Question type ยท 5 questions
Rules, money and who to call
Permits, insurance, help paying for flood fixes, checking a plumber's licence and what to look at before you buy.
The plumbing itself is only half the story. The other half is paperwork: who issues the permit, what insurance covers, and how to tell whether the person in your basement is licensed.
Permits depend on where you live. In Montgomery and Prince George's counties, WSSC Water handles plumbing permits; Baltimore, Howard, Anne Arundel and Frederick counties run their own. Who issues plumbing permits lays it out.
Insurance surprises people most. The Maryland Insurance Administration notes that sewage coming in through drains may be covered only if you bought a water and sewer backup endorsement. Does insurance cover a sewer backup goes further, and help paying for flood fixes lists the programs we found.
Before hiring anyone, check the plumber's Maryland licence.
The questions
Who issues plumbing permits where we live: WSSC Water or the county?
A WSSC plumbing permit is what you need in Montgomery and Prince George's counties. Everywhere else in the area, including Baltimore City, the county or city permit office issues it.
Does homeowners insurance cover a sewer backup or a failed sump pump?
Sewer backup insurance usually isn't part of a standard Maryland homeowners policy. A backup or a sump pump that quits is generally covered only if you added a water/sewer back-up endorsement.
Is there county help paying for a backwater valve or other flood fixes?
A backwater valve rebate in Maryland is hard to find. As of October 2026 the help we found is run by Baltimore City and Rockville, plus two DC programs; Montgomery County says it has none.
How do we check that a plumber is licensed in Maryland?
A Maryland plumber license lookup takes a few minutes, once you know which license applies: the State Board's for most of Maryland, WSSC's in Montgomery and Prince George's, Baltimore County's own there.
What should we check in the basement before we buy a house?
For a basement inspection before buying, look at where water comes in and goes out: the sump pit, floor drains, the water heater's age, exposed pipes, signs of past water, and the permit history.
