What does getPermit actually do?

getPermit reads your job details and tells you what a California city expects before you file: which permits the work triggers, the documents and plans you'll need, the fees to budget for, and the common reasons applications in that jurisdiction get bounced back. It produces a clear checklist you can act on. It does not submit to the city for you — you (or your permit person) stay in control of what gets filed.

Is there a human involved, or is it just AI?

Both. The AI does the research and drafts the assessment and checklist; an experienced permit coordinator reviews and approves it before it's treated as authoritative. The human check is the point — it's how we keep it trustworthy in a process where a wrong filing has real consequences.

Which cities do you cover?

We're starting deep in California rather than shallow everywhere. For a city we haven't fully mapped yet, we'll give you accurate general California guidance and point you to that city's official building department — and you can join the waitlist to be notified when we cover it in depth. We will not invent city-specific fees or timelines we haven't verified.

Solo electricians, plumbers, and HVAC contractors, and small general contractors who don't have a dedicated permit department and lose billable hours to permit admin.

How much does it cost?

It's pre-launch. Join the waitlist and you'll get founder pricing, your jurisdiction prioritized, and a direct line to the team. No spam, no credit card.

We're onboarding a first set of California contractors. Join the waitlist with your city and trade so we can prioritize the jurisdictions our early users actually work in.

Water heater replacement permits in San Francisco, CA

General California guidance last updated May 22, 2026 · San Francisco data verified May 22, 2026

What plumbing contractors need to know about pulling a water heater replacement permit in San Francisco (San Francisco County).

Short answer

In California, replacing a water heater almost always requires a plumbing permit (and often a mechanical or electrical permit too) because the work involves gas or electrical connections, venting, seismic strapping, and a T&P/expansion device. It is governed by the California Plumbing Code (Title 24, Part 5) and the California Mechanical Code (Title 24, Part 4), and is generally pulled by a licensed C-36 contractor.

San Francisco accepts submittal through the DBI Online Permits and Permit Tracking and has adopted the SF Building Code (2022 edition, amending the 2022 California Building Code). Fee details and sources are below.

San Francisco permit data

Sourced from public City of San Francisco documents — every field carries the source URL and verification date.

Permit portal

DBI Online Permits and Permit Tracking

verified May 22, 2026 · source · Online filing for electrical, plumbing, mechanical, and Boiler-to-Operate permits; In-House Review building permits are filed via Electronic Plan Review (EPR). Permit tracking at https://dbiweb02.sfgov.org/dbi_building/

Adopted code edition

SF Building Code (2022 edition, amending the 2022 California Building Code)

verified May 22, 2026 · source · Adopted by the SF Board of Supervisors as Ordinance 225-22 (Nov 10, 2022), effective Dec 11, 2022, with amendments to the 2022 California Building Code; designed to be used in conjunction with the 2022-2025 California Building and Residential Codes

Fee schedule

DBI Fee Schedule — applies to all building permits issued on or after September 1, 2025

verified May 22, 2026 · source

San Francisco Department of Building Inspection (DBI) →All verified San Francisco data →

The general picture in California

A water heater changeout is treated as permitted plumbing work in nearly every California jurisdiction — even like-for-like. The reason it is rarely treated as maintenance: it modifies gas piping or electrical, requires combustion-air and venting verification, and California requires seismic strapping at two points, a temperature & pressure (T&P) relief discharge to an approved location, and a thermal-expansion device on closed systems. Tankless and heat-pump conversions add load calculations and circuit/venting work. Fees, submittal format, and inspection scheduling are set per city — confirm with the local building department.

For deeper background that isn't San Francisco-specific, see the statewide water heater replacement guide.

Typically needs a permit

Water heater replacement itself triggers a permit in nearly every California jurisdiction, San Francisco included. San Francisco-specific variations are confirmed with the issuing department above.

Usually doesn't (general norm)

Relighting a pilot or replacing a thermocouple on the existing unit
Adjusting the thermostat or replacing the anode rod
Insulating exposed hot-water lines or the existing tank's blanket

Documents & plans generally required

Plumbing permit application (and electrical/mechanical permits for heat-pump or electric units)
Contractor license and city business registration
Manufacturer cut sheet for the new unit (BTU input, gallon capacity, energy factor)
Venting layout for gas units (B-vent vs. direct-vent; sidewall termination clearances)
Gas-line size and BTU load calc when upsizing or converting
Electrical load calc and circuit details for heat-pump or electric tank/tankless installs
Site detail showing T&P discharge route and termination

Common reasons water heater replacement applications get bounced

Code-rooted patterns across California — not a San Francisco-specific rejection rate.

Missing or non-compliant seismic strapping (two straps — upper third and lower third)
T&P discharge terminating to an unapproved location (interior, into a fixture, or with reduced pipe size)
No expansion-tank detail on a closed system (backflow preventer or PRV present)
Vent termination clearances not shown for gas units, especially sidewall direct-vent
Gas line undersized for the new unit's BTU input — common on tankless upsizes
Combustion-air requirements not met for indoor gas installations

The inspection sequence

A typical order — the number of stops and exact sequence vary by jurisdiction and scope.

1Underground/rough not typically required for an in-place replacement
2Gas pressure test for new or modified gas piping
3Final inspection with the unit installed, strapped, vented, T&P routed, and tested

Licensing — who can pull it

Water heater work in California is generally performed by a C-36 (Plumbing) licensed contractor — or a C-20 (HVAC) when the unit is classified as a warm-air-furnace/water-heater combo, or a C-10 (Electrical) for the electrical-only portion of a heat-pump install. A B (General Building) contractor may pull within a larger project under CSLB rules. The contractor doing the work typically pulls the permit.

Other verified San Francisco notes

DBI Permit Services phone: (415) 558-6088. Online contractor registration is required before filing trade permits; the registration includes signing DBI's Contractor's Agreement & Terms of Service.
verified May 22, 2026 · source
Building Permit Fee = Plan Review Fee + Permit Issuance Fee. The current schedule applies to all permits issued on or after September 1, 2025.
verified May 22, 2026 · source
In-House Review building permits require 100% Electronic Plan Review (EPR) — DBI does not accept paper plans for these projects. Title 24 Energy and Green Building Special Inspection forms must accompany new construction submittals.
verified May 22, 2026 · source

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a permit to replace a like-for-like water heater in California?

Generally yes, even like-for-like. Almost every California city treats a water-heater changeout as permitted plumbing (and often mechanical) work because of the gas/electrical, venting, seismic strapping, T&P, and expansion-tank requirements. The fee and process are set by the city — confirm with the local building department.

Is a separate permit needed for a tankless or heat-pump conversion?

Usually yes — converting to a tankless gas heater typically requires gas-line upsizing (and may add electrical for the venting fan or controls); a heat-pump water heater adds an electrical permit (dedicated circuit, often a load calc) plus venting/condensate work. Conversions are not like-for-like changeouts.

What does California require for the T&P discharge?

The California Plumbing Code requires the temperature & pressure relief valve to discharge through a full-sized line to an approved location — typically outside at grade, never into a fixture or interior space. Inspectors check the termination and pipe sizing on every install.

Can a homeowner pull the permit?

California allows homeowners to perform certain work on their own primary residence under CSLB rules, but the permit and inspection requirements still apply. getPermit is built for licensed contractors — for owner-pulled permits, contact the city directly.

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