A water heater swap needs a permit in some cities and not in others
Each city sets its own rule, and the city has the final word. For the full list, see water heater permit rules by city.
Permit required
- Scottsdale: a minimum plumbing permit covers "Water heater (gas or electric) replacement."[5]
- Peoria: the city says a homeowner "replacing a water heater" needs a permit through its Development and Engineering Department.[7]
- Queen Creek: "Water heater installations" are on its required-permit list.[9]
- Tucson: replacing a tank-style heater "with the same type and size requires a permit and inspection."[11]
- Prescott: its permit chart marks water heater replacement YES for residential and commercial building permits.[13]
Depends on the job or who does it
- Phoenix: a homeowner doing their own electric replacement needs a permit. None is needed with a licensed contractor.[3]
- Glendale: "You do not need a permit if it is installed by a licensed contractor" (residential only).[6]
- Goodyear: no permit for like-for-like replacements installed by a contractor.[8]
- Mesa: no permit for a like-for-like gas or electric replacement of equal or lesser rating. Swapping a storage gas heater for a tankless gas unit needs one.[4]
- San Tan Valley (Pinal County): same type, size and location "may be permit exempt."[10]
- Yuma: replacing an existing electric heater in the same location is exempt when a licensed contractor or the owner/occupant does it. Gas heaters are not covered by that exemption.[12]
- Lake Havasu City: exempt only if the location stays the same, ampacity does not increase, and the unit is not converted to fuel gas.[14]
Check with the city
For Chandler, Gilbert, Tempe, Surprise, Avondale, Buckeye, Maricopa and Flagstaff, check with the city. Start with the permit rules by city and job, or call the city's building department.
Check the city's fee schedule for the fee.
Which license class covers plumbing work
The Arizona Registrar of Contractors (ROC) licenses plumbing contractors under three classes, defined in the Administrative Code.[1][2]
| Class | Scope in the code's words |
|---|---|
| R-37, Plumbing, Including Solar | "install and repair water and gas piping systems, fire protection as it relates to water sprinkler systems, and sewage treatment systems. Included are all fixtures, vents, and devices common to the industry, as well as solar applications."[1] |
| CR-77, Plumbing Including Solar (dual) | "the scopes of work permitted by the commercial C-77 Plumbing Including Solar and the residential R-37 Plumbing, Including Solar licenses."[2] |
| CR-37, Plumbing (dual) | "the scopes of work permitted by the commercial C-37 Plumbing and the residential R-37R Plumbing licenses."[2] |
R-37 is the residential class. The two CR classes are dual licenses that combine a commercial and a residential scope.
CR-37's residential side is R-37R, not the R-37 solar scope.[2] For every class across trades, see Arizona contractor license classes.
How to check a plumber's license before you hire
The ROC runs its own contractor search, and it is the place to confirm a license.[15] Ask the plumber for the business name or license number, then look them up before you sign anything.
- Open the ROC contractor search.
- Enter the contractor's name or license number.
- Compare what the search returns with the class you need from the table above.
Where a permit depends on a licensed contractor doing the work, as in Phoenix and Glendale, the license check matters twice over.[3][6]
Decide
Permit for a like-for-like swap in Phoenix
Who is doing the electric replacement?
If A licensed contractor
then: No permit needed
If The homeowner
then: Permit needed
Ask the plumber who pulls the permit when one applies. Our guide on checking a contractor license walks through the process.
Where to start in the Phoenix metro
Once you know the permit rule and the license class, the next step is finding a plumber. For the Phoenix metro, start with the 602 Plumbing Pros directory.
Ask the plumber or the city whether your job needs a permit. For the city-level answers on other jobs, see Arizona building permit rules by city.
Sources
- Cornell Legal Information Institute. "Arizona Administrative Code R4-9-103 (contractor classifications)." https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/arizona/Ariz-Admin-Code-SS-R4-9-103. Accessed October 21, 2026.
- Cornell Legal Information Institute. "Arizona Administrative Code R4-9-104 (contractor classifications)." https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/arizona/Ariz-Admin-Code-SS-R4-9-104. Accessed October 21, 2026.
- City of Phoenix. "Phoenix: water heater replacement permit." https://www.phoenix.gov/administration/departments/pdd/residential-building/resident-plan-reviews.html. Accessed October 21, 2026.
- City of Mesa. "Mesa: water heater replacement permit." https://www.mesaaz.gov/Business-Development/Development-Services/Building-Permit-Plan-Review/Residential-Construction/Residential-Construction-FAQ. Accessed October 21, 2026.
- City of Scottsdale. "Scottsdale: water heater replacement permit." https://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/planning-development/home-improvement. Accessed October 21, 2026.
- City of Glendale. "Glendale: water heater replacement permit." https://www.glendaleaz.gov/Business/Building-Safety-Codes-Services/Building-Permits/Q-A. Accessed October 21, 2026.
- City of Peoria. "Peoria: water heater replacement permit." https://www.peoriaaz.gov/business/development-services/plan-review-and-permits. Accessed October 21, 2026.
- City of Goodyear. "Goodyear: water heater replacement permit." https://www.goodyearaz.gov/government/departments/engineering-development-services/development-services/homeowner-permit-faqs. Accessed October 21, 2026.
- Town of Queen Creek. "Queen Creek: water heater replacement permit." https://www.queencreekaz.gov/government/development-services/building-safety/required-permits. Accessed October 21, 2026.
- Pinal County. "San Tan Valley: water heater replacement permit." https://www.pinal.gov/DocumentCenter/View/447/003---What-Projects-and-Structures-Are-Exempt-From-Permit-Requirements-PDF. Accessed October 21, 2026.
- City of Tucson. "Tucson: water heater replacement permit." https://www.tucsonaz.gov/Departments/Planning-Development-Services/Permits/Tucson-Permit-Exemptions. Accessed October 21, 2026.
- City of Yuma. "Yuma: water heater replacement permit." https://www.yumaaz.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/11460/638987219183130000. Accessed October 21, 2026.
- City of Prescott. "Prescott: water heater replacement permit." https://prescott-az.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/BLD-FORMS_2026-WHAT-NEEDS-A-PERMIT-20260101.pdf. Accessed October 21, 2026.
- City of Lake Havasu City. "Lake Havasu City: water heater replacement permit." https://www.lhcaz.gov/DocumentCenter/View/1204/Amendments-To-2024-Intl-Residential-Code-PDF. Accessed October 21, 2026.
- Arizona Registrar of Contractors. "Arizona ROC contractor search." https://azroc.my.site.com/AZRoc/s/contractor-search. Accessed October 21, 2026.