The short answer
A licensed plumber in the Miami area usually charges $40 to $140 an hour, plus a service call of $45 to $140. Clearing a drain runs about $95 to $255 and a new toilet $325 to $745 installed. The big South Florida bills come from old cast iron drains under the slab, septic systems and storm damage, and most plumbing work in Miami-Dade needs a permit.
Construction costs in Miami run slightly below the national average. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Area Cost Factors list Miami at 0.93 against a US average of 1.00, and the prices on this page use that figure. Expect higher rates after hurricanes and on nights and weekends, when demand spikes.
If sewage is coming up through a tub or floor drain, stop using water in the house right away, including toilets, the washing machine and the dishwasher. That usually means a blocked main drain or lateral, and every flush makes the backup worse.
Plumbing prices in Miami
These ranges include labor and standard parts for a typical South Florida home. We start from national cost data, apply the Miami cost factor, and compare the result with local price guides.
| Job | Miami (typical range) | US average |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly rate (licensed plumber) | $42–$140/hr | $45–$150/hr |
| Service call / trip fee | $47–$140 | $50–$150 |
| Clear a clogged drain | $93–$255 | $100–$275 |
| Install a faucet | $110–$280 | $120–$300 |
| Install a toilet | $325–$745 | $350–$800 |
| Find and fix a leak | $140–$605 | $150–$650 |
| Burst pipe repair | $465–$4,650 | $500–$5,000 |
| Sewer line repair | $465–$3,550 | $500–$3,800 |
| Gas line repair or install | $325–$1,850 | $350–$2,000 |
| Water heater, 50-gal tank, installed | $650–$2,900 | $700–$3,100 |
| Tankless water heater (gas), installed | $1,950–$5,200 | $2,100–$5,600 |
| Whole-house repipe | $3,700–$14,900 | $4,000–$16,000 |
Estimates for 2026, including labor and standard parts. Miami prices use the metro's construction cost factor of 0.93 (US average = 1.00) from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Area Cost Factors. Your quote depends on access, materials and the condition of the home.
One South Florida cost sits far outside this table: replacing the cast iron drain system in an older house. Industry figures put a full replacement at $20,000 to $100,000 depending on the size of the home and whether the pipes are replaced through trenches in the slab, through a tunnel under the house, or relined from inside. Get a camera inspection and at least two written proposals before committing to that kind of job.
To price your own job at the rate for your ZIP code, use the calculator.
Cast iron drains under the slab
Nearly 40% of Florida homes were built before 1975, and most of those have cast iron drain lines running under the concrete slab. Cast iron can last 40 to 50 years in many places. In South Florida, many systems start failing after 25 to 30. Hydrogen sulfide gas from wastewater eats at the inside of the pipe, the humidity speeds up corrosion, and the bottom of the pipe slowly thins until it cracks, channels open or collapses.
What it looks like from inside the house:
- Slow drains in several fixtures at once
- Repeated clogs that come back soon after snaking
- Sewer smells inside the house
- Wet spots or lifting tile where nothing is leaking from above
- Roaches or drain flies near floor drains
A camera inspection is the first step. It shows whether the pipe can be cleaned and relined from inside, needs a section replaced, or is failing throughout. If you are buying a pre-1975 home in Miami-Dade or Broward, a sewer camera inspection is one of the most useful things you can pay for.
The insurance fight
Cast iron failures led to one of the biggest waves of insurance disputes in Florida. Policies usually exclude gradual wear and tear, so insurers often deny these claims, while homeowners argue that a sudden collapse or leak is a covered event even if the corrosion took decades. More than 28,000 lawsuits over these water damage claims were filed in 2016 alone. If your drain fails, document everything, get the plumber's camera footage and written findings, and read your policy before agreeing to a large repair.
