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Do you need a permit to replace a water heater in Los Angeles?

Yes. Los Angeles requires a permit to replace a water heater1.

Last checked

On this page
  1. Which permits you need
  2. Limits and conditions in Los Angeles's rule
  3. Zoning rules: separate from the building permit
  4. Who can apply
  5. Water heater permit fees in Los Angeles
  6. Who to ask
  7. Water heater permit rules in other cities
  8. Sources

Yes

Los Angeles's rule

“94.103.1.1. General. Except as otherwise provided in this Code, no person shall add, alter, construct, install, move, reconstruct, relocate, remove, repair or replace any plumbing, fire sprinkler, rainwater piping, standpipe, subsurface drainage piping, swimming pool piping, reclaimed water piping, underground fire protection piping, or graywater piping system unless a plumbing or fire sprinkler permit for it has been obtained from the Department.”1

City of Los Angeles (Los Angeles Municipal Code, hosted by American Legal Publishing), LAMC 94.103.1.1

Where Los Angeles names water heaters

“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.”1

City of Los Angeles (Los Angeles Municipal Code, hosted by American Legal Publishing), LAMC 94.103.1.2.12 item 1

Which permits you need

PermitRequired whenThe city’s wording
Plumbing permitInstalling, replacing, relocating or removing a water heater (plumbing permit); not for repair of a gas-fired water heater that stays connected94.103.1.1. General. Except as otherwise provided in this Code, no person shall add, alter, construct, install, move, reconstruct, relocate, remove, repair or replace any plumbing, fire sprinkler, rainwater piping, standpipe, subsurface drainage piping, swimming pool piping, reclaimed water piping, underground fire protection piping, or graywater piping system unless a plumbing or fire sprinkler permit for it has been obtained from the Department.1

Limits and conditions in Los Angeles's rule

Each limit sits next to the sentence it comes from; the conditions in that sentence are part of the rule.

RuleValueThe city’s wording
Like-for-like replacement exempt?No for owners/ordinary contractors; replacement of a defective water heater with an equivalent one (same gallons, BTU, vent capacity, vent not relocated/replaced) on a detached single-family dwelling by a Certified Licensed Contractor needs a Certificate of Compliance in lieu of a permitReplacement of defective hot water heaters with one of equivalent gallons, BTU rating, and vent capacity when the vent does not require relocation or replacement.1
Repair exempt?Yes: repair of a gas-fired water heater that is not disconnected94.103.1.2.7. Water Heater Repair. No permit shall be required for the repair of any gas-fired water heater, provided the water heater is not disconnected.1

Zoning rules: separate from the building permit

A project can be exempt from one and still need the other (zoning vs building permits).

Zoning ruleValueThe city’s wording
Zoning approval needed even without a building permit?Yes: exemption from building permit does not authorize violations of other City ordinances (e.g. zoning)Exemptions from permit requirements of this code shall not be deemed to grant authorization for any work to be done in any manner in violation of the provisions of this code or any other laws or ordinances of the City of Los Angeles.2

Who can apply

  • Homeowner (owner-builder) or licensed contractor3
  • Contractors must be licensed by CSLB3

Water heater permit fees in Los Angeles

Fee lines as Los Angeles's schedule states them. A minimum or base fee is not the whole price when the line says the fee grows with project value.

FeeTypeAs the schedule states it
Plumbing permit: for each water heater and vent or heat exchangerPer fixture or item$28.00 per water heater and vent or heat exchanger1
Plumbing permit issuing feeFlat fee$24.00 permit issuing fee1

All of Los Angeles's fee lines are on the Los Angeles permit page.

Who to ask

Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS)6

Building permits

Phone
311 (within the City); (213) 473-3231 (outside Los Angeles)4
Address
201 N. Figueroa St. (Express Permit, Records, Plan Check) and 221 N. Figueroa St. (Inspection), Los Angeles, CA 90012
5
Inspections
Request online (LADBS Online Services, service=rfi) or via 311; one day in advance before 2 PM; inspections weekdays 7 AM-3:30 PM3

Water heater permit rules in other cities

Rules differ from city to city. Compare Los Angeles with 18 other cities on the national water heater permit guide, or go straight to one:

Sources

  1. LAMC Ch. IX Art. 4 (Los Angeles Plumbing Code), Sec. 94.103.0 Permits and InspectionsCity of Los Angeles (Los Angeles Municipal Code, hosted by American Legal Publishing)Checked November 6, 2026
  2. SEC. 91.106. PERMITS. (LAMC Ch. IX, Art. 1, Div. 1)City of Los Angeles (Los Angeles Municipal Code, hosted by American Legal Publishing)Checked November 7, 2026
  3. Homeowner Step-By-Step | LADBSCity of Los Angeles, Department of Building and Safety (LADBS)Checked November 7, 2026
  4. Building & Safety | City Directory | lacity.govCity of Los Angeles (lacity.gov City Directory)Checked November 7, 2026
  5. Metro (Downtown) | LADBSCity of Los Angeles, Department of Building and Safety (LADBS)Checked November 6, 2026
  6. Ordinance No. 188797 (Council File 25-1217): amending LAMC Chapter IX to incorporate the 2025 California Building…City of Los Angeles, Office of the City Clerk (Council File 25-1217)Adopted December 24, 2025Checked November 7, 2026