An advertisement saying “RBQ certified plumber” does not tell you which company holds the licence or which work it covers. To check a plumbing contractor in Laval, start with the licence number, open the Régie du bâtiment du Québec (RBQ) Licence holders’ repertory yourself, and read the business record. Compare the names and licence subclasses with the proposed work. This verifies administrative information at the time of your search. It cannot guarantee the quality of a future repair or diagnose your plumbing problem.
Key takeaways
- Search the licence number through the official RBQ page and identify the business shown in the resulting record.
- Keep the RBQ licence number, Québec enterprise number (NEQ), legal name and trade name separate. They serve different purposes.
- Check the listed subclasses. Subclass 15.5 is called “Contractor – Plumbing,” but the scope of a specific job depends on the work being done.
- Search the CMMTQ member directory separately to check plumbing membership. A logo in an advertisement is not your own verification.
- If a search fails or the documents show different names, request precise business details and ask the appropriate organization about an unresolved discrepancy.
Table of contents
- What a licence check can establish
- Find the right company in the register
- Read the record without overinterpreting it
- Match the subclass to the proposed work
- Check CMMTQ membership
- Resolve a mismatch or missing result
- Apply the check to a real project
- Frequently asked questions
What a licence check can establish
“RBQ certified” is common advertising language, but the practical check is to identify the contractor and verify its licence. The RBQ advises consumers to check whether a contractor holds a valid licence before hiring it. For plumbing, the Corporation des maîtres mécaniciens en tuyauterie du Québec (CMMTQ) acts as the RBQ’s mandatary to qualify plumbing contractors and issue the relevant contractor licence, as the RBQ’s English plumbing licence guidance explains. The RBQ’s licence-checking page links to the official public register and describes the information it contains. Régie du bâtiment du Québec
The word “plumber” might refer to the worker who comes to your home, the trade name on a van or the business entering into the agreement with you. The register identifies the licence holder. Ask a more precise question: Which legal business will take responsibility for the work, and under which licence will it be performed? A number displayed in an advertisement does not, by itself, connect the company on your invoice to the company in the register.
A licence does not make every job fall under any one subclass. A contractor can hold several subclasses, each with a defined scope. The RBQ’s detailed description of 15.5 also identifies certain work that does not require a licence, including drain cleaning. A drain cleaning appointment that later reveals a pipe requiring repair is a different proposed scope. Describe the actual activity before deciding which licensing requirement applies; a repair, a pipe alteration and a cleaning visit are not interchangeable merely because all involve plumbing. Régie du bâtiment du Québec
This administrative check is one part of a hiring decision. For the wider process of defining the job, assessing estimates and agreeing on the scope, read How to Choose a Reliable Plumber. This guide concentrates on reading the RBQ record and dealing with apparent discrepancies.
Find the right company in the register
Start at the regulator’s page
Open the RBQ’s Check a contractor’s licence page and follow its link to the Licence holders’ repertory (French interface). Starting with the regulator’s site is more reliable than treating an advertisement, old screenshot or private directory as a current record. The register is an interactive application, so the screen and search controls may look different depending on your browser and device. Follow the instructions shown when you use it.
Ask for the full RBQ licence number and the legal name of the business that will perform and invoice the work. Enter the number and open the matching record. The RBQ specifically recommends searching by licence number. If you have only a trade name, request the number as well; companies can have similar names, and a spoken number is worth checking against a written estimate or company document.
Compare the complete number, the legal and other names shown, and the licence classes and subclasses. Note when you checked the record if the project will take place later. A claim printed months earlier cannot establish the licence situation today. When significant time passes before a planned project begins, repeat the search close to signing or the start of work.
An example involving a trade name
Plomberie Laval’s About page identifies Plomberie Laval as its public-facing name, 9286-5419 Québec inc. as the company carrying out the work, and 5688-9025-01 as its RBQ licence number. To make your own check, enter that number in the public register and compare the current record with the website. A trade name and legal corporate name need not be identical, but the relationship between them and the company accepting the job should be clear. Licensed Plumbing Company
This is an example of a method, not a permanent certificate of status. Check the licence’s current standing and subclasses in the live register. A screenshot reproduced in an article would become stale. If your search does not yield the expected record, check the number and ask for clarification before assuming why it is missing.
Read the record without overinterpreting it
The RBQ says a licence-holder record includes company names and contact details, the Québec enterprise number, the RBQ licence number, licence classes and subclasses, the provider of the financial guarantee, outstanding or paid claims where applicable, restrictions concerning public works where applicable, and the people responsible for the licence’s qualification fields. These details answer different questions for a homeowner planning plumbing work. Régie du bâtiment du Québec
Legal name, NEQ and RBQ number
The legal business name identifies the licence holder. Other names in the record can help you understand how a public-facing brand relates to it. The NEQ, or Québec enterprise number, is a business identifier that can help distinguish companies with similar names. The RBQ number identifies the licence whose classes and subclasses you need to examine. Finding an NEQ does not replace checking the construction licence.