Septic systems and the move to sewer
A large share of Miami-Dade still runs on septic. About 120,000 properties in the county use septic tanks. As sea level rises, the groundwater rises with it, and a septic drain field needs dry soil to work. The county estimates that more than 9,000 septic tanks are already at risk of failing, and that number could reach 13,500 by 2040.
Miami-Dade's Connect 2 Protect program is working to move more than 100,000 properties from septic to the public sewer, a roughly $4 billion effort. Homeowners with a homestead exemption can qualify for up to $15,000 in grants, or zero- or low-interest loans, to pay for connecting. If your street is getting sewer service, ask the county what help you qualify for before hiring a plumber to make the connection.
Signs a septic system is failing include slow drains throughout the house, gurgling, sewage smells outside, and soggy or unusually green grass over the drain field, especially after heavy rain.
Hurricanes, flooding and sewer backups
Heavy rain and storm surge push water into the sewer system. When the system floods, sewage can come back up through the lowest openings: manholes in the street, cleanouts in the yard, and floor drains in the house. Miami-Dade Water and Sewer asks residents during hurricane season to keep the sanitary cleanout caps on their property sealed, because an open or broken cap lets floodwater pour into the sewer.
Before storm season:
- Find your sewer cleanout, usually a capped pipe near the house or the property line, and make sure the cap is in place and tight.
- Ask a plumber about a backwater valve if your home has had a backup before.
- Know where your main water shutoff is.
- Keep your plumber's number saved, because after a storm the wait times get long.
After a declared emergency, unlicensed "storm chasers" show up quickly. In Florida, contracting without a license during a declared state of emergency is a felony even for a first offense, and hiring one leaves you with no license complaint process.
Hard water in South Florida
Miami-Dade's water comes from the Biscayne Aquifer, a limestone formation, so it is hard. Reported figures for the area run roughly 11 to 18 grains per gallon. You will see scale on fixtures and inside water heaters. Flushing a tank heater every year helps, and many homeowners add a softener to protect tankless units and fixtures.
Licenses and permits in Florida
Who can do the work
Plumbing contractors in Florida are licensed through the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR). A Certified Plumbing Contractor (license number starting with CFC) can work anywhere in the state. A Registered Plumbing Contractor can work only in the local areas where the registration applies. You can look up any license on the DBPR site.
Florida takes unlicensed contracting seriously. A first offense is a misdemeanor and a repeat offense is a felony, and DBPR can fine an unlicensed contractor up to $10,000. The bigger risk for homeowners is practical: hire unlicensed and you lose the complaint process, and you may be liable if a worker is hurt on your property.
Permits
Miami-Dade requires a plumbing permit for alterations and repairs to the plumbing system, including replacing a water heater. There is one narrow exception: a homeowner can replace a standard electric water heater of 50 gallons or less and 4,500 watts or less without a permit, as long as the new one doesn't use more wattage. Gas heaters, tankless units and anything larger need a permit.
The City of Miami, Miami Beach, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach and other cities process permits through their own building departments. Your plumber should pull the permit and book the inspection.
Sewer lines: who pays
Miami-Dade Water and Sewer maintains the public sewer main. The lateral, the pipe from your house to that main, belongs to the property owner, and so does the cost of clearing or fixing it. The county's position is that leaks on private property are the owner's responsibility.
Typical jobs and timing
| Job | Usual time | Notes for South Florida |
|---|---|---|
| Clogged drain | 1 to 2 hours | Repeat clogs in pre-1975 homes call for a camera |
| Faucet or toilet install | 1 to 3 hours | Usually same day |
| Sewer camera inspection | 1 to 2 hours | Worth doing before buying an older home |
| Cast iron drain relining or replacement | 3 days to 2 weeks | Relining, trenching or tunneling under the slab |
| Water heater replacement | 3 to 5 hours | Permit required except small electric swaps by owners |
| Septic to sewer connection | 1 to 3 days | Check Connect 2 Protect funding first |
| Storm or flood backup | Varies | Expect long waits after a hurricane |
How to hire well in South Florida
- Look up the license on the DBPR site; certified plumbing licenses start with CFC.
