Water Heater Permits in Chesterfield County, VA (Midlothian)
Midlothian is in Chesterfield County, so the county's Department of Building Inspection issues permits for water heater work here. A gas or propane water heater job needs one under Virginia's building code, and a tank-to-tankless conversion often needs more than one. Here's how it works, what the 2026-27 fees are, and what to ask your contractor.
The Virginia rule: gas means a permit
Virginia's Uniform Statewide Building Code lists the work that doesn't need a permit. One item on that list is the "replacement of mechanical appliances provided such equipment is not fueled by gas or oil" (13VAC5-63-80, Section 108.2). A gas or propane water heater is fueled by gas, so replacing one, tank or tankless, needs a permit.
An electric water heater can fall under that exemption when it's a straight swap. Switching to an electric tankless unit is rarely a straight swap, though, because it usually needs new heavy circuits, and electrical work of that kind has its own permit. When in doubt, ask the county before the work starts.
Which permits a job usually involves
| The job | Permits commonly involved |
|---|---|
| Gas tankless replacing gas tankless | A gas permit for replacing an appliance with a like appliance, plus plumbing if the water connections change. |
| Gas or propane tank to tankless | A gas permit covering the new appliance and any new gas piping, plumbing for the water connections, and electrical if a new outlet or circuit is added. |
| New propane service for a tankless unit | A gas permit that covers the propane tank or line and the piping to the appliance. |
| Electric tank to electric tankless | Electrical for the new circuits, and plumbing for the water connections. |
The county decides what each job needs. The table is a guide to what to expect on a quote, not a ruling.
Chesterfield County fees, July 2026 to June 2027
From the county's residential permit fee schedule, effective July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027. These are the lines most likely to apply to a water heater job:
| Permit | Line | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Gas | Repair or replacement with like appliance (natural or propane) | $57 |
| Gas | Gas piping to appliances only | $57 |
| Gas | Natural gas, all new installation | $114 |
| Gas | Propane tank and/or product line, and gas piping to appliances | $114 |
| Gas | Propane tank and/or product line only | $57 |
| Plumbing | Where rough-in is pre-existing | $57 |
| Electrical | Where rough-in is pre-existing | $57 |
| All | State levy | 2% of the base fee |
Fees change each July, so check the current schedule. A contractor normally includes the permit fees in the quote. The full cost picture.
Who applies, and how
- The contractor, normally. The county's plumbing and gas permit application has sections for the contractor's information, and for gas work it asks for every appliance being installed and its BTUs, with a gas water heater listed among them.
- Online. The application points applicants to the county's online permit portal, so paper isn't required.
- A homeowner, in limited cases. The application has a section for people exempt from being licensed contractors, such as an owner doing the work on a single home for their own use. Gas work isn't a do-it-yourself project for most people, and the exemption doesn't change the code the work has to meet.
The county's building permits office for gas piping can be reached at (804) 748-1057, the number Richmond Gas Works lists for Chesterfield gas piping permits.
Your gas company may need to know too
A permit isn't the only paperwork when gas use goes up. Richmond Gas Works asks customers adding appliances for the BTU load of each existing and new appliance, to size the meter and confirm the pressure. If Columbia Gas of Virginia serves your house, talk to it about the added load as well. Your contractor can usually handle this, but ask who's doing it, since a meter change can affect the schedule.
What the inspection is for
The inspector checks the finished work against the building code and the manufacturer's installation instructions. On a gas tankless job that typically means the gas piping and connection, the vent and where it leaves the house, the pressure relief valve, and the clearances around the unit. Ask the contractor when the inspection will happen and whether you need to be home for it.
Permits protect you after the job too. An unpermitted gas appliance can raise questions from a home inspector when you sell, or from your insurer after a problem.
Questions to ask about permits
- Which permits will you pull for this job, and are the fees in the quote?
- Will you handle the gas company if the meter needs checking?
- When is the inspection, and what happens if it doesn't pass?
- Is the vent location fine with my HOA, if I have one?
Be wary of a quote that's cheaper because it leaves the permit out. More on hiring.
Permit questions
Do I need a permit to replace a gas water heater with the same kind?
Yes. Virginia's permit exemption for replacing appliances only applies to equipment not fueled by gas or oil. Chesterfield's fee schedule has a line for replacing a gas appliance with a like appliance.
Does a propane tankless unit need a permit?
Yes. Propane is a fuel gas, and Chesterfield's fee schedule lists propane appliance replacements alongside natural gas ones, plus separate lines for propane tank and line work.
Who's responsible if the contractor skips the permit?
It's your house, so problems can land on you later, at resale or with an insurance claim. Ask for the permit number before the work starts.
Does my HOA approval replace the county permit?
No. They're separate. The HOA cares how it looks from outside, and the county cares whether it's safe and built to code.
Sources
- 13VAC5-63-80, Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code, Section 108.2, exemptions from application for permit
- Chesterfield County Department of Building Inspection, residential permit fees effective 7/1/2026 through 6/30/2027 (PDF)
- Chesterfield County, plumbing and gas permit application (PDF)
- Chesterfield County online permit portal
- Richmond Gas Works, adding gas appliances (meter sizing and permit office numbers)
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