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Water heater permit checklist — Los Angeles County, California

Assembled from Los Angeles County’s own published permit rules. Every line below is quoted from a city document and linked to it. Nothing here is generated, estimated, or inferred from another jurisdiction.

Do you need a permit?

Los Angeles County requires a permit for a water heater.

Los Angeles County does not publish an exemption for water heater replacement. Title 28 plumbing fees list a specific per-unit charge for each water heater and/or vent, which confirms the County treats a swap as permit work. Unlike San Diego County, there is no carve-out for a like-for-like replacement performed by a licensed plumbing contractor. Seismic strapping, combustion air, T&P relief piping and vent sizing are the items inspected. A conversion from tank to tankless normally also pulls in gas line and electrical or mechanical work, each with its own permit and fee line.

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Sources

• water heater — permit rules ↗verified August 2026

Other permits Los Angeles County publishes rules for

Listed because the city publishes a separate rule for each type — not because this project necessarily triggers one. Whether it does depends on your scope of work.

• Deck permit checklist
• Fence permit checklist
• Shed permit checklist
• Re-roof permit checklist
• Retaining wall permit checklist
• Electrical work permit checklist
• General building work permit checklist

BuildSpec is a reference, not the authority having jurisdiction. Confirm requirements with Los Angeles County before you build.