PlainPermitDo I need a permit for a water heater replacement in Los Angeles, CA?
Last verified: · Confidence: high · Status: Verified from official source
Not legal advice. Always confirm with your local building department. Rules change, and your parcel's zoning, HOA, historic district, floodplain or utility work can change the answer. We show the official source and the date we last checked it so you can verify for yourself.
Permit required Confidence: high
Yes. Replacing a water heater needs a plumbing permit (available as an Express Permit, no plan check). Only repairs that do not disconnect a gas water heater are exempt, or a like-for-like swap at a detached house by a certified licensed contractor who files a Certificate of Compliance.
What changes the answer
- Repair without disconnecting: no permit
- Certified licensed contractor, detached single-family, like-for-like: Certificate of Compliance instead of permit
Cost
Fee not extracted; see LADBS fee information. Unverified, confirm locally
Where to apply
LA Department of Building and Safety (LADBS): Express Permits online or by appointment
Official sources
“Replacing water heaters.”
“No permit shall be required for the repair of any gas-fired water heater, provided the water heater is not disconnected. ... Replacement of defective hot water heaters with one of equivalent gallons, BTU rating, and vent capacity when the vent does not require relocation or replacement.”
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Other projects in Los Angeles
Water heater replacement permits in other cities
- Austin, TX
- Boston, MA
- Charlotte, NC
- Chicago, IL
- Columbus, OH
- Dallas, TX
- Denver, CO
- El Paso, TX
- Fort Worth, TX
- Houston, TX
- Indianapolis, IN
- Jacksonville, FL
- Las Vegas, NV
- Nashville, TN
- New York City, NY
- Oklahoma City, OK
- Philadelphia, PA
- Phoenix, AZ
- San Antonio, TX
- San Diego, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- San Jose, CA
- Seattle, WA
- Washington, DC