Compare the legal entity that will appear on the estimate and invoice. Suppose an ad says “Neighbourhood Plumbing,” the RBQ record shows a numbered corporation, and the estimate names a third company. There may be a legitimate explanation, but similar branding alone does not establish that the quoted company holds the licence you found. Ask who will contract with you, which licence applies and why the names differ. Keep the explanation with the project documents if the relationship matters to your decision.
Financial guarantee, claims and restrictions
The record can name the association or company providing the licence’s financial guarantee. This identifies a feature of the licence file; it does not mean that every disagreement automatically results in compensation. The RBQ’s English page on contractors with claims explains the difference between an open claim file and indemnities paid. Its linked claim tables are in French. Read the precise wording and context before drawing a conclusion about a contractor from a claim entry. Régie du bâtiment du Québec
A restriction for public works purposes, if one appears, addresses a specific type of public contracting. It should not be read as a universal prohibition on every job in a private home. Suspension and cancellation are different issues again. If the status or a restriction could affect your project, ask the RBQ to interpret the relevant record instead of relying on a guess about a label.
The people listed for the licence’s fields of qualification are connected with the business’s qualification. Their appearance in the record does not promise that any one of them will personally arrive to repair your sink. Equally, a worker whose name does not appear in that field is not automatically evidence of a licensing problem. Establish the licensed business taking the assignment and the subclass relevant to its work.
Match the subclass to the proposed work
Find 15.5 and read its scope
The RBQ’s English list of specialized contractor subclasses identifies 15.5 — Contractor – Plumbing. The RBQ’s detailed 15.5 description is in French. It describes plumbing systems and work involving water supply, drainage, sanitary venting and related piping. The short subclass title is a starting point; the official description and the work proposed are what matter. Régie du bâtiment du Québec
Take a bathroom project as an example. Replacing a fixture, moving water lines and changing a drain are concrete activities you can describe. “Bathroom renovation” may also include electrical work, finishes and other trades. Do not assume that one contractor’s RBQ number proves it can personally perform every part of the renovation. Plomberie Laval’s residential plumbing and renovation page describes that service, while the RBQ sources explain the licence categories.
The French 15.5 description has a section identifying work for which no licence is required, including drain cleaning. That is why a subclass is not an automatic answer to every request containing the word “plumbing.” If cleaning reveals a damaged pipe to replace, the proposed work has changed. Define and check that new work before approving it. The exception concerns the need for a licence for the stated activity; it is not a judgement about an individual worker’s skill or the best way to clear a drain.
Where a neighbouring subclass appears or several systems are involved, do not decide from one number alone. The RBQ’s English subclass list explains that a specialized contractor’s authorization relates to the work included in its subclass. The detailed 15.5 page directs interpretation questions for contractors to the CMMTQ. Explain the proposed tasks, the building and the part of the installation involved when requesting clarification. “Is this licence good for plumbing?” is less useful than a description of the actual job.
Contractor versus owner-builder
The RBQ register covers general and specialized contractors as well as owner-builders. Those are distinct licence classes. A contractor performs or arranges construction work for others; an owner-builder undertakes work for its own account, subject to the applicable rules. If you are hiring an outside business, read the full class in its record instead of seeing the word “plumbing” or the number 15.5 alone and assuming it answers the question. Régie du bâtiment du Québec
This distinction matters when a property owner, building manager and outside contractor all participate in a project. Identify who is ordering the work and who will execute it. Then check the outside contractor’s licence for the work it will actually do. A licence held by another participant does not transfer to the contractor because it was mentioned in an email.
Check CMMTQ membership
The CMMTQ and the RBQ have related roles, but their public tools answer different questions. The RBQ record shows the licence and its classes; the CMMTQ member directory (French only) is used to check membership in the plumbing and heating trade corporation. The CMMTQ recommends checking both membership and the licence subclasses required for the work. Its guidance on what to verify before assigning work is also in French. cmmtq.org
Use the same legal business name for both searches and use trade names to understand the connection. A logo on a vehicle is a clue to verify, not a substitute for the public directory. Nor does “CMMTQ member” remove the need to check the RBQ record’s subclasses. If a search under the advertised name fails, try the legal name supplied on the company’s documents.
Plomberie Laval’s English About page states that 9286-5419 Québec inc. is a CMMTQ member. You can compare that statement with the current directory. If the record is hard to locate or the names do not match neatly, the CMMTQ advises contacting its qualification service. That is a better way to resolve an ambiguous search than alleging misconduct from an incomplete result.
Resolve a mismatch or missing result
The licence number returns nothing
Check every digit against a company document, and confirm that you are using the official application instead of an indexed copy of a page. A typing error or a page that fails to load can explain a first unsuccessful attempt. The register is an interactive application; if it does not display properly, try an up-to-date browser or return to the RBQ guidance page.
