Do I Need a Permit to Replace a Water Heater? Fort Collins, Loveland and Larimer County Rules
Yes. Every town around Fort Collins requires a water heater permit. Who issues it in 16 towns, fees and homeowner rules.
Yes. Every city, town and county around Fort Collins requires a permit and an inspection to replace a water heater, even a like-for-like swap. In December 2025, Colorado’s State Plumbing Board told every jurisdiction in the state that this applies to all water heater installations and replacements. Fort Collins Water Heater Pros pulls the permit and schedules the inspection on every replacement we do in Fort Collins, Loveland and the surrounding towns.
Call (970) 305-5633 for a replacement quote with the permit and inspection included.
Call nowColorado’s rule: a licensed plumber, a permit and an inspection
On December 3, 2025, the Colorado State Plumbing Board sent a memo to all Colorado jurisdictions on exactly this question. Its answer: water heaters must be installed or replaced by a licensed plumber working for a state-registered plumbing business that has secured a permit, and “as with all plumbing installations a permit and inspection by the authority having jurisdiction is required.”
The memo adds that domestic water heaters “are not equipped with backflow preventers” (Board Rule 1.2(D)(9)), so a licensing exemption in state law, C.R.S. 12-155-118(6)(a)(I), does not cover them.
The permit does not come from the state here. Larimer, Weld and Boulder (for Longmont) counties are on the state’s list of local inspection areas, and the state does not inspect where a local plumbing inspection program exists. Your city, town or county issues the permit and sends the inspector.
The homeowner exception and its conditions
Homeowners can replace their own water heater in Colorado, but only under two conditions, and they still need a permit and inspection.
A December 4, 2025 addendum to the memo sets the conditions: the home is not for sale, resale, a flip or a rental property, and the homeowner does the work personally. They “must still apply for a permit with the authority having jurisdiction and receive inspection(s) and approval.” A handyman does not qualify: the state’s homeowner notice says it violates state law for anyone other than the homeowner to install a plumbing project on your property unless they are a state-registered plumbing business.
Local paperwork sits on top of the state conditions:
- Fort Collins: a notarized Homeowner Affidavit. Owners of a detached single-family home may do permitted work on their primary residence. Owners of townhomes, condos and duplexes must hire a City-licensed business for plumbing and mechanical alterations or installations; the affidavit excepts fixture replacement in the original location, so ask Building Services whether your swap qualifies.
- Loveland: homeowners may do their own work in their primary residence with a homeowner affidavit. Plumbing work in rental homes, multifamily and non-residential buildings requires a City of Loveland license.
- Unincorporated Weld County: a notarized Homeowner Affidavit in which the owner attests they “will/do personally reside at this property,” and anyone paid for plumbing must hold a State of Colorado license.
- Milliken: a notarized Homeowners Affidavit for owners doing their own plumbing, with the same residency attestation. Otherwise the plumber’s Colorado license goes in with the application, and companies need a Town of Milliken license to pull permits.
- Greeley: homeowners may need a notarized 2026 Homeowner Affidavit. Its plumbing clause requires that you live in the home as your primary residence, that it is not for sale, resale or rent and not generally open to the public, and that the work is inspected. Anyone paid must be licensed or registered with the City, and from January 1, 2027, companies in all applicable trades need a City of Greeley license before applying for permits.
- Longmont: the city says homeowners can do the work on their own property without a license, but anyone they hire must be licensed to work in Longmont, and plumbing companies must register with the state and with the city’s Division of Building Inspection.
Water heater permits by town
Who issues your permit depends on where the home sits, not its mailing address. Homes outside city or town limits get their permit from the county: Larimer County for LaPorte, Bellvue, Masonville and Livermore, and Weld County for unincorporated Weld. Flat fees are listed below where the jurisdiction publishes one; several towns calculate the fee from the job’s value instead.
| Town | Who issues the permit | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Fort Collins | City of Fort Collins Building Services (Fast-Track water heater permit) | $65 per water heater, plus sales tax on the project valuation |
| Loveland | City of Loveland Building Division (Residential Plumbing Fast Track) | Based on job value |
| Windsor | Town of Windsor, through Community Core; SAFEbuilt inspects | Set by the town; ask for the amount |
| Greeley | City of Greeley Building Inspection Division | Based on job value |
| Longmont | City of Longmont Building Services | $40, plus 4.865% sales tax on half the project valuation |
| Timnath | Timnath Building Services | Based on job value |
| Wellington | Town of Wellington Building Department; SAFEbuilt inspects | Based on job value |
| Berthoud | Berthoud Building Department; SAFEbuilt inspects | $150, plus $25 administration and $25 technology fees |
| Johnstown | Town of Johnstown Building Department; SAFEbuilt inspects | Permit fee plus use taxes; ask for the amount |
| Severance | Town of Severance, online application | Set by the town; ask for the amount |
| Milliken | Town of Milliken counter permit; SAFEbuilt inspects | Set by the town; ask for the amount |
| Estes Park | Town of Estes Park (SAFEbuilt) inside town limits; Larimer County outside | Based on job value |
| LaPorte | Larimer County Building Division | $66.42 up to a $2,000 job value, plus about $25.55 per additional $1,000 |
| Bellvue | Larimer County Building Division | Larimer County fee, as for LaPorte |
| Masonville | Larimer County Building Division | Larimer County fee, as for LaPorte |
| Livermore | Larimer County Building Division | Larimer County fee, as for LaPorte |
Loveland’s fast-track application has a Water Heater Upgrade type that asks for the old and new Btu input, and an exhaust test certification goes with the inspection. Milliken says its counter permits may take 24 to 72 hours to approve and asks for the manufacturer’s installation instructions with the application. Unincorporated Weld County’s 2026 fee schedule charges $115.41 for jobs valued up to $20,001.
