Do you need a permit to replace a water heater in Las Vegas?
Yes. Water heater replacement needs a permit across the valley, including a like-for-like swap. Which office issues it depends on whether you live in a city or in unincorporated Clark County.
Which office issues your permit
| If you live in | Permit comes from |
|---|---|
| City of Las Vegas (including most of Summerlin) | City of Las Vegas Building and Safety |
| Henderson | City of Henderson Building and Fire Safety |
| North Las Vegas | City of North Las Vegas Building Safety |
| Unincorporated areas (Spring Valley, Enterprise, Paradise, Sunrise Manor, Whitney, Summerlin South and others) | Clark County Building and Fire Prevention |
Not sure which you are in? A "Las Vegas" mailing address does not mean you are in the City of Las Vegas. Look up your address on the Clark County assessor site; it shows the jurisdiction.
What the inspector looks at
- Seismic straps in the upper third and lower third of the tank, fastened to the framing.
- An expansion tank on the cold water line, sized for the heater, because most homes here are on a closed system.
- The temperature and pressure relief valve and its discharge pipe.
- Venting for gas units, and the gas connection.
Who pulls the permit
A licensed plumbing contractor normally pulls the permit as part of the job. Ask any plumber you hire whether the permit is in the price.
In the City of Las Vegas, a homeowner can pull the permit themselves if the home is their primary residence and they own it. A contractor is required for rental properties and second homes. If you pull it yourself, you are responsible for the work passing inspection. Other jurisdictions set their own rules, so ask the office that covers your address.
After the work: the final inspection
The City of Las Vegas requires a final inspection once the work is done, requested by the permit holder at least one day ahead. Its handout also calls for an 18 inch stand for gas heaters in garages, a relief valve drain that ends at least 6 inches above the ground outside, and a sediment trap on the gas line. The full list is in Las Vegas water heater code requirements.
Common questions
Do I need a permit to replace a water heater in Clark County?
Yes. Clark County requires a permit for water heater replacement, including tank to tankless changes.
Do I need a permit to install a new water heater in Las Vegas or Henderson?
Yes. Water heater work needs a permit across the valley. In Henderson the permit comes from the City of Henderson Building and Fire Safety; in the City of Las Vegas it comes from Building and Safety.
Who issues the water heater permit if I live in Summerlin or Spring Valley?
It depends on the jurisdiction, not the mailing address. Most of Summerlin is in the City of Las Vegas; Spring Valley and other unincorporated areas fall under Clark County Building and Fire Prevention.
Can a homeowner pull a water heater permit in Las Vegas?
In the City of Las Vegas, yes, if the home is your primary residence and you own it. Rental properties and second homes need a contractor. The work still needs a final inspection.
What does a water heater inspection check?
Seismic strapping in the upper and lower third of the tank, a properly sized expansion tank, the relief valve and its discharge pipe, and venting and gas connections for gas units.
Sources: Clark County Building and Fire Prevention · City of Las Vegas: residential water heater installation requirements (PDF) · City of Henderson: plumbing information
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