Minnesota Plumbing Contractor Directory

Replacing a water heater in Minnesota: license and permit

A water heater replacement is plumbing work, so two questions come up: who is allowed to do it, and whether it needs a permit. The state answers the first. Cities answer the second, and rules differ by city, so call your city's building department.

Two questions to settle first

Who may do it

See who may do plumbing work in Minnesota. A business doing the job for pay needs a plumbing contractor license, with a licensed master plumber in charge. A homeowner may do plumbing work on a home they own and actually live in, unless a local ordinance forbids it (Minn. Stat. 326B.46).

Do you need a permit?

We did not find a single state page that lists permit rules for water heaters. The three city pages below all say a plumbing permit is needed.

Permits: what three Minnesota cities say

Brooklyn Park

Permit requiredHomeowner may apply for own homeCompany needs PC license on file with DLI

The Minnesota Plumbing Code requires a plumbing permit for any change to the plumbing system, including installing or replacing a water heater.

Maplewood

Permit requiredCombustion air note

A plumbing permit is required for installing or replacing a water heater, per the state plumbing code. The page adds that combustion air must be provided equal to a "B" vent or larger to prevent back drafting.

Chaska

Permit requiredCommercial: licensed contractors only

A plumbing permit is required for any installation, alteration, repair or addition of a plumbing system, including installing or replacing a water heater. For commercial properties, only contractors licensed by the State of Minnesota may apply for permits and perform plumbing work.

These are three cities, not every city. Your city may handle permits differently.

Questions to ask a contractor

1

What is your DLI plumbing contractor license number?

Then check it with DLI before you agree to a price.

2

Who pulls the permit?

Ask whether the permit fee is in your quote.

3

What does the price include?

Is it the heater and installation together, and does it include removing the old unit?

Next: find a licensed plumbing contractor by city.

Sources

Pages read November 5, 2026. No prices are quoted here because no Minnesota price source was read.