Quick Comparison
| Firm | Founded / Tenure & Credentials | Services & Specialties | Geographic Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billy the Sunshine Plumber, Inc. | 1924 (William "Billy" Forsyth founder, who changed his name from William to Billy after customers nicknamed him Mr. Sunshine); incorporated 1967-09-22; current President Donald Denick, VP Joanne Denick, Secretary/Treasurer Lydia Denick; over 100 years of continuous family-owned operation | FL Certified Plumbing Contractor, BBB Accredited | St. Petersburg base; Pinellas, Hernando counties |
| Batton Plumbing Co., Inc. | 1950 (continuation of C.J. Godsey Plumbing, one of the first plumbing companies in downtown St. Petersburg); third-generation family-run; 90-plus-year St. Petersburg lineage including Godsey roots | FL Certified Plumbing Contractor CFC1433053 (expires 2026-08-31), BBB Accredited | 1709 1st Avenue North St. Petersburg base; St. Petersburg plus Pinellas County (specializes in older homes) |
| Don's Plumbing | 1967 (Don Green founder); veteran-owned and family-operated | FL Certified Plumbing Contractor CFC1427888 (expires 2026-08-31), BBB Accredited | 140 SW Monroe Circle North St. Petersburg base (33703); St. Petersburg plus St. Pete Beach |
| McGill Plumbing & Water Treatment, Inc. | 1968 (John McGill and business partner Al Wood founders); three-generation family-owned and operated | FL Certified Plumbing Contractor, BBB Accredited | Largo FL base; St. Petersburg plus Pinellas County (Largo, Clearwater, Seminole, Pinellas Park, Dunedin, Tarpon Springs, Palm Harbor, Indian Rocks Beach, Belleair) |
1. Billy the Sunshine Plumber, Inc.
- Address: St. Petersburg, FL (Pinellas and Hernando county service)
- Phone: (727) 822-2924
- Founder: William Forsyth (founded 1924; later changed name to “Billy” after customers nicknamed him “Mr. Sunshine”); incorporated 1967-09-22; current President Donald Denick, Vice President Joanne Denick, Secretary/Treasurer Lydia Denick
- Operating Since: 1924 (102 years; over 100 years of continuous family-owned operation)
- License: Florida Certified Plumbing Contractor; BBB Accredited
- Service area: St. Petersburg (downtown, Old Northeast, Snell Isle, Crescent Lake, Allendale, Disston Heights, Coquina Key, St. Pete Beach, Treasure Island, Madeira Beach) plus Pinellas County and Hernando County
- Website: billysunshine.com
102 Years of Continuous Billy the Sunshine Operation
William Forsyth founded the firm in 1924 to serve St. Petersburg’s growing community. Customers and friends began calling him “Mr. Sunshine” so often that William changed his name to Billy and rebranded the firm Billy the Sunshine Plumber. The business was formally incorporated on September 22, 1967. The Denick family currently runs the firm: Donald Denick as President, Joanne Denick as Vice President, and Lydia Denick as Secretary/Treasurer. Across 102 years of continuous family-owned operation, Billy the Sunshine Plumber has built a sustained Pinellas County reputation as one of the longest-tenured plumbing operators in Florida.
St. Petersburg Operating Base With Pinellas-Hernando Reach
Billy the Sunshine Plumber operates from a St. Petersburg base. The position opens rapid dispatch coverage across St. Petersburg neighborhoods (downtown, Old Northeast, Snell Isle, Crescent Lake, Allendale, Disston Heights, Coquina Key) plus the Pinellas beach communities (St. Pete Beach, Treasure Island, Madeira Beach) and Hernando County to the north.
Florida Certified Plumbing Contractor Plus 102-Year Tenure
Billy the Sunshine Plumber operates under Florida Certified Plumbing Contractor credentialing through the DBPR Construction Industry Licensing Board. The 102-year continuous family-owned operation supports a verifiable long-tenure compliance record. BBB Accreditation provides third-party reputation verification.
