What the code exempts
The International Plumbing Code (IPC 2021 §106.2) lists work that doesn't need a permit. Most jurisdictions adopt it, sometimes with changes.
- Stopping leaks in drains, water, soil, waste or vent pipe. If a concealed trap, drainpipe or other pipe becomes defective and has to be removed and replaced with new material, that is new work, and a permit and inspection are required.
- Clearing stoppages or repairing leaks in pipes, valves or fixtures, and removing and reinstalling a toilet, as long as the repair doesn't involve replacing or rearranging valves, pipes or fixtures.
In practice, that covers most service calls: clearing a drain, replacing a flapper or a faucet cartridge, resetting a toilet, tightening a joint.
Jobs that usually need a permit
- Replacing a water heater, tank or tankless.
- Repiping, or replacing a section of concealed supply or drain pipe.
- Repairing or replacing a sewer lateral or water service line, often with a separate permit for any work in the street.
- Adding or moving fixtures, including a new bathroom or a relocated toilet.
- Replacing a shower valve inside the wall.
- Gas piping, often under a separate gas or mechanical permit.
- Installing backflow preventers, pressure regulators and, in many places, water softeners.
What a permit costs: two real fee schedules
Fees are set by each city or county, and the structures differ. Two schedules that took effect on July 1, 2026 show the range of approaches.
| Item | Winters, CA | DeWitt, MI |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee | included | $15 |
| Base permit fee (DeWitt includes one inspection) | included | $100 |
| Water heater | $117 | $6 each |
| Water pipe repair or replacement | $163 | by fixture |
| Drain and vent repair or replacement | $163 | by fixture |
| Building sewer | $159 | |
| Fixtures | $159 first 5 | $6 each |
Sources: City of Winters, California, Fiscal 2026-27 Fee Schedule, Resolution 2026-31; City of DeWitt, Michigan, Schedule of Fees 2026. Both effective July 1, 2026.
Do I need a permit to replace a water heater?
In most places, yes, and it is one of the most common residential permits. Both schedules above list water heaters as their own line. The inspection checks the items that protect the house and the people in it: the relief valve and its discharge pipe (IPC 2021 §504.6), a pan where a leak would cause damage (§504.7), thermal expansion control where the supply has a check valve or regulator (§607.3), venting and gas connections, and seismic strapping where the UPC applies. Our water heater replacement cost page shows how those items appear on a quote.
Who pulls the permit
Usually the licensed plumber or plumbing contractor doing the work, and whoever pulls it is responsible for passing the inspection. Ask whether the fee is included in the price and who will meet the inspector. Many jurisdictions also let owners pull permits for their own single-family homes. If a company suggests skipping the permit to save money, that is a signal about the rest of the job too.
What unpermitted work can cost later
Unpermitted plumbing tends to surface at the worst time: during a home sale, when a buyer's inspector or the listing disclosure raises it; during an insurance claim; or when the next plumber finds work that has to be opened up and redone to pass. Permitting the job at the start is almost always cheaper than legalizing it later.
What the inspector checks on other jobs
On new or replaced water piping, inspectors typically want a pressure test before walls close. On sewer work, they check slope, bedding and connections before the trench is backfilled. On pressure regulators, they confirm the static pressure is at or below 80 psi, as IPC 2021 §604.8 requires. These inspections are part of the price, and the plumbing repair cost page shows where permits fit in a quote.
Permit questions, briefly
Can a homeowner pull the permit?
In many jurisdictions, yes, for work on a single-family home the owner lives in, often after signing an affidavit that they will do the work themselves. Rental properties and gas work are commonly excluded. The building department’s website lists the rules.
How long does a permit take?
Simple permits, such as a water heater change-out, are often issued on the day you apply, many of them online. Work that needs plans, such as a major repipe or new bathroom, takes longer.
What happens if the work fails inspection?
The inspector lists what needs correcting, the plumber fixes it, and a reinspection is scheduled, sometimes for a fee. A contract should say who pays for corrections.
Does fixing a leak need a permit?
Usually not. The IPC exempts stopping leaks, unless a concealed trap or pipe has to be removed and replaced with new material, which it then treats as new work that needs a permit.
Sources
- International Plumbing Code 2021, Chapter 1: Scope and Administration (§106.2, work exempt from permit), International Code Council.
- Fiscal 2026-27 City Fee Schedule, Schedule A: Building Permit Fees (Resolution 2026-31, effective July 1, 2026), City of Winters, California.
- Schedule of Fees 2026, Plumbing Permit Fees (effective July 1, 2026), City of DeWitt, Michigan.
- International Plumbing Code 2021, Chapter 5: Water Heaters (§504.4, §504.6, §504.7), International Code Council.
- International Plumbing Code 2021, Chapter 6: Water Supply and Distribution (§604.8, §607.3, Table 604.3), International Code Council.
Reviewed September 27, 2026. Found an error? Write to admin@plumbingrepairquotes.com.