Do I need a permit for a water heater replacement in San Diego, CA?

Short answer: Yes, a permit is required for a water heater replacement in San Diego, CA.

Last verified: 2026-10-19 · 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 Simple (no-plan) plumbing permit for single-family homes and duplexes. Tankless heaters do not qualify for the Simple Permit.

What changes the answer

Tank-type replacement: Simple MEP permit
Tankless: regular permit

Cost

Fee not extracted; see Development Services. Unverified, confirm locally

Fee source: https://www.sandiego.gov/development-services/what-permits-do-i-need

Where to apply

City of San Diego Development Services Department (online permits)

Permitting authority: City of San Diego Development Services Department. Applies inside the City of San Diego. Exemptions do not apply to designated historical resources, historic districts, or work that needs a development permit (for example environmentally sensitive lands). See also: how to apply for a building permit.

Official sources

“Water heater replacements, except tankless types”

Source: https://www.sandiego.gov/development-services/permits/simple-permits

“The following installations do not require plans but will require a Simple MEP Permit when installing or replacing these systems in single-family homes and duplex buildings.”

Source: https://www.sandiego.gov/development-services/what-permits-do-i-need

Verified: 2026-10-19 · Status: verified · Confidence: high

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