2. Batton Plumbing Co., Inc.
- Address: 1709 1st Avenue North, St. Petersburg, FL 33713
- Phone: (727) 822-7754
- Founder: Established 1950 as a continuation of C.J. Godsey Plumbing, one of the first plumbing companies in downtown St. Petersburg; third-generation family-run business; 90-plus-year St. Petersburg lineage including the original C.J. Godsey roots
- Operating Since: 1950 (76 years as Batton Plumbing; 90-plus-year lineage including pre-1950 C.J. Godsey origin)
- License: Florida Certified Plumbing Contractor CFC1433053 (expires 2026-08-31); BBB Accredited
- Service area: St. Petersburg (downtown, Old Northeast, Crescent Heights, Kenwood, Historic Roser Park, Old Southeast, Coquina Key, Disston Heights) plus Pinellas County (specializes in older homes)
- Website: battonplumbing.com
76 Years as Batton Plus 90-Plus-Year St. Petersburg Lineage
Batton Plumbing was established in 1950 as a continuation of C.J. Godsey Plumbing, one of the first plumbing companies in downtown St. Petersburg. The combined Godsey-Batton lineage covers more than 90 years of continuous St. Petersburg service. Across 76 years under the Batton name, the firm has run as a family business and is now a third-generation plumbing company. The team carries over 40 years of combined plumbing experience, with deep specialization in older Pinellas County homes.
1st Avenue North St. Petersburg Operating Base
The 1709 1st Avenue North St. Petersburg headquarters underpins the firm in central St. Petersburg (33713). The position speeds dispatch reach across central St. Petersburg neighborhoods (downtown, Old Northeast, Crescent Heights, Kenwood, Historic Roser Park, Old Southeast, Coquina Key, Disston Heights). Service depth focuses on older Pinellas County homes with cast-iron drain stacks, galvanized supply piping, and pre-1960 housing infrastructure.
CFC1433053 Plus Older-Home Specialty
Batton Plumbing operates under Florida Certified Plumbing Contractor license CFC1433053 with current expiration 2026-08-31. The older-home specialty positions the firm for cast-iron drain repair, galvanized-pipe replacement, lead service line work, and pre-war fixture restoration common in St. Petersburg’s pre-1960 housing stock. BBB Accreditation provides third-party reputation verification.
3. Don’s Plumbing
- Address: 140 SW Monroe Circle North, St. Petersburg, FL 33703
- Phone: (727) 360-8886
- Founder: Don Green (founder); veteran-owned and family-operated; LLC formally established 2017-03-10
- Operating Since: 1967 (59 years)
- License: Florida Certified Plumbing Contractor CFC1427888 (expires 2026-08-31); BBB Accredited
- Service area: St. Petersburg (downtown, Old Northeast, Crescent Lake, Snell Isle, Disston Heights, St. Pete Beach, Pasadena, Gulfport) plus Pinellas County
- Website: donsplumbingstpete.com
59 Years of Veteran-Owned Family Operation
Don’s Plumbing has built longstanding, trusting relationships with clients throughout the St. Petersburg area since 1967. Don Green serves as Owner. The firm operates as a veteran-owned and family-operated business. The LLC was formally established on March 10, 2017, formalizing the long-running family-line operation. Across 59 years of continuous family ownership, Don’s Plumbing has built a state-licensed full-service professional plumbing footprint across Pinellas County.
Monroe Circle North St. Petersburg Operating Base
The 140 SW Monroe Circle North St. Petersburg headquarters grounds the firm at zip 33703. The position enables rapid dispatch across St. Petersburg plus the Pinellas County coastal corridor. Service extends through downtown St. Petersburg, Old Northeast, Crescent Lake, Snell Isle, Disston Heights, plus the beach communities (St. Pete Beach, Pasadena, Gulfport).
CFC1427888 Plus Veteran-Owned Compliance Posture
Don’s Plumbing operates under Florida Certified Plumbing Contractor license CFC1427888 with current expiration 2026-08-31. The veteran-owned designation provides additional verification for federal and state veteran-business preference programs. BBB Accreditation provides third-party reputation verification.