- For cast iron problems, ask for the camera footage and a written report, and get a second proposal.
- Get the price in writing with the permit listed.
- After a storm, be wary of anyone going door to door, and verify the license before paying anything.
- Pay in stages as the work is completed.
Every plumber in the GOLDGCP network passes a license check, insurance verification, a background check and reference calls before getting a job, and you pay in milestones as the work gets done.
Areas we cover
GOLDGCP plumbers work across South Florida, including:
- Miami
- Miami Beach
- Coral Gables
- Hialeah
- Kendall
- Fort Lauderdale
- Hollywood
- Boca Raton
- West Palm Beach
If your city isn't listed, call and we'll tell you whether a plumber in our network covers it.
How GOLDGCP works
- Tell us what's wrong through the form, a call or WhatsApp.
- We match you with a vetted, licensed plumber near you and send a written estimate.
- The plumber pulls the permit and does the work.
- You pay in milestones, and the final payment goes out after the job passes inspection.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a plumber cost in Miami?
Usually $40 to $140 an hour plus a service call of $45 to $140. Small repairs like a clogged drain or a faucet come to about $95 to $280. Nights, weekends and post-hurricane calls cost more.
How much does it cost to replace cast iron pipes in Florida?
Industry figures put a full replacement of a home's drain system at $20,000 to $100,000, depending on the home's size and the method: trenching through the slab, tunneling under it, or relining the pipe from inside. A camera inspection and two written proposals are the way to start.
Does homeowners insurance cover cast iron pipe failure in Florida?
Sometimes. Insurers often deny these claims as wear and tear, while sudden collapses or leaks may be covered depending on the policy. Keep the plumber's camera footage and written findings, and read your policy before agreeing to a large repair.
Do I need a permit to replace a water heater in Miami-Dade?
Yes, in most cases. The exception is a homeowner replacing a standard electric heater of 50 gallons or less and 4,500 watts or less with one that uses no more wattage. Gas, tankless and larger heaters need a permit.
Can I get help switching from septic to sewer?
Possibly. Miami-Dade's Connect 2 Protect program offers homestead owners up to $15,000 in grants, or zero- or low-interest loans, toward connecting to the public sewer. Check with the county before you hire a plumber for the connection.
What should I do if sewage backs up during a storm?
Stop using water in the house, keep the cleanout capped, and call a licensed plumber once it's safe. During hurricane season, Miami-Dade asks residents to keep cleanouts sealed so floodwater doesn't pour into the sewer.
How do I check a plumber's license in Florida?
Search the name or license number on the DBPR website. Certified plumbing contractors have license numbers starting with CFC and can work anywhere in Florida.
How we calculate these prices
GOLDGCP starts from national price ranges for each job, taken from published 2026 cost guides and checked against local price guides where they exist. To get a local price, we multiply the national range by the construction cost factor for the metro from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Area Cost Factors (US average = 1.00). For ZIP codes outside the 50 largest metros, the calculator uses the state's price level from the Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities. Ranges include labor and standard materials but not unusual site conditions, so a written quote after an inspection is always the final price.
Sources
- How much does a plumber cost? · HomeGuide
- Connect 2 Protect: septic to sewer · Miami-Dade County
- Permit exemptions · Miami-Dade County
- WASD prepared for the 2026 hurricane season · Miami-Dade County
- Cast iron drainpipes latest target in Florida claims · Insurance Journal
- Unlicensed contracting and DBPR complaints · The Douglas Firm
- Area Cost Factors, PAX Newsletter 3.2.1 (2024) · U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
- Regional Price Parities by State · U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis
About this guide
Written by the GOLDGCP editorial team. Prices come from national cost guides adjusted with official construction cost factors for Miami; rules and statistics come from the agencies and reports linked in the text. We update this page when prices or codes change.