training, apprentice and helper electrician; a master or limited electrician is the class authorised to apply for an electrical permit under §1102-C(2). | S-ME-32-1201Source S-ME-32-1201 — Maine Legislature — Maine Revised Statutes (legislature.maine.gov)32 MRSA §1201 — License required — 32 MRSA §1201 verbatim + §1202-B (read 2026-10-05) https://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/32/title32sec1201.html Retrieved 2026-10-05 · last verified 2026-10-05 Read 2026-10-05: 'An electrical installation may not be made unless by an electrician licensed by the board except as provided in this chapter.' Backs REQ-ME-ELECTRICAL-LICENSE-001 and rule ME-ELECTRICAL-LICENSE. |
| An electrical permit must be obtained from the board before the installation, with statutory exceptions 32 MRSA §1102-C(1)-(5) verbatim (read in full 2026-10-05) | permit | 32 MRSA §1102-C: 'a permit must be obtained from the board before an electrical installation may be performed.' The application must be submitted by a licensed master electrician or limited electrician; an inspection is required before wiring is enclosed; a utility must require proof of permit before connecting power. §1102-C(5) exempts a single-family dwelling installation performed by a licensed electrician, an owner in an existing single-family dwelling they occupy, minor repair work (lamps, fuses, lighting fixtures, switches, sockets, outlets, low-voltage equipment, service-entrance repair), work by ch. 139 fuel licensees, the ch. 49 plumber and ch. 69-C pump-installer like-in-kind exceptions, and work permitted by a municipality under 30-A §4173. | S-ME-32-1102-CSource S-ME-32-1102-C — Maine Legislature — Maine Revised Statutes (legislature.maine.gov)32 MRSA §1102-C — Permit; inspection of electrical installations — 32 MRSA §1102-C(1)-(5) verbatim (read in full 2026-10-05) https://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/32/title32sec1102-C.html Retrieved 2026-10-05 · last verified 2026-10-05 Read in full 2026-10-05 (PL 2017 c. 198 §6; PL 2025 c. 88 §1). Permit required before an electrical installation; application by a licensed master or limited electrician; inspection before wiring is enclosed; utility requires proof of permit. Exceptions (§5) include single-family installation by a licensed electrician (A), an owner in an existing single-family dwelling they occupy (A-1, 2025), utility/transmission work, minor repair work incl. lamps/fuses/fixtures/switches/outlets/low-voltage/service-entrance repair (D), municipal-permit work under 30-A §4173 (E), industrial/manufacturing (F-G), ch. 139 fuel licensees (H-I), ch. 49 plumbers' like-in-kind water pump/heater conductor work in residential properties (J), ch. 69-C pump installers ≤3 hp (K). Combined permit+inspection service fee set by rule, ≤$100. Backs REQ-ME-ELECTRICAL-PERMIT-001 and rule ME-PERMIT. |
| A transient seller of home repair services needs a door-to-door sales license IN ADDITION to any trade license 32 MRSA §14504(1)-(3) verbatim + OPOR page (read 2026-10-05) | registration | 32 MRSA §14504(1): 'A transient seller of home repair services must be licensed by the department and acquire a door-to-door sales license … before engaging in the door-to-door sales of home repair services. The licensing requirement under this section is in addition to the licensing requirements applicable to the occupation, trade or profession for which a license is required.' A transient seller who solicits sales during the course of a municipal or state repair contract is exempt. A violation is a Class E crime (strict liability), or a Class D crime if intentional, enforceable by the Attorney General or a district attorney. | S-ME-32-14504Source S-ME-32-14504 — Maine Legislature — Maine Revised Statutes (legislature.maine.gov)32 MRSA §14504 — License required — 32 MRSA §14504(1)-(3) verbatim + OPOR page (read 2026-10-05) https://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/32/title32sec14504.html Retrieved 2026-10-05 · last verified 2026-10-05 Read in full 2026-10-05: 'A transient seller of home repair services must be licensed by the department and acquire a door-to-door sales license … before engaging in the door-to-door sales of home repair services. The licensing requirement under this section is in addition to the licensing requirements applicable to the occupation, trade or profession for which a license is required.' A transient seller soliciting during a municipal/state repair contract is exempt. Penalty: Class E crime (strict liability) / Class D if intentional; enforceable by the Attorney General or a district attorney. Backs REQ-ME-DOOR-TO-DOOR-001 and rule ME-DOOR-TO-DOOR. |