4. McGill Plumbing & Water Treatment, Inc.
- Address: Largo, FL (Pinellas County service including St. Petersburg)
- Phone: (727) 544-2447
- Founder: John McGill and business partner Al Wood (co-founded 1968); three-generation family-owned and operated
- Operating Since: 1968 (58 years; three generations of McGill family ownership)
- License: Florida Certified Plumbing Contractor; BBB Accredited
- Service area: St. Petersburg plus Largo, Clearwater, Seminole, Pinellas Park, Dunedin, Tarpon Springs, Palm Harbor, Indian Rocks Beach, Belleair, Treasure Island, Madeira Beach, St. Pete Beach
- Website: mcgillplumbing.com
Three McGill Generations Across 58 Years
John McGill and his business partner Al Wood co-founded McGill Plumbing & Water Treatment in 1968. Across 58 years of continuous McGill family ownership, the firm has grown into a three-generation family-owned and operated business serving Pinellas County. The combined plumbing-and-water-treatment service line distinguishes McGill among Pinellas plumbing operators with dual specialty depth.
Largo Base With Pinellas County Reach Including St. Petersburg
McGill Plumbing operates from a Largo, FL base. The position extends dispatch reach across Pinellas County including St. Petersburg, Largo, Clearwater, Seminole, Pinellas Park, Dunedin, Tarpon Springs, Palm Harbor, Indian Rocks Beach, Belleair, Treasure Island, Madeira Beach, and St. Pete Beach. Service depth includes drain and sewer cleaning, water heater repair and installation, water softener and water treatment systems, piping and repiping, plus 24/7 emergency dispatch.
Florida Plumbing Contractor Compliance Plus Water Treatment Specialty
McGill Plumbing operates under Florida Certified Plumbing Contractor credentialing. The water treatment service line adds specialty depth beyond pure plumbing service, supporting water softener installation, whole-home water treatment, and water-quality remediation work. BBB Accreditation provides third-party reputation verification. The 58-year continuous McGill family operation supports a verifiable three-generation compliance record.
Reference Notes
Florida plumbing licensing runs through the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB). DBPR issues Certified Plumbing Contractor (CFC prefix) credentials through sequentially numbered records. Verification runs through the DBPR license search at myfloridalicense.com. CFC credentialing requires 4 years experience plus passing the Florida Plumbing Contractor exam plus a $20,000 Florida public construction bond. The City of St. Petersburg Planning and Development Services Department issues building permits within St. Petersburg city limits. Pinellas County Building & Development Review Services handles unincorporated Pinellas County. Pinellas County Utilities (or City of St. Petersburg Water Resources) handles water service connections plus annual backflow-prevention testing.
St. Petersburg-area residential housing reflects more than 130 years of construction since the city’s 1892 incorporation. Pre-1920 housing remains in Old Northeast, Historic Kenwood, Roser Park, Crescent Lake, Snell Isle (early platting), and the historic downtown core. The 1920-1950 expansion built out Old Southeast, Coquina Key, Disston Heights, Allendale, Crescent Heights, Pinellas Point, and the historic Snell Isle Mediterranean-revival corridor. Pre-war Mediterranean-revival, Mission-revival, Florida bungalow, and Spanish Colonial-revival housing filled out 1920-1940 across Old Northeast, Historic Kenwood, Roser Park, and the Snell Isle district. Postwar tract construction built out Pinellas Point, Coquina Key, Tyrone, Lakewood, and the Pinellas County beach corridor through 1945-1980. The 1980s-2000s drove the Bayfront, downtown St. Petersburg condominium expansion plus Tierra Verde and Snell Isle waterfront infill. Cast-iron drain stacks, galvanized supply piping, lead service lines in pre-1940 housing, plus salt-air corrosion considerations and Florida humidity-driven slab-leak service shape recurring service categories.
