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Water Heater Permit in Unincorporated Salt Lake County, Utah

Required for water heater installation, replacement, or conversion in unincorporated Salt Lake County. This is a plumbing permit for the most common standalone project type. Issued by MSD.

Verified 2026-06-30 · 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

Required documents

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Fee schedule

Plumbing Permit — base fee (covers water heater)FY2025 Fee Schedule for Salt Lake County, adopted June 17, 2025. Standard water heater replacement = $70 base for one system inspection.
$70.00
State SurchargeFY2025 Fee Schedule for Salt Lake County, adopted June 17, 2025.
1% of the permit fee
Re-Inspection FeeFY2025 Fee Schedule for Salt Lake County, adopted June 17, 2025.
$50.00 per occurrence

Review timeline

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

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

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

Inspection process

  1. 1

    Final

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

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

Tips

  • A standard water heater replacement permit in unincorporated Salt Lake County costs $70 (plumbing base fee) plus 1% state surcharge per the FY2025 Fee Schedule.
  • Seismic strapping is required in Utah — two straps at the upper and lower thirds of the tank.
  • T&P (temperature and pressure) relief valve discharge must terminate to within 6 inches of the floor or to the exterior.
  • Gas water heaters require proper venting — high-efficiency units use PVC/CPVC vent, standard units use metal B-vent.

Frequently asked questions

Yes. MSD requires a plumbing permit for all water heater replacements, including like-for-like swaps. The fee is $70 (base) plus 1% state surcharge per the FY2025 Fee Schedule (adopted June 17, 2025). Utah allows homeowners to pull this permit for their own primary residence. Apply at msd.utah.gov/portal.

In Unincorporated Salt Lake County, the published Plumbing Permit — base fee (covers water heater) is: $70.00. Additional published fees: State Surcharge — 1% of the permit fee; Re-Inspection Fee — $50.00 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 Unincorporated Salt Lake County typically runs 1–3 business days. This is an estimate, not a published figure — confirm current review times with Greater Salt Lake Municipal Services District (MSD) — Building Services at (385) 910-7138.

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

Unincorporated Salt Lake County requires 1 inspection(s) for a water heater permit, in order: Final. Schedule each through Greater Salt Lake Municipal Services District (MSD) — Building Services ((385) 910-7138).

Apply through Greater Salt Lake Municipal Services District (MSD) — Building Services at 860 W. Levoy Drive, Suite 300, Taylorsville, UT 84123. Phone: (385) 910-7138, email: inspections@msd.utah.gov. Office hours: Mon–Fri 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM. Official information: https://msd.utah.gov/205/Building-Services.

Unincorporated Salt Lake County, Utah has adopted: 2024 International Building Code (IBC), including Appendices C and J — governs per Utah Code §15A-2-103(1)(a) (https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title15A/Chapter2/15A-2-S103.html), in force statewide since 7/1/2026 and binding on counties under §15A-1-204. MSD's own Codes and Design Criteria page still lists the 2021 IBC (incl. Appendices C & J) adopted effective July 1, 2023 — live-checked 2026-07-16, MSD's own page has not been updated to the current statewide edition.; 2021 International Residential Code (IRC), including Appendix AQ (except residential energy Chapter 11) — governs per Utah Code §15A-2-103(1)(b)/(c); this edition is UNCHANGED from the prior code cycle. MSD's own page lists the same 2021 IRC + Appendix AQ exclusion, adopted effective July 1, 2023 — live-checked 2026-07-16, consistent with the current statute on the base edition.; 2024 International Plumbing Code (IPC) — governs per Utah Code §15A-2-103(1)(d). MSD's own page still lists the 2021 IPC, adopted effective July 1, 2023 — live-checked 2026-07-16, lags the current statewide edition.; 2024 International Mechanical Code (IMC) — governs per Utah Code §15A-2-103(1)(e). MSD's own page still lists the 2021 IMC, adopted effective July 1, 2023 — live-checked 2026-07-16, lags the current statewide edition.; 2024 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC) — governs per Utah Code §15A-2-103(1)(f). MSD's own page still lists the 2021 IFGC, adopted effective July 1, 2023 — live-checked 2026-07-16, lags the current statewide edition.; 2023 National Electrical Code (NEC) — governs per Utah Code §15A-2-103(1)(g); this edition is UNCHANGED from the prior code cycle. MSD's own Codes and Design Criteria page still displays the 2020 NEC — live-checked 2026-07-16, not updated to the statewide edition; confirm the enforced edition with MSD before starting electrical work.; 2024 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) — one code, no residential/commercial split, per Utah Code §15A-2-103(1)(h). MSD's own page still splits it — 2015 IECC residential (IRC Chapter 11 residential energy provisions explicitly excluded from the 2021 IRC adoption) and 2021 IECC commercial — live-checked 2026-07-16, both lag the current statewide edition; the residential/commercial split itself is preserved here as MSD-published history, not carried into the governing statutory citation.; 2024 International Existing Building Code (IEBC) — governs per Utah Code §15A-2-103(1)(i). MSD's own page still lists the 2021 IEBC, adopted effective July 1, 2023 — live-checked 2026-07-16, lags the current statewide edition.; Residential provisions of the 2024 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC) — governs per Utah Code §15A-2-103(1)(n). MSD's own page still lists the 2021 ISPSC, adopted effective July 1, 2023 — live-checked 2026-07-16, lags the current statewide edition.; Modular Building Institute (MBI) Standards 1200 and 1205 — governs statewide per Utah Code §15A-2-103(1)(o). Not listed on MSD's own Codes and Design Criteria page — live-checked 2026-07-16.; 2006 International Wildland-Urban Interface Code (IWUIC) — adopted per Utah Code Title 65A, Chapter 8. Local amendments apply — see the Unincorporated Salt Lake County overview page for the full list.

Sources & verification

Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-06-30.

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 Unincorporated Salt Lake County 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

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