The RBQ describes the repertory as listing holders of valid licences. An empty result does not, by itself, tell you why a record is absent. It is not evidence on its own that a particular company has been suspended. Ask for the exact legal name and number, repeat the search, and contact the RBQ if uncertainty remains. For work that can be planned, establish a clear match between the company, licence and proposed work before signing.
The names do not match exactly
Determine whether you are comparing a brand, trade name, numbered corporation or individual’s name. Plomberie Laval and 9286-5419 Québec inc. show how an apparent difference can have a straightforward explanation. What matters is identifying the licence holder taking the job and the entity on your paperwork. Request a factual explanation and compare the official identifiers; a name variation alone proves neither compliance nor wrongdoing.
If an estimate names a company different from the register entry, ask which company will do each part of the work and why the names differ. The word “subcontractor” does not eliminate the need to clarify responsibility and applicable licences. If the business cannot provide enough information to make the check, defer your decision until the relationship is clear.
A subclass or record entry is unclear
Copy the exact wording rather than paraphrasing it when you ask the regulator for help. A restriction concerning public contracts, a financial-guarantee claim and an authorized work subclass describe different matters. Record the date of your search and the precise work you propose so that the RBQ or CMMTQ can address the right question.
Apply the check to a real project
Consider a homeowner in Laval who wants to move a kitchen sink. A useful description is: “Move the sink, with possible changes to the water supply and drain lines.” The homeowner can request the legal name and RBQ number of the contractor taking that work, inspect the current record and check the plumbing subclass. If other trades are involved, list their work separately. The homeowner need not settle an uncertain legal interpretation alone; the RBQ or CMMTQ can clarify it from the actual scope.
In a condominium, a manager or syndicate may appear in the correspondence without being the contractor. The work may affect a private unit or shared piping. That changes who must approve access and coordinate the work, but the licence question still concerns the company doing it. The RBQ record cannot tell you which person or body within the condominium has authority to approve the project.
For a commercial property or larger renovation, “redo the plumbing” may hide several different tasks. List the fixtures to connect, piping to alter and other trades involved. That makes a subclass question more precise and prevents a licence for one part of the project from being mistaken for authorization to do every part.
Plomberie Laval publishes service coverage for Laval, the North Shore and served Montréal areas, but the property address does not change how you look up an RBQ licence. Municipal procedures are a separate question depending on the address and work. For comparing contractors, estimates and project arrangements, return to the broader hiring guide instead of asking the register to make the entire decision for you.
Keep a brief record of the number searched, legal name found, relevant subclass, date checked and any question left open. For Plomberie Laval, the details published for comparison are 9286-5419 Québec inc. and 5688-9025-01. Consult the live register for the present result. Clarify an uncertain match or work scope before making an agreement.
Frequently asked questions
Is “RBQ certified” enough to choose a plumbing contractor?
No. The advertising phrase does not identify the licence holder or show the subclasses in the public record. Ask for the legal name and RBQ number, inspect the record and compare it with the project documents. You will need other information beyond the register to assess the quality and terms of an offer.
Where do I enter an RBQ licence number?
The RBQ’s English licence-checking page links to the official repertory, whose application is in French. Enter the complete number, open the resulting record and review the names and subclasses. A search-engine snippet may be old or incomplete.
Is an NEQ the same as an RBQ licence number?
No. The Québec enterprise number identifies a business, while the RBQ number takes you to its construction licence and authorized classes. A record can show both. If you have only an NEQ, request the licence number of the contractor who will perform the proposed work.
What does subclass 15.5 mean?
The RBQ’s English list calls it “Contractor – Plumbing.” Its detailed description is available in French. The subclass covers work defined there, not automatically every trade on a project. The same official page lists some activities, including drain cleaning, for which no licence is required. Explain an uncertain task to the RBQ or CMMTQ rather than deciding from the title alone.
Why is the website name different from the register name?
A company can use a brand or trade name distinct from its legal corporate name. Check their connection rather than requiring identical wording. Plomberie Laval publishes 9286-5419 Québec inc. as its legal business and 5688-9025-01 as its RBQ licence number. Your estimate should clearly identify the business responsible for the work.
Does a claim entry invalidate a licence?
These are separate questions. The RBQ record or related pages may show an open claim file or an indemnity paid. Read the exact entry and the regulator’s explanation before interpreting it. A claim entry does not summarize every fact about a project and does not replace checking the licence and its scope.
What if I cannot find the company in the CMMTQ directory?
Try the legal name rather than just the brand and check the spelling. The CMMTQ recommends its directory to confirm membership and offers its qualification service when the result is unclear. A failed search alone does not establish a disciplinary finding or prove that an RBQ licence is absent.
The useful check comes down to three facts: who will carry out the work, which licence number is being relied on, and which subclasses appear in the official record when you check? Add the CMMTQ directory to verify membership and clarify discrepancies. You will have a documented basis for discussing the assignment without treating an advertisement, screenshot or licence record as a guarantee of the work’s outcome.
