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Plumbing Permit in Lake Havasu City, Arizona

Required for plumbing installation, alteration, or repair work in Lake Havasu City, governed by the 2024 International Plumbing Code (IPC) as adopted and amended (Exhibit E, Ordinance No. 25-1370).

Verified 2026-07-06 · Source

When you need this permit

  • Plumbing permit required for installation, alteration, or repair of plumbing systems, fixtures, water heaters, and building sewers
  • Governed by the 2024 IPC as adopted by Lake Havasu City; building sewers must be tested by plugging the sewer at its connection points and filling with water to a minimum 10-foot head (IPC 312.7 amendment)
  • Replacement of an existing water heater that does not change location, increase ampacity, or convert to fuel gas is exempt from a permit (IRC R105.2 Plumbing(3) amendment) — any water heater replacement that does change these factors requires a permit
  • Backwater valves must be flapper type complying with ASME A112.14.1, CSA B181.1, or CSA B181.2 (IPC 714.2 amendment)
  • Apply via the MaintStar Customer Self Service online portal or Development Services Department front counter

Required documents

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This checker covers one permit. A full project usually triggers several — our paid checklist will assemble all of them, from $29

Fee schedule

Plumbing Permit — Based on Valuation / Fee ScheduleNo dedicated, separately itemized plumbing-only flat fee table (e.g., a specific per-water-heater dollar figure) was found published on lhcaz.gov; plumbing work is billed via the same Development Services fee structure referenced in Service No. S-034, or is exempt from permitting entirely for like-for-like water heater replacement per the IRC R105.2 Plumbing(3) amendment.
Valuation-based or per applicable flat retainer, consistent with the City's Uniform Building Code fee-schedule reference (Master Fee Schedule, Service Nos. S-033/S-034)

Review timeline

Plan reviewLake Havasu City’s published plan-review target
10–10 business days

How long did your Plumbing Permit permit actually take in Lake Havasu City?

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

Inspection process

  1. 1

    Underground/Slab

    Before concrete pour — verify pipe slope, materials, cleanouts

  2. 2

    Rough-In

    After pipes installed, before walls closed; building sewer 10-foot-head water test per IPC 312.7 amendment

  3. 3

    Final

    Fixtures connected, water heater and gas connections verified, no leaks

See the full Lake Havasu City inspection guide — scheduling & re-inspection fees →

Tips

  • Lake Havasu City's published plan-review timeframes classify most stand-alone plumbing permit work under the 'Miscellaneous' category, listed at 10 business days, consistent with Arizona's A.R.S. § 9-835 municipal time-frames requirement.
  • A straight, like-for-like water heater replacement (same location, no ampacity increase, no conversion to fuel gas) does not require a permit at all under the City's IRC amendment — confirm your replacement meets all three conditions before assuming a permit is needed.
  • Building sewer testing requires a minimum 10-foot water head under the City's amended IPC 312.7 — stricter than simply filling the line.

Frequently asked questions

Not if it's a like-for-like replacement: the City's IRC amendment (R105.2 Plumbing(3)) exempts replacement of an existing water heater that does not change its location, increase its ampacity, or convert it to fuel gas. Any replacement that changes these factors requires a plumbing permit.

In Lake Havasu City, the published Plumbing Permit — Based on Valuation / Fee Schedule is: Valuation-based or per applicable flat retainer, consistent with the City's Uniform Building Code fee-schedule reference (Master Fee Schedule, Service Nos. S-033/S-034). These are the jurisdiction's own published figures — see the fee schedule table and source citations on this page.

Plumbing permit work is generally processed under the City's 'Miscellaneous' review category, which the City's published plan-review timeframes list at 10 business days.

You'll need: Building/Plumbing Permit Application. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Lake Havasu City requires 3 inspection(s) for a plumbing permit, in order: Underground/Slab, Rough-In, Final. Schedule each through Lake Havasu City Development Services Department — Building Division (928-453-4148).

Apply through Lake Havasu City Development Services Department — Building Division at 2330 McCulloch Boulevard N, Lake Havasu City, AZ 86403. Phone: 928-453-4148, email: builderinfo@lhcaz.gov. Office hours: Building Official: Steve Blake (928-854-0716, blakesm@lhcaz.gov). Plans Examiners: Jerry Amann (928-854-0746, Amannj@lhcaz.gov) and Sylvia Butch. Combo Building Inspector/Plans Examiners: Chris Hayes, George Langley. Building Inspectors: Josh Boothe, Brian Drosselmeyer. Permit Technician Lead: Kristin Warren (buildingpermits@lhcaz.gov). Applications are submitted through the City's online MaintStar Customer Self Service portal (h2.maintstar.co/lakehavasu/Portal) or in person at the Development Services Department front counter, 2330 McCulloch Blvd N. Plan review does not begin until the City has verified the application submittal is complete; completeness review itself takes 7-10 business days before the formal plan-review clock starts. Source: City of Lake Havasu City Building Permits page (lhcaz.gov/229/Building-Permits and lhcaz.gov/development-permitting/building) and 2024 Code Letter to Contractors (Steven Blake, LHC Building Official, rev. 09-08-2025).. Official information: https://www.lhcaz.gov/229/Building-Permits.