What the inspector checks
Inspectors check the work against the locally adopted code, including the items below. Our page on water heater installation in Fort Collins explains each one.
- T&P relief valve and discharge pipe: full size, with no valve, tee or trap, ending no more than 6 inches above the floor or receptor.
- Expansion control where a pressure-reducing valve, check valve or backflow device closes the system. See do I need a water heater expansion tank.
- Drain pan where a leak would cause damage, with exceptions for replacements.
- Gas shutoff and sediment trap: a shutoff in the same room within 6 feet of the heater, and a trap near the gas inlet.
- Venting: Colorado’s 5 psi test on new plastic exhaust pipe, Loveland’s exhaust test certification, and the cellular core pipe bans in Loveland (direct-vent exhaust) and Windsor (water heater exhaust).
- Combustion air and location, including the 18-inch rule for ignition sources in garages.
- CO alarms: Loveland’s application cites the state requirement on permitted fuel-fired replacements, and Weld County requires smoke and CO detectors.
- Paperwork: Fort Collins requires the manufacturer’s installation instructions on site, and Weld County fails an inspection without them.
Why the permit matters
A permit puts a second set of eyes on gas, venting and pressure safety, and skipping it can cost you with your insurer and when you sell.
- Insurance. The state’s homeowner notice warns that “homeowner’s insurance may not cover the costs of repair for the work performed by anyone without liability insurance who causes damage to your home.” Longmont goes further: “In some circumstances, your insurance may be invalidated.”
- Resale. The homeowner exception does not apply to a home that is for sale or being flipped, so a seller cannot do a last-minute DIY swap. Unpermitted work can also surface in a buyer’s inspection or permit search.
- Safety. The inspection covers the parts that cause harm when done wrong: gas connections, venting and carbon monoxide, and the relief valve that protects the tank.
How we handle the permit and inspection
- Quote. The permit and inspection are line items on your written quote, with any code upgrades the job needs.
- Permit. We apply with the right building department: a Fast-Track permit in Fort Collins or Loveland, a counter permit in Milliken, a county permit outside town limits.
- Installation. The manufacturer’s instructions stay on site, new plastic exhaust pipe gets its pressure test, and Loveland jobs get the exhaust test certification.
- Inspection. We schedule it for a time that works for you, since state Board policy requires an adult homeowner or our representative to be present in an occupied home.
Every job is done by licensed plumbers and covered by liability insurance. Permits are not the only recent change: Colorado’s 2026 low-NOx rule limits which new gas models can be sold, though it does not require replacing a working heater. Our guide to the Colorado low NOx water heater law explains it. When you are ready, start with water heater replacement in Fort Collins.
Water heater permit FAQ
Do I need a permit to replace a water heater in Fort Collins?
Yes. The City of Fort Collins lists water heaters as a Fast-Track permit through Building Services, at $65 per water heater plus sales tax on the project valuation.
Can a homeowner replace their own water heater in Colorado?
Yes, if the home is not for sale, resale, a flip or a rental and the homeowner does the work personally. A permit and inspection are still required, and several jurisdictions also require a notarized homeowner affidavit.
How much is a water heater permit in Larimer County?
For homes outside city and town limits, Larimer County’s fee schedule effective July 1, 2026 charges $66.42 for a job valued up to $2,000, plus about $25.55 for each additional $1,000.
Who issues water heater permits in LaPorte, Bellvue, Masonville and Livermore?
The Larimer County Building Division, because those communities are unincorporated. Its main office is at 200 W. Oak St. in Fort Collins, 970-498-7700.
Does a like-for-like water heater swap need a permit?
Yes. The State Plumbing Board’s memo covers replacements as well as new installations, so a same-size, same-fuel swap still needs a permit and inspection.
What happens if I replace a water heater without a permit?
The state warns that homeowner’s insurance may not cover damage from work by anyone without liability insurance, and Longmont says unpermitted work can invalidate insurance in some circumstances. It can also complicate a sale.
Keep reading
Related guides
Colorado's Low-NOx Water Heater Law: What Changes When You Replace a Gas Water Heater in 2026
What Colorado’s low NOx water heater law means for a 2026 gas replacement: limits, propane, altitude and exemptions. Call (970) 305-5633 for a quote.
Read guide
Heat Pump Water Heater Rebates in Fort Collins, Loveland and Northern Colorado (2026)
2026 heat pump water heater rebates by town: Efficiency Works, Xcel, PVREA, Atmos and Colorado’s $250 credit, with deadlines.
Read guide
Are Heat Pump Water Heaters Worth It? Pros, Cons and Payback in Fort Collins
Are heat pump water heaters worth it? Honest pros and cons, a payback example with 2026 rebates and Colorado winter tips.
Read guidePhoto credits (Wikimedia Commons): Colorado's Low-NOx Water Heater Law: What Changes When You Replace a Gas Water Heater in 2026: Jason Woodhead, CC BY 2.0.
Water heater trouble?
Call for a water heater replacement with the permit and inspection handled.
Honest repair-or-replace advice, written and itemized quotes, and tank, tankless or heat pump options.
Water heater replacement, repair and tankless installation for Fort Collins, Loveland and Larimer County. Written, itemized quotes and licensed plumbers.
Call (970) 305-5633