Do you need a permit to replace a water heater in Seattle?
Yes. Seattle requires a permit to replace a water heater1.
On this page
Yes
Seattle's rule“It shall be unlawful for a person to install, remove, or replace or cause to be installed, removed, or replaced a water heater without first obtaining a permit from the Authority Having Jurisdiction to do so.”1
City of Seattle, Seattle Department of Construction & Inspections, Seattle Plumbing Code 502.1
Which permits you need
| Permit | Required when | The city’s wording |
|---|---|---|
| Plumbing permit | Any installation, relocation or change of a plumbing or gas piping system | Whenever you are going to install, relocate, or change a plumbing or gas piping system, Seattle and King County codes require that you obtain a permit.2 |
| Gas permit | Installing or changing gas piping | If you are going to install gas piping or change the gas piping you already have, you must get a separate gas-piping permit.3 |
Who can apply
- Homeowner may obtain a homeowner's plumbing permit and do the work2
- Hired plumber must be a registered contractor2
Water heater permit fees in Seattle
Fee lines as Seattle'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 |
|---|---|---|
| Plumbing/Backflow Permit | Per fixture or item | $137 plus $27 per Fixture4 |
| Gas Piping Permit (if gas piping installed/changed) | Per fixture or item | $137 plus $27 per Outlet4 |
| Re-inspection | Re-inspection | $1374 |
All of Seattle's fee lines are on the Seattle permit page.
Inspections
- Final water heater inspection1
Who to ask
Seattle Department of Construction & Inspections (SDCI)5
Building permits
- Website
- seattle.gov5
- Apply online
- services.seattle.gov6
- Phone
- (206) 684-86005
- Address
- 700 5th Ave, Suite 2000, Seattle, WA 98104 (mailing: P.O. Box 34019, Seattle, WA 98124-4019)5
- Hours
- Most staff 8 AM - 4 PM (phone or email)7
- Inspections
- Online, or 24-hour line (206) 684-89008
Water heater permit rules in other cities
Rules differ from city to city. Compare Seattle 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
- Jacksonville, FL
- Fort Worth, TX
- San Jose, CA
- Charlotte, NC
- Columbus, OH
- Indianapolis, IN
- San Francisco, CA
- Denver, CO
- Oklahoma City, OK
- Philadelphia, PA
- Austin, TX
Sources
- 2021 Seattle Plumbing CodeCity of Seattle, Seattle Department of Construction & InspectionsChecked November 6, 2026
- Plumbing and gas piping applications and permitsPublic Health – Seattle & King County (King County)Checked November 7, 2026
- Installing a new water heaterPublic Health – Seattle & King County (King County)Checked November 6, 2026
- Plumbing and Gas Piping Program fees (through 2026)Public Health – Seattle & King County (King County)Effective January 1, 2026Checked November 7, 2026
- Fences - Construction and InspectionsCity of Seattle, Seattle Department of Construction & InspectionsChecked November 7, 2026
- How Do You Get a Permit? - Construction and InspectionsCity of Seattle, Seattle Department of Construction & InspectionsChecked November 7, 2026
- Contact Us - Hours & LocationCity of Seattle, Seattle Department of Construction & InspectionsChecked November 6, 2026
- Construction Inspections - Construction and InspectionsCity of Seattle, Seattle Department of Construction & InspectionsChecked November 7, 2026