| A municipal building permit is required to build/renovate; the Maine Uniform Building and Energy Code must be enforced above 4,000 residents 10 MRSA §9724(1)-(7) verbatim (read 2026-10-05) | permit | 10 MRSA §9724(1): 'The Maine Uniform Building and Energy Code must be enforced in a municipality that has more than 4,000 residents', through inspections. A municipality of up to 4,000 residents is not required to enforce but 'may not adopt or enforce a building code other than the Maine Uniform Building Code, the Maine Uniform Energy Code or the Maine Uniform Building and Energy Code' (§9724(1-A)). The MUBEC does not apply to log homes, manufactured housing, post-and-beam or timber-frame construction, or warehouses and silos used to store harvested crops (§9724(5)(A)). Municipalities may adopt local enforcement ordinances with appeal rights. | S-ME-10-9724Source S-ME-10-9724 — Maine Legislature — Maine Revised Statutes (legislature.maine.gov)10 MRSA §9724 — Application (Maine Uniform Building and Energy Code) — 10 MRSA §9724(1)-(7) verbatim (read 2026-10-05) https://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/10/title10sec9724.html Retrieved 2026-10-05 · last verified 2026-10-05 Read in full 2026-10-05. 'The Maine Uniform Building and Energy Code must be enforced in a municipality that has more than 4,000 residents.' A municipality up to 4,000 residents is not required to enforce but may not adopt/enforce a different code. Local enforcement ordinances are allowed (with appeal rights); the MUBEC does not apply to log homes, manufactured housing (ch. 951), post-and-beam/timber-frame construction, or warehouses/silos. Municipalities may not prohibit EPA-listed acceptable refrigerants. Backs REQ-ME-MUBEC-PERMIT-001 and rule ME-MUBEC. |
06 Rule: ME-PLUMBING-LICENSE
32 MRSA §3302(1): 'A license is required for any individual who is engaged in plumbing or performing plumbing installations.' Classes: Master (engages in the business), Journeyman (under a master), Trainee (direct supervision), Journeyman-in-Training (one-time 4-year non-renewable). A master/journeyman may not supervise more than 3 trainees (§3302(3)). Test ME-PLUMBING-EXCEPTIONS first. Missing facts yield NOT_DETERMINED.
| Outcome | Conclusion | Caveats |
|---|---|---|
| license-required | plumbing_license_required |
|
| exception | plumbing_license_exception |
|
Rule confidence: confirmed. Missing inputs produce NOT_DETERMINED — never a forced answer. Sources: S-ME-32-3302S-ME-PEB-LICENSING
07 Rule: ME-ELECTRICAL-LICENSE
32 MRSA §1201: 'An electrical installation may not be made unless by an electrician licensed by the board except as provided in this chapter.' The licensed classes are master, journeyman, limited, journeyman-in-training, apprentice and helper electrician (§1202-B). Test ME-ELECTRICAL-EXCEPTIONS first. Missing facts yield NOT_DETERMINED.
| Outcome | Conclusion | Caveats |
|---|---|---|
| license-required | electrical_license_required |
|
| exception | electrical_license_exception |
|
Rule confidence: confirmed. Missing inputs produce NOT_DETERMINED — never a forced answer. Sources: S-ME-32-1201S-ME-32-1202-BS-ME-32-1201-A
08 Rule: ME-DOOR-TO-DOOR
32 MRSA §14504: a transient seller of home repair services must be licensed by the department and acquire a door-to-door sales license before engaging in the door-to-door sale of home repair services — IN ADDITION to any trade license. A transient seller soliciting during a municipal or state repair contract is exempt. Violations are Class E (strict liability) / Class D (intentional) crimes. Missing facts yield NOT_DETERMINED.
| Outcome | Conclusion | Caveats |
|---|---|---|
| registration-required | door_to_door_registration_required |
|
| not-door-to-door | door_to_door_registration_not_required |
|
Rule confidence: confirmed. Missing inputs produce NOT_DETERMINED — never a forced answer. Sources: S-ME-32-14504S-ME-DOOR-TO-DOOR
09 Rule: ME-PLUMBING-PERMIT
30-A MRSA §4215 requires a municipal plumbing permit for the installation of plumbing into a building, a subsurface waste water disposal system, or a seasonal-dwelling conversion; the permit is valid 24 months. 32 MRSA §3302(2) provides that a municipality may not require plumbers to be municipally licensed and may not issue a plumbing permit unless satisfied the applicant complies with ch. 49. Permit fees are municipality-set (state minimum); the amounts were not read (NOT_VERIFIED). Missing facts yield NOT_DETERMINED.
