The Orlando rule
The City's plumbing permit application (updated 12/24, read 23 October 2026) covers addition, alteration, new, "Repair/Replace", sewer connection, irrigation, solar and accessory structures, and counts fixtures one by one: bathtub, lavatory, shower stall, water closet, kitchen sink, dishwasher, disposal, washing machine, electric water heater, solar water heater and others. "Backflow prevention device is required for Irrigation."
The July 2026 state exemption does not reach it. The City's HB803 guide lists "Electrical, plumbing, mechanical, or gas work" as "not eligible for exemption, regardless of cost".
| Job | What Orlando needs |
|---|---|
| Replace a water heater | Plumbing permit, "Repair/Replace", one fixture |
| Bathroom remodel | Plumbing permit with each fixture counted, plus the building permit |
| Re-pipe or sewer line | Plumbing permit; a new sewer lateral is $2,950 per lateral on the fee schedule |
| Lawn irrigation | Plumbing permit, irrigation subtype, with a backflow preventer |
| Gas line or gas appliance | Separate Gas Permit Application (Forms & Documents) |
| Plumbing job over $5,000 not part of a building permit | A recorded Notice of Commencement before the first inspection |
Who can pull it
A Florida-licensed plumbing contractor: DBPR lists plumbing among the categories that "require registration or certification" (DBPR FAQ). 95.3% of the 468 plumbing firms on Orlando permits matched an active DBPR license in our file.
Or the owner. Florida Statutes § 489.103(7) exempts owners "acting as their own contractor and providing direct, onsite supervision themselves of all work not performed by licensed contractors" on one- or two-family homes for their own use and not for sale or lease. On the City's form, a notarized owner signature is "REQUIRED ONLY IF THIS WORK IS NOT PART OF A PROJECT WITH AN ISSUED BUILDING PERMIT".
How to apply and what gets inspected
- Count your fixtures and fill in the plumbing application; email it to digitalpermits@orlando.gov for digital review.
- Call Sunshine before digging. The form reminds applicants: "48 Hours before you dig call SUNSHINE 1.800.432.4770."
- Pay in the City's Permit Lookup tool.
- Inspections. Orlando's plumbing and gas codes are 380 underground rough-in, 390 sanitary, 010 tub set/shower pan, 230 water pipe, 240 sewer, 200 rough gas and 600 final.
What it costs
From the 2026 residential fee schedule:
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Plumbing/gas permit, residential | $66.24 plus $7 per fixture |
| Irrigation, residential | $60 for the first $1,000 of construction cost, plus $3.50 per additional $1,000 |
| Sewer lateral construction | $2,950 per lateral |
| Technology surcharge | 3% of the permit fee |
| Re-inspection (failed) | $150 |
| Work without a permit | An additional 100% of the permit fee |
Worked out from the schedule:
| Job | Fixtures | Permit fee | With 3% surcharge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water heater swap | 1 | $73.24 | about $75 |
| Full bathroom (toilet, lavatory, tub) | 3 | $87.24 | about $90 |
| Kitchen (sink, dishwasher, disposal) | 3 | $87.24 | about $90 |
Unlike Orlando's electrical and mechanical permits, the plumbing fee does not rise with the job price, so a $2,000 repair and a $20,000 re-plumb with the same fixture count pay the same. The City says it is reviewing fees after HB803; the invoice is the final word.
What 6,075 Orlando plumbing permits show
| Measure | Orlando plumbing |
|---|---|
| Permits on homes, October 2023 to September 2026 | 6,075 |
| Firms | 468 |
| Firms with a permit in the last 12 months | 267 |
| Usual filed value | $4,639 |
| Middle half of firms' usual value (3+ permits) | $2,500 to $7,975 |
| Usual days from issue to final | 123 |
| Busiest / quietest month | July (111) / November (91) |
| Share held by the five busiest firms | 43.7% |
Plumbing in Orlando is concentrated: the five busiest firms hold 43.7% of the permits, more than in roofing (20.0%). The usual permit takes 123 days to final, so on a simple water heater swap, ask when the final is booked; on a remodel, expect the plumbing permit to close with the rest of the job. Prices by job size: Orlando plumbing cost page.
See every Orlando plumber by days to final →
Next steps
Compare plumbers on the Orlando plumbing list and check the license with the Orlando contractor license lookup. Older permits on your address: Orlando building permit search; monthly counts: Orlando permit statistics. National guides: plumbing labor cost, do I need a permit for plumbing repairs and for a water heater.
What this does not tell you
City of Orlando permits only. The filed value is what the applicant declared, not the invoice. Almost every Orlando permit is eventually closed, so we show speed to final instead of a finished share.
How we know this
Work types, fixtures and inspection codes are quoted from City of Orlando forms and guides read 23 October 2026; fees from the residential schedule effective January 2026, with the worked examples computed by us; the owner exemption from Florida Statutes § 489.103. Counts are City of Orlando permits on one- and two-family homes classified as plumbing, October 2023 to September 2026; days to final are the median from issue; license status is our name match to DBPR.
Numbers come from City of Orlando building permits for one- and two-family homes, data through October 17, 2026. Nobody paid to be on this page and nobody can.
Questions
- How much is a plumbing permit in Orlando?
The City's 2026 residential schedule charges $66.24 plus $7 per fixture, and a 3% technology surcharge. A water heater replacement (one fixture) is $73.24 before the surcharge; a bathroom with a toilet, lavatory and tub is $87.24.
- Do I need a permit to replace a water heater in Orlando?
Yes. Water heaters are listed fixtures on the City's plumbing permit application, and Florida's new under-$7,500 exemption excludes plumbing work 'regardless of cost'.
- Can a homeowner pull a plumbing permit in Orlando?
Yes, as an owner-builder under Florida Statutes § 489.103(7), on a one- or two-family home for your own use, supervising the work yourself. The City's form asks for a notarized owner signature when the work is not part of an issued building permit.
- How long does a plumbing permit take in Orlando?
The usual Orlando plumbing permit in our file reached final 123 days after issue. Many are tied to remodels, which keep them open until the rest of the job is done.
- Is a gas line a plumbing permit in Orlando?
The City treats plumbing and gas together on its fee schedule ($66.24 plus $7 per fixture), but it has a separate Gas Permit Application on its forms page. Rough gas is inspection code 200.
Build your own list
Every firm with that kind of permit on record. Pick what you value. The list moves.
Related guides
- Do I need a plumbing permit in Arlington, VA? The like-for-like rule, gas, and timing
- Austin building permit search: how to look up permits on an address
- Do I need a plumbing permit in Austin? What is exempt, who can pull it, and the fees
- Do I need a plumbing permit in Bellevue, WA? Fixtures, showers, water heaters and the homeowner rule
- Do I need a plumbing permit in Scottsdale? The Minimum Plumbing Permit, gas lines and fees
- Do I need a plumbing permit in Somerville, MA? Yes, pulled by a licensed plumber, and many stay open
For one city
- Plumbing Permit Application (updated 12/24) — City of Orlando (accessed 2026-10-23)
- Residential Building Permit Exemption Guide (HB803) — City of Orlando (accessed 2026-10-23)
- Permitting Development Fees — Residential (1 or 2 units), effective January 2026 — City of Orlando (accessed 2026-10-23)
- Inspection Codes Guide — City of Orlando (accessed 2026-10-23)
- Forms & Documents (Gas Permit Application) — City of Orlando (accessed 2026-10-23)
- Florida Statutes § 489.103 (owner-builder exemption) (accessed 2026-10-23)
- Construction Industry FAQs — Florida DBPR (2026-10-23)