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Plumbing Permit (incl. Water Heater) in Surprise, Arizona

Required for plumbing work in Surprise beyond the code-permitted exemptions. Surprise adopted the 2024 International Plumbing Code (IPC) with local amendments, effective January 1, 2026. Permit-exempt plumbing work under the Surprise local amendment to IRC R105.2 includes: replacement of existing water heaters of the same size, type, and method of operation that were previously installed with a valid permit; hot water re-circulators; water softeners and soft water loops; solar pool/spa heating equipment installation or replacement; water filtration/purification systems; water lines for landscape irrigation. All other plumbing work, including new water heater installations (not in-kind replacements), new fixtures, or line replacements, requires a permit.

Verified 2026-06-29 · Source

When you need this permit

  • Submit permit through Permits & Applications Portal at app.oncamino.com/surprise-az with plans uploaded via ProjectDox
  • All work must comply with the 2024 IPC and Surprise local amendments (Ordinance 2025-14, effective January 1, 2026)
  • In-kind replacement water heaters (same size, type, method of operation, previously installed with a valid permit) are permit-exempt under Surprise local IRC R105.2 Plumbing item 5

Required documents

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Fee schedule

Plumbing permit — valuation-basedCitywide Fee Schedule, Resolution #2026-16, effective 5/19/2026. Plumbing work is permitted under the standard valuation-based building/fire permit fee.
Base: $100 per permit. Valuation $1.00–$999,999.99: $6.00 per each $1,000 of valuation. Plus 0.50% administrative processing fee on valuation.
Plan Review FeeCitywide Fee Schedule, Resolution #2026-16, effective 5/19/2026.
65% of the permit fee (where plan review is required)

Review timeline

Plan reviewSurprise’s published plan-review target
4–8 business days

How long did your Plumbing Permit (incl. Water Heater) permit actually take in Surprise?

Anonymous — one question, no email. Answers are combined and only shown once at least 5 people have reported.

Inspection process

  1. 1

    Rough Plumbing

    Underground and rough-in plumbing inspected before walls are closed or concrete is poured.

  2. 2

    Final Plumbing

    All plumbing fixtures and connections inspected at final.

See the full Surprise inspection guide — scheduling & re-inspection fees →

Tips

  • In-kind water heater replacement (same size, type, and method of operation, where the original was installed with a valid permit) is permit-exempt under Surprise's local amendment to IRC R105.2.
  • New water heater installations (not replacing a previously-permitted unit in kind) require a permit.
  • Surprise adopted the 2024 International Plumbing Code — confirm your work against the 2024 IPC and local amendments.

Frequently asked questions

If you are replacing an existing water heater with one of the same size, type, and method of operation, and the original was installed with a valid permit, then no permit is required under Surprise's local amendment to IRC R105.2. New water heater installations or replacements that change size, type, or method of operation require a permit. Source: City of Surprise Local Amendments to the 2024 IRC, Ordinance 2025-14.

In Surprise, the published Plumbing permit — valuation-based is: Base: $100 per permit. Valuation $1.00–$999,999.99: $6.00 per each $1,000 of valuation. Plus 0.50% administrative processing fee on valuation.. Additional published fees: Plan Review Fee — 65% of the permit fee (where plan review is required). These are the jurisdiction's own published figures — see the fee schedule table and source citations on this page.

Surprise's published plan-review target for a plumbing permit (incl. water heater) is 4–8 business days.

You'll need: Permits & Applications Portal submission (Clariti/Oncamino). See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Surprise requires 2 inspection(s) for a plumbing permit (incl. water heater), in order: Rough Plumbing, Final Plumbing. Schedule each through City of Surprise Community Development Department — Building Safety Division (623-222-3000).

Apply through City of Surprise Community Development Department — Building Safety Division at 16000 N. Civic Center Plz., Surprise, AZ 85374. Phone: 623-222-3000, email: Community.Development@surpriseaz.gov. Office hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., excluding City-observed holidays. Official information: https://surpriseaz.gov/community-development.

Surprise, Arizona has adopted: 2024 International Building Code (IBC) with Appendices C, H, and O, and City of Surprise local amendments — adopted by Ordinance 2025-14, effective January 1, 2026; 2024 International Residential Code (IRC) with Appendices AC, BA, BB, BF, BG, BI, BJ, BL, BM, BO, CA, CB, CD, CE, CF, and CH, and City of Surprise local amendments — adopted by Ordinance 2025-14, effective January 1, 2026; 2024 International Fire Code (IFC) with City of Surprise local amendments — adopted by Ordinance 2025-14, effective January 1, 2026; 2024 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) with City of Surprise local amendments — adopted by Ordinance 2025-14, effective January 1, 2026; 2024 International Existing Building Code (IEBC) with City of Surprise local amendments — adopted by Ordinance 2025-14, effective January 1, 2026; 2024 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC) with City of Surprise local amendments — adopted by Ordinance 2025-14, effective January 1, 2026; 2024 International Mechanical Code (IMC) with City of Surprise local amendments — adopted by Ordinance 2025-14, effective January 1, 2026; 2024 International Plumbing Code (IPC) with City of Surprise local amendments — adopted by Ordinance 2025-14, effective January 1, 2026; 2023 National Electrical Code (NEC) with City of Surprise local amendments — adopted by Ordinance 2025-14, effective January 1, 2026; 2017 ICC A117.1 Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities with City of Surprise local amendments — adopted by Ordinance 2025-14, effective January 1, 2026. Local amendments apply — see the Surprise overview page for the full list.

Sources & verification

Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-06-29.

Fees, timelines, and adopted codes are researched from each jurisdiction's published records — see how we verify. Requirements change and vary by project, so always confirm the current details with the Surprise building department before you submit. PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency.

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