diff --git a/flake8/plugins/manager.py b/flake8/plugins/manager.py
index 21171ef..21639f9 100644
--- a/flake8/plugins/manager.py
+++ b/flake8/plugins/manager.py
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import pkg_resources
 
 from flake8 import exceptions
 from flake8.plugins import notifier
+from flake8 import utils
 
 LOG = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
@@ -296,6 +297,25 @@ class Checkers(PluginTypeManager):
 
     namespace = 'flake8.extension'
 
+    def checks_expecting(self, argument_name):
+        """Retrieve checks that expect an argument with the specified name.
+
+        Find all checker plugins that are expecting a specific argument.
+        """
+        for plugin in self.plugins.values():
+            parameters = utils.parameters_for(plugin)
+            if argument_name in parameters:
+                yield plugin
+
+    @property
+    def physical_line_plugins(self):
+        """List of plugins that expect the physical lines."""
+        plugins = getattr(self, '_physical_line_plugins', [])
+        if not plugins:
+            plugins = list(self.checks_expecting('physical_line'))
+            self._physical_line_plugins = plugins
+        return plugins
+
 
 class Listeners(PluginTypeManager, NotifierBuilderMixin):
     """All of the listeners registered through entry-points."""
diff --git a/flake8/utils.py b/flake8/utils.py
index fbc90bd..cd1cf72 100644
--- a/flake8/utils.py
+++ b/flake8/utils.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 """Utility methods for flake8."""
 import fnmatch as _fnmatch
+import inspect
 import io
 import os
 import sys
@@ -144,3 +145,40 @@ def fnmatch(filename, patterns, default=True):
     if not patterns:
         return default
     return any(_fnmatch.fnmatch(filename, pattern) for pattern in patterns)
+
+
+def parameters_for(plugin):
+    # type: (flake8.plugins.manager.Plugin) -> List[str]
+    """Return the parameters for the plugin.
+
+    This will inspect the plugin and return either the function parameters
+    if the plugin is a function or the parameters for ``__init__`` after
+    ``self`` if the plugin is a class.
+
+    :param plugin:
+        The internal plugin object.
+    :type plugin:
+        flake8.plugins.manager.Plugin
+    :returns:
+        Parameters to the plugin.
+    :rtype:
+        list(str)
+    """
+    func = plugin.plugin
+    is_class = not inspect.isfunction(func)
+    if is_class:  # The plugin is a class
+        func = plugin.plugin.__init__
+
+    if sys.version_info < (3, 3):
+        parameters = inspect.getargspec(func)[0]
+    else:
+        parameters = [
+            parameter.name
+            for parameter in inspect.signature(func).parameters.values()
+            if parameter.kind == parameter.POSITIONAL_OR_KEYWORD
+        ]
+
+    if is_class:
+        parameters.remove('self')
+
+    return parameters
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_utils.py b/tests/unit/test_utils.py
index 34b4909..615f327 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_utils.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_utils.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import mock
 
 import pytest
 
+from flake8.plugins import manager as plugin_manager
 from flake8 import utils
 
 
@@ -86,3 +87,24 @@ def test_filenames_from_a_single_file():
 
     assert len(filenames) == 1
     assert ['flake8/__init__.py'] == filenames
+
+
+def test_parameters_for_class_plugin():
+    """Verify that we can retrieve the parameters for a class plugin."""
+    class FakeCheck(object):
+        def __init__(self, tree):
+            pass
+
+    plugin = plugin_manager.Plugin('plugin-name', object())
+    plugin._plugin = FakeCheck
+    assert utils.parameters_for(plugin) == ['tree']
+
+
+def test_parameters_for_function_plugin():
+    """Verify that we retrieve the parameters for a function plugin."""
+    def fake_plugin(physical_line, self, tree):
+        pass
+
+    plugin = plugin_manager.Plugin('plugin-name', object())
+    plugin._plugin = fake_plugin
+    assert utils.parameters_for(plugin) == ['physical_line', 'self', 'tree']