The four firms profiled cover four positions on the St. Petersburg market arc. Billy the Sunshine Plumber leads tenure with 102 years of continuous family-owned operation since William “Billy” Forsyth’s 1924 founding. The Denick family currently runs the firm: Donald, Joanne, and Lydia Denick. Batton Plumbing follows with 76 years under the Batton name plus a 90-plus-year St. Petersburg plumbing lineage tracing back to C.J. Godsey Plumbing, one of the first plumbing companies in downtown St. Petersburg. Three Batton family generations now run the firm with deep older-home specialty under CFC1433053. Don’s Plumbing brings 59 years of veteran-owned family operation since Don Green’s 1967 founding, supported by CFC1427888 from a Monroe Circle North St. Petersburg base. McGill Plumbing & Water Treatment runs three McGill family generations since John McGill and Al Wood co-founded the firm in 1968. The combined plumbing-and-water-treatment service line supports a 58-year Pinellas County operating record.
Verification paths run through myfloridalicense.com, BBB West Florida listings, the PHCC of Florida directory, the City of St. Petersburg Planning and Development Services, and the Pinellas County Building & Development Review Services contractor records. Pre-1920 Old Northeast, Historic Kenwood, and Roser Park housing tilts toward Billy the Sunshine’s 102-year operating depth. Pre-1960 older-home specialty fits Batton Plumbing. Veteran-owned Pinellas residential service since 1967 fits Don’s Plumbing. Three-generation Pinellas plumbing-plus-water-treatment service since 1968 fits McGill Plumbing & Water Treatment. National rollup brands operating in West Florida (Authority Brands’ Benjamin Franklin Plumbing, Neighborly’s Mr. Rooter, Service Experts, Roto-Rooter, Wrench Group, Redwood Services, Master Trades Group, ARS, Wind River Environmental, Apex Service Partners, Turnpoint Services) sit outside the four-firm independent profile. Alvarez Plumbing (1976; profiled in the Tampa directory) covers an additional independent operator outside this St. Petersburg list.
Selection Methodology
Selection follows four criteria. First, continuous family ownership or founder-operator continuity outside the national rollup pattern. Second, verifiable Florida Certified Plumbing Contractor (CFC) license cross-checked through the DBPR public lookup. Third, BBB Accreditation or equivalent third-party rating. Fourth, minimum 10-year continuous operating tenure with documented St. Petersburg service coverage. Firms acquired by national franchise networks (Authority Brands’ Benjamin Franklin Plumbing, Neighborly’s Mr. Rooter, Service Experts, Roto-Rooter, Wrench Group, Redwood Services, Master Trades Group, ARS, Wind River Environmental, Turnpoint Services) are excluded.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I verify a St. Petersburg plumber’s license?
Use the Florida DBPR license search at myfloridalicense.com. Search by license number or business name. Confirm active Certified Plumbing Contractor (CFC) status, expiration date, bonding, and workers’ compensation coverage before authorizing work.
What credentials should a St. Petersburg plumber hold?
At minimum: Florida Certified Plumbing Contractor (CFC) credential plus general liability insurance and workers’ compensation coverage. Florida CFC credentialing requires 4 years of experience plus passing the Florida Plumbing Contractor exam plus a $20,000 Florida public construction bond. Specialty work (gas line, backflow prevention, fire sprinkler, sewer lateral, water treatment) requires additional credential layers.
How can I tell if a St. Petersburg plumber is locally owned versus a national rollup?
Check ownership disclosures and acquisition history. National franchise brands typically operate under parent-company branding. Search the firm name plus “acquired” or “parent company” to surface ownership structure. The four firms in this directory all run as independent locally-owned operators.
When should I call an emergency plumber in St. Petersburg?
Burst pipes, sewer backups, gas leaks, no-water events, slab leak events, and water heater failures justify after-hours dispatch. Salt-air corrosion plus Florida humidity drive recurring service demand across coastal Pinellas County. Each firm in this directory offers either 24/7 emergency service or structured after-hours response.
Editorial Note
Compiled by the editorial team. Firm details cross-verified through state license databases, BBB business profiles, and firm-published websites where available. License numbers should be re-verified through the Florida DBPR public lookup before authorizing work. Information current as of the date below; firm details may change without notice. Last updated: 2026-05-10.