Do you need a permit to replace a water heater in Phoenix?
It depends on the project. Phoenix exempts some water heaters from a building permit and requires one for the rest1.
On this page
Depends on size or scope
Phoenix's rule“Replacement, in kind, of an existing water heater in one-and two-family dwellings when the work is performed by a licensed contractor.”1
City of Phoenix, Planning & Development Department, [A] 105.2 Plumbing item 5, p.22
Which permits you need
| Permit | Required when | The city’s wording |
|---|---|---|
| Plumbing permit | Water heater not installed by a licensed contractor | Installing water heater if not installed by a licensed contractor…2 |
Limits and conditions in Phoenix's rule
Each limit sits next to the sentence it comes from; the conditions in that sentence are part of the rule.
| Rule | Value | The city’s wording |
|---|---|---|
| Like-for-like replacement exempt? | Yes, with conditions | Replacement, in kind, of an existing water heater in one-and two-family dwellings when the work is performed by a licensed contractor.1 |
Who can apply
- Exemption only when work is by a licensed contractor1
Water heater permit fees in Phoenix
Fee lines as Phoenix's schedule states them. A minimum or base fee is not the whole price when the line says the fee grows with project value.
| Fee | Type | As the schedule states it |
|---|---|---|
| Table A minimum - residential water heaters and fences | Minimum fee | $1 - $1,000 $98 Minimum for Residential Water Heaters and Fences*3 |
All of Phoenix's fee lines are on the Phoenix permit page.
Arizona law that applies
- State rules on which work needs a permit in Arizona
- Homeowners doing their own work in Arizona
- Contractor licensing in Arizona
Who to ask
City of Phoenix Planning & Development Department7
Building permits
- Website
- phoenix.gov4
- Apply online
- shapephx.phoenix.gov5
- Phone
- (602) 261-80784
- [email protected]4
- Address
- 200 West Washington Street, Second Floor, Phoenix, Arizona 850036
- Hours
- 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except major holidays6
- Inspections
- Online via SHAPE PHX (residential) or phone 602-495-08007
Water heater permit rules in other cities
Rules differ from city to city. Compare Phoenix with 18 other cities on the national water heater permit guide, or go straight to one:
- New York City, NY
- Los Angeles, CA
- Chicago, IL
- San Antonio, TX
- San Diego, CA
- Dallas, TX
- Jacksonville, FL
- Fort Worth, TX
- San Jose, CA
- Charlotte, NC
- Columbus, OH
- Indianapolis, IN
- San Francisco, CA
- Seattle, WA
- Denver, CO
- Oklahoma City, OK
- Philadelphia, PA
- Austin, TX
Sources
- 2024 International Building Code Administrative Provisions (IBC Chapter 1), Phoenix amendmentsCity of Phoenix, Planning & Development DepartmentEffective August 1, 2025Checked November 7, 2026
- How to Obtain a Residential Building Permit (Residential Single-Family Construction Permit Guide, TRT 00823)City of Phoenix, Planning & Development DepartmentRevised February 2020Checked November 7, 2026
- PDD Fee Schedule, Phoenix City Code Chapter 9, Appendix A.2City of Phoenix, Planning & Development DepartmentEffective January 20, 2026Checked November 7, 2026
- Residential BuildingCity of Phoenix, Planning & Development DepartmentChecked November 7, 2026
- Help with My Home ProjectCity of Phoenix, Planning & Development DepartmentChecked November 7, 2026
- Contact Planning and DevelopmentCity of Phoenix, Planning & Development DepartmentChecked November 6, 2026
- Inspection Request/CancellationCity of Phoenix, Planning & Development DepartmentChecked November 7, 2026