Do you need a permit to replace a water heater in Jacksonville?
Yes. Jacksonville requires a permit to replace a water heater1.
On this page
Yes
Jacksonville's rule“Repairs – replacement of water heaters or other plumbing fixtures, irrigation systems, air conditioning units, new electrical service, rewiring, etc.”1
City of Jacksonville (consolidated City of Jacksonville/Duval County), Public Works Department, Building Inspection Division, WHEN IS A PERMIT REQUIRED?
Which permits you need
| Permit | Required when | The city’s wording |
|---|---|---|
| Plumbing permit | Water heater replacement is not exempt | Replacement of plumbing faucets after the stop, excluding water heaters…2 |
Limits and conditions in Jacksonville'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? | No | Replacement of plumbing fixtures after the stop excluding water heaters…1 |
Who can apply
- Plumbing work by certified contractors with separate permits2
Water heater permit fees in Jacksonville
Fee lines as Jacksonville'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 |
|---|---|---|
| Residential plumbing fixture (incl. hot water tanks), each | Per fixture or item | including hot water tanks or boosters, and washing machines with sewer connection, for each roughing-in and fixture or plugged outlet (fee for new roughing-in includes fixture) · $11.003 |
| Minimum plumbing permit fee | Minimum fee | Minimum fee for a plumbing permit, based upon the fee formulas contained above · $60.003 |
| Solar water heater | Flat fee | Solar water heater · $21.003 |
All of Jacksonville's fee lines are on the Jacksonville permit page.
Who to ask
City of Jacksonville Building Inspection Division4
Building permits
- Website
- jacksonville.gov4
- Apply online
- jaxepics.coj.net4
- Phone
- (904) 255-85004
- [email protected]4
- Address
- Ed Ball Building, 2nd Floor, 214 North Hogan Street, Jacksonville, FL 322024
- Hours
- Monday-Friday 7:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.4
- Inspections
- Online via JaxEPICS or by phone 904-255-8500 (7 a.m.-4 p.m. workdays); scheduled for next business day5
Water heater permit rules in other cities
Rules differ from city to city. Compare Jacksonville 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
- Phoenix, AZ
- San Antonio, TX
- San Diego, CA
- Dallas, TX
- 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
- Frequently Asked QuestionsCity of Jacksonville (consolidated City of Jacksonville/Duval County), Public Works Department, Building Inspection DivisionChecked November 7, 2026
- Residential PermitsCity of Jacksonville (consolidated City of Jacksonville/Duval County), Public Works Department, Building Inspection DivisionChecked November 7, 2026
- City Fees (Categorized by Departments)City of Jacksonville, City Fees page (Building Inspection Division - Section 320.409)Checked November 7, 2026
- Building Inspection DivisionCity of Jacksonville (consolidated City of Jacksonville/Duval County), Public Works Department, Building Inspection DivisionChecked November 7, 2026
- Services ProvidedCity of Jacksonville (consolidated City of Jacksonville/Duval County), Public Works Department, Building Inspection DivisionChecked November 7, 2026