Which small plumbing jobs don't need a permit?
L&I lists three exemptions: minor repairs with the same material, such as replacing faucets, valves and parts; removing and reinstalling a toilet when no pipes or fixtures are replaced or moved; and stopping leaks and clearing stoppages.
Those exemptions are narrow. The toilet exemption covers taking the same toilet off and putting it back, not swapping in a new one, and L&I's fee schedule lists fixture replacement and the repair or replacement of water and waste lines as permitted work. If a quote for a "leak repair" includes replacing pipe, ask the plumber to say in writing whether a permit will be pulled.
An EZ permit is still a permit
Some plumbing work qualifies for an EZ permit, which means plans don't have to be submitted, but the permit itself is still required. The Plumbing Permit page lists replacing fixtures with the same kind of fixture and pipe repair among the eligible work. L&I also says some EZ permits, including water heater replacement, may be issued immediately when a contractor with a current license, insurance and tax account applies online. That describes a possible route, not a promised turnaround, so ask whether your exact job qualifies.
Who applies, and who has to oversee the work?
A property owner or an authorized agent can apply, but L&I says a licensed master plumber must oversee plumbing work. If anyone other than that master plumber applies, the application needs a signed statement on the master plumber's letterhead confirming they're involved. The EZ permit page adds that plumbing work always needs a contractor with that specific license, even in a one- or two-family home where some other work could be done by the owner.
Before you sign, ask who will get the permit, whether the quote includes that, the master plumber's name and license information, and who will schedule inspections. Our hiring checklist for Philadelphia and Bucks County homeowners covers the other things to confirm in writing.
Plan for inspections, not just the permit
Once a permit is approved, L&I says the inspections listed on it must be arranged, either through the city's eCLIPSE system or with the assigned inspection office, and a Certificate of Approval is issued after all required inspections pass. Ask the plumber which inspections apply to your job, and keep the permit and approval with your contract and water heater records; our guide to documents to keep after a home repair explains why. To see what was filed for your address in the past, use our guide to looking up a home's permit history.
Other approvals a bigger project may need
L&I says renovations need a separate Building Permit, connections to the water main or sewer and water meters need separate Philadelphia Water Department permits, and large water heaters may also need a permit from the Department of Public Health. If the job goes beyond swapping the appliance, ask the professionals involved to list every permit they expect. These are Philadelphia rules; Bucks County towns have their own offices, and our guide to Bristol Borough and Bristol Township permit offices shows one example.