What matters for project planning
The city's guide names water-heater replacement explicitly, and that example is worth taking seriously because it is exactly the job homeowners assume is exempt. Swapping a water heater is permitted work, and the inspection exists for real reasons -- combustion air and venting on a gas unit, the temperature and pressure relief discharge, seismic and physical support, and the pan and drain line where the unit sits above finished space. The same principle extends across the trade: a repair is often exempt while a replacement or a relocation is not, and confirming which one a proposed scope actually is belongs in the first conversation rather than the last.
Official sources
Verify the property, not just the city
Citywide context cannot establish a parcel’s flood zone, historic designation, stream buffer, permit requirements, soil conditions, or concealed construction. Confirm those items with the appropriate authority and selected provider before work begins.
Sources reviewed June 20, 2026. External requirements and maps can change.