| Outcome | Conclusion | Caveats |
|---|---|---|
| permit-required | municipal_plumbing_permit_required |
|
| no-permit | plumbing_permit_not_required |
|
Rule confidence: confirmed. Missing inputs produce NOT_DETERMINED — never a forced answer. Sources: S-ME-30A-4215S-ME-32-3302
10 Rule: ME-PERMIT
32 MRSA §1102-C: a permit must be obtained from the board before an electrical installation, applied for by a licensed master or limited electrician; inspection is required before wiring is enclosed and a utility must require proof of permit before connecting power. §1102-C(5) exempts, among others, a single-family dwelling installation by a licensed electrician, the owner's existing dwelling, minor repair work (lamps, fuses, fixtures, switches, sockets, outlets, low-voltage, service-entrance repair), ch. 139 fuel work, and the ch. 49 / ch. 69-C like-in-kind exceptions. The combined permit+inspection service fee is capped at $100 by statute (§1102-C(4)); the rule-set amounts were not read (NOT_VERIFIED). Missing facts yield NOT_DETERMINED.
| Outcome | Conclusion | Caveats |
|---|---|---|
| permit-required | state_electrical_permit_required |
|
| permit-exception | electrical_permit_exception |
|
Rule confidence: confirmed. Missing inputs produce NOT_DETERMINED — never a forced answer. Sources: S-ME-32-1102-C
11 Rule: ME-TRAINEE-SUPERVISION
32 MRSA §3302(3): 'A master or journeyman plumber may not have more than 3 trainee plumbers working under the master or journeyman plumber's direct supervision.' Missing facts yield NOT_DETERMINED.
| Outcome | Conclusion | Caveats |
|---|---|---|
| over-cap | trainee_supervision_cap_exceeded |
|
| within-cap | trainee_supervision_within_cap | — |
Rule confidence: confirmed. Missing inputs produce NOT_DETERMINED — never a forced answer. Sources: S-ME-32-3302
12 The plumbing and electrical limbs
| Portion | Maine answer | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Plumbing | a licensed master/journeyman plumber performs it; a municipal plumbing permit is required (30-A §4215) and the municipality may not issue it unless satisfied the applicant complies with ch. 49 (§3302(2)) — a master may supervise at most 3 trainees (§3302(3)) | S-ME-32-3302 |
| Electrical | a licensed electrician performs it; only a master or limited electrician may apply for the electrical permit before the installation (§1102-C(2)) | S-ME-32-1201 |
| Sold door-to-door | the ch. 128 registration is additionally required (§14504) — never instead of the trade licenses (rule ME-DOOR-TO-DOOR) | S-ME-32-14504 |
| General / prime scope | no statewide GC license — the prime holds no Maine credential for the general scope (rule ME-NO-GC-LICENSE) | S-ME-OPOR-PROFESSIONS |
| Building permit | municipal — MUBEC above 4,000 residents (rule ME-MUBEC) | S-ME-10-9724 |
13 Permit and verification layer
Maine separates the credential from the permit: the STATE boards decide who may work (the electrician / plumber / fuel licenses), while the municipality issues the building permit under the Maine Uniform Building and Energy Code (10 MRSA §9724) and the plumbing permit under 30-A §4215. Permit fees are municipality-set and were not read — LOCAL_AUTHORITY_REQUIRED. S-ME-10-9724
Verify the credential that actually applies on the official lookup before relying on any outcome here: OPOR licensee search (the Electricians', Plumbers' and Maine Fuel Boards publish their own surfaces through the ALMS portal). S-ME-OPOR-LOOKUP
Source S-ME-OPOR-PROFESSIONS — Maine Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation (OPOR), Department of Professional and Financial Regulation
OPOR — Professions and Occupations (complete credential list) — OPOR professions-and-occupations list (read in full 2026-10-05)
https://www.maine.gov/pfr/professionallicensing/professions
Retrieved 2026-10-05 · last verified 2026-10-05
Read in full 2026-10-05. Enumerates every credential OPOR administers — Accountants … Electricians … Oil and Solid Fuel Technicians … Plumbers … Propane & Natural Gas Technicians … Door-to-Door Home Repair Sellers … There is NO 'contractor' or 'general contractor' entry. This is the official basis for the verified absence of any statewide Maine contractor license (REQ-ME-NO-GC-LICENSE-001) and for CONFLICT-ME-001's resolving side.