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Water Heater Permit in Salt Lake City, Utah

Required for water heater installation, replacement, or conversion in Salt Lake City. This is a subset of the plumbing permit, but is commonly pulled as a standalone permit for the most common project type.

Verified 2026-06-29 · Source

When you need this permit

  • Water heater replacement (including like-for-like swaps)
  • New water heater installation
  • Conversion from tank to tankless water heater
  • Gas line modification for water heater (may require separate gas inspection)

Required documents

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Fee schedule

Water HeaterSLC Consolidated Fee Schedule, Ord. 2025-34, SLC Code § 18.56.040. This is the water-heater-specific fixture fee; a separate Plumbing Base Fee (see below) also applies to any plumbing permit — total cost for a standard water heater replacement is $57 + $16 = $73.
$16 each
Plumbing Base FeeSLC Consolidated Fee Schedule, Ord. 2025-34, SLC Code § 18.56.040. Generic base fee applying to any plumbing permit, not specific to water heaters.
$57
Gas Line / Meter Inspection (if gas line work required)SLC Consolidated Fee Schedule, Ord. 2025-34
$23
Re-Inspection FeeSLC Consolidated Fee Schedule, Ord. 2025-34
$129 per occurrence

Review timeline

Plan reviewTypical estimate — confirm current times with the Salt Lake City building department
~1–3 business days

How long did your Water Heater Permit permit actually take in Salt Lake City?

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Inspection process

  1. 1

    Final

    Verify proper installation, venting, T&P valve discharge, gas connections, and seismic strapping

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

Tips

  • Water heater permits in Salt Lake City cost $57 (base) + $16 (per water heater) = $73 total for a standard replacement per the Consolidated Fee Schedule (Ord. 2025-34).
  • Gas water heaters require proper venting — high-efficiency units use PVC/CPVC vent, standard units use metal B-vent.
  • Seismic strapping is required in Utah — two straps, at the upper third and lower third of the tank.
  • T&P (temperature and pressure) relief valve discharge must terminate to within 6 inches of the floor or to the exterior per the adopted plumbing code.

Frequently asked questions

Yes. Salt Lake City requires a permit for all water heater replacements, including like-for-like swaps. The total permit fee is $57 (plumbing base fee) + $16 (water heater) = $73 per the Consolidated Fee Schedule (Ord. 2025-34). Utah allows homeowners to pull this permit for their own primary residence.

In Salt Lake City, the published Water Heater is: $16 each. Additional published fees: Plumbing Base Fee — $57; Gas Line / Meter Inspection (if gas line work required) — $23; Re-Inspection Fee — $129 per occurrence. These are the jurisdiction's own published figures — see the fee schedule table and source citations on this page.

Plan review for a water heater permit in Salt Lake City typically runs 1–3 business days. This is an estimate, not a published figure — confirm current review times with Salt Lake City Building Services at (801) 535-7968.

You'll need: Building Permit Application. Depending on your project, Salt Lake City may also ask for: Contractor License. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Salt Lake City requires 1 inspection(s) for a water heater permit, in order: Final. Schedule each through Salt Lake City Building Services ((801) 535-7968).

Apply through Salt Lake City Building Services at 451 South State Street, Salt Lake City, UT 84111. Phone: (801) 535-7968, email: permits@slcgov.com. Office hours: Mon–Fri 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Official information: https://www.slc.gov/buildingservices/.

Salt Lake City, Utah has adopted: 2024 International Building Code (IBC), including Appendices C and J — Utah Code § 15A-2-103(1)(a); effective 2026-07-01, superseding the 2021 edition (in force through 2026-06-30); 2021 International Residential Code (IRC) — Utah Code § 15A-2-103(1)(b); unchanged by the 7/1/2026 code cycle; Appendix AQ of the 2021 International Residential Code — Utah Code § 15A-2-103(1)(c); 2024 International Plumbing Code (IPC) — Utah Code § 15A-2-103(1)(d); effective 2026-07-01, superseding the 2021 edition (in force through 2026-06-30); 2024 International Mechanical Code (IMC) — Utah Code § 15A-2-103(1)(e); effective 2026-07-01, superseding the 2021 edition (in force through 2026-06-30); 2024 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC) — Utah Code § 15A-2-103(1)(f); effective 2026-07-01, superseding the 2021 edition (in force through 2026-06-30); 2023 National Electrical Code (NEC) — Utah Code § 15A-2-103(1)(g); unchanged by the 7/1/2026 code cycle; 2024 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) — Utah Code § 15A-2-103(1)(h); effective 2026-07-01, superseding the 2021 edition (in force through 2026-06-30); 2024 International Existing Building Code (IEBC) — Utah Code § 15A-2-103(1)(i); effective 2026-07-01, superseding the 2021 edition (in force through 2026-06-30); 2024 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC), residential provisions — Utah Code § 15A-2-103(1)(n); effective 2026-07-01, superseding the 2021 edition (in force through 2026-06-30); NOTE (verified 2026-07-16): The 2024 editions of IBC, IPC, IMC, IFGC, IECC, IEBC, and ISPSC took effect 2026-07-01 per Utah Code § 15A-2-103, superseding the 2021 editions that governed through 2026-06-30. The 2021 IRC and 2023 NEC were NOT changed by this cycle. Confirmed directly against the version of § 15A-2-103 effective 7/1/2026 (superseded 1/1/2027) at le.utah.gov; the next scheduled version (1/1/2027) carries identical code editions, so this entry is not expected to go stale before then.. Local amendments apply — see the Salt Lake City overview page for the full list.

Utah law allows homeowners to perform plumbing work including water heater replacement in their own primary residence, but a permit from Salt Lake City and a final inspection are still required.

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

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Water Heater Permit in other cities

Bountiful, UtahDraper, UtahHerriman, UtahLayton, UtahLogan, UtahMillcreek, UtahOgden, UtahSouth Jordan, Utah

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