Lake Havasu City, Arizona has adopted: Arizona has NO statewide mandatory building code floor for general construction — code adoption is a per-city/county authority under state enabling statutes (e.g., A.R.S. Title 9 for municipalities). Lake Havasu City independently adopts and administers its own construction codes through its Development Services Department / Building Division; it does not defer permitting to Mohave County. Source: Lake Havasu City Building Permits page (lhcaz.gov/229/Building-Permits) and Lake Havasu City Code Chapter 12.08 (Building Codes), codelibrary.amlegal.com.; 2024 International Building Code (IBC), adopted by Ordinance No. 25-1370 with Lake Havasu City local amendments (Exhibit A), effective February 1, 2026, replacing the prior 2018 edition. Source: Lake Havasu City Amendments to the 2024 Edition of the International Building Code (Exhibit A, Ordinance No. 25-1370).; 2024 International Residential Code (IRC), adopted by Ordinance No. 25-1370 with Lake Havasu City local amendments (Exhibit B), effective February 1, 2026. Source: Lake Havasu City Amendments to the 2024 Edition of the International Residential Code (Exhibit B, Ordinance No. 25-1370).; 2024 International Mechanical Code (IMC), adopted by Ordinance No. 25-1370 with Lake Havasu City local amendments (Exhibit C), effective February 1, 2026. Source: Lake Havasu City Amendments to the 2024 Edition of the International Mechanical Code (Exhibit C, Ordinance No. 25-1370).; 2024 International Plumbing Code (IPC), adopted by Ordinance No. 25-1370 with Lake Havasu City local amendments (Exhibit E), effective February 1, 2026. Source: Lake Havasu City Amendments to the 2024 Edition of the International Plumbing Code (Exhibit E, Ordinance No. 25-1370).; 2024 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC), adopted by Ordinance No. 25-1370 with Lake Havasu City local amendments, effective February 1, 2026. Source: 2024 Code Letter to Contractors (rev. 09-08-2025), which lists the IFGC among the codes adopted with the 2024 suite; document list on lhcaz.gov/development-permitting/building includes 'Amendments To 2024 Intl Fuel Gas Code'.; 2024 International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC), adopted with the 2024 code suite effective February 1, 2026. Source: 2024 Code Letter to Contractors (rev. 09-08-2025); 'Amendments To 2024 Intl Property Maint Code' document on lhcaz.gov.; 2024 International Existing Building Code (IEBC), adopted with Lake Havasu City local amendments. Source: 'Amendments To 2024 Intl Existing Building Code' document, lhcaz.gov/development-permitting/building, and Lake Havasu City Code § 12.08.085 (International Existing Building Code), codelibrary.amlegal.com.; 2023 National Electrical Code (NEC), adopted by Ordinance No. 25-1370 with Lake Havasu City local amendments (Exhibit F), effective February 1, 2026 (one edition behind the 2024 ICC suite, consistent with the NEC's own 3-year cycle). Source: Lake Havasu City Amendments to the 2023 Edition of the National Electrical Code (Exhibit F, Ordinance No. 25-1370).; 2024 International Fire Code (IFC), adopted by Ordinance No. 25-1371, amending City Code Chapter 12.12.010 (Adoption of International Fire Code); administered by the Lake Havasu City Fire Department / Fire Marshal's office. Source: Lake Havasu City Legistar record (File ID 25-4963/ordinance 25-1371) and Lake Havasu City Code Chapter 12.12 (International Fire Code), codelibrary.amlegal.com.; Transition/effective-date rule: the 2024 Codes and 2023 NEC took effect February 1, 2026 and apply to applications submitted on or after that date; they do NOT affect permits already submitted, in review, or under construction. Standard Plans previously approved under the 2018 Codes remain valid through August 1, 2026 (180 days from the new code effective date) and may be updated via an abbreviated cover-sheet process rather than a full plan resubmittal. Commercial/residential projects already in design under the 2018 Codes were allowed to submit under the 2018 Codes up to May 1, 2026 (90 days after the effective date). Source: Lake Havasu City 2024 Building Code Implementation Standards (rev. 09-23-2025).; Manufactured/mobile homes are addressed via a dedicated Mobile/Manufactured Home Building Permit Application, separate from the standard residential building permit track. Source: Lake Havasu City 'Mobile - Manufactured Home Building Permit Application' (lhcaz.gov/DocumentCenter/View/1153).; Building permit and plan-review fees are NOT set as flat dollar amounts within the adopted ICC codes themselves — the Master Fee Schedule (Development and Right-of-Way Services, Service Nos. S-033/S-034) states plan-check and permit fees for new buildings, additions, pools, and retaining walls are valuation-based, per 'Fee Schedule in Uniform Building Code' (i.e., the standard published ICC/Building Standards construction-cost valuation table), with a plan-check deposit/retainer of 5% of value collected up front and applied toward the actual cost. Separate itemized flat plan-review retainer fees by structure type are published in the Building Permit Retainers/Fees handout. Source: City of Lake Havasu City Master Fee Schedule (effective 02-01-2026, Rev. 12/10/2025) and Building Permit Retainers/Fees handout (Development Services Department, rev. 01/03/22).. Local amendments apply — see the Lake Havasu City overview page for the full list.

Sources & verification

Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-07-06.

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 Lake Havasu City building department before you submit. PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency.