Plumbing permits

Model codes exist — the International Plumbing Code and the Uniform Plumbing Code are the two families most jurisdictions build on — but what actually governs your house is the version your jurisdiction adopted plus its local amendments. Two towns in the same state can genuinely have different answers on the same job. Anyone who tells you "you never need a permit for that" without knowing your address is guessing.

As a general shape: fixture-for-fixture swaps and repairs are commonly permit-exempt; work that changes, adds, or relocates piping, drainage, venting, or gas usually is not. Water heater replacement is a frequent point of confusion — many jurisdictions do require a permit even for a like-for-like swap, and a few explicitly exempt it. Confirm yours; don't assume from something you read about another state.

The contractor should pull the permit in their own name. If a contractor asks you to pull it as a homeowner, understand what that means: you become the responsible party for code compliance, and you lose a layer of recourse if the work fails inspection. Occasionally there's a legitimate reason. Usually it means the contractor isn't licensed for that work in that jurisdiction.

Unpermitted work is a real problem at sale time. Buyers' agents and appraisers ask about permits on water heaters, additions, and repipes. Retroactive permitting is possible in most jurisdictions but usually means opening walls to allow inspection. That's a bill you pay years later, at the worst time.

How to choose

Call your building department before you sign

Describe the exact job and ask two questions: is a permit required, and who is allowed to pull it. Write down the name of the person you spoke with.

Make the contractor pull it

Permit in the contractor's name keeps responsibility for code compliance with the person doing the work.

Put the permit in the contract

"Permit and inspection included" as a line item prevents the fee appearing as a surprise and prevents it being skipped.

Keep the closed permit record

A permit that was pulled but never inspected and closed is nearly as bad as no permit. Ask for the final inspection sign-off.

Check permit history before buying

Most building departments will tell you what permits exist for an address. Compare that to what you can see was done.