Permit record · California
What Los Angeles paid for a water heater
Not an estimate. We read 51 permits filed with Los Angeles and took the value written on each one.
Half of these jobs landed between $501 and $4,000. One in ten came in under $501; one in ten ran past $10,000.
The same job, other cities
| City | Median | Typical range | Permits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA | $1,000 | $501 – $4,000 | 51 |
| New York, NY | $13,000 | $7,000 – $20,000 | 890 |
| Chicago, IL | $6,000 | $2,500 – $13,795 | 310 |
| San Francisco, CA | $5,400 | $2,025 – $11,900 | 55 |
| Marin County, CA | $4,000 | $2,500 – $5,200 | 289 |
| Sacramento, CA | $3,000 | $1,775 – $7,057 | 280 |
| Everett, WA | $2,883 | $2,378 – $4,581 | 677 |
| Corona, CA | $2,300 | $1,800 – $3,000 | 101 |
| Kansas City, MO | $2,252 | $1,597 – $3,000 | 629 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $2,200 | $1,500 – $3,221 | 117 |
| New Orleans, LA | $1,800 | $1,000 – $5,000 | 1,752 |
Across the cities we cover, the same job runs from $1,800 in New Orleans to $13,000 in New York — a 7.2× spread. See all cities →
Other projects in Los Angeles
| Project | Median | Permits |
|---|---|---|
| Roof Replacement | $6,000 | 22,165 |
| Home Addition | $75,000 | 7,767 |
| Garage | $35,000 | 6,290 |
| Kitchen Remodel | $21,000 | 6,231 |
| Bathroom Remodel | $9,845 | 4,824 |
| ADU / Guest House | $100,000 | 4,142 |
| Window Replacement | $3,400 | 3,517 |
| Swimming Pool | $31,000 | 3,180 |
| Deck or Patio | $10,000 | 2,285 |
| Interior Remodel | $40,000 | 1,190 |
| Siding or Stucco | $8,000 | 748 |
| Foundation Repair | $10,000 | 237 |
| HVAC Replacement | $10,000 | 188 |
| Solar Panels | $51,300 | 179 |
Source
Source: City of Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety — Building Permits. Permits issued in the last 24 months, classified by the work described on the permit. The figure is the declared value of the work — what the applicant reported to the city. It excludes work done without a permit and can sit below a final invoice. Read the full methodology. Data refreshed 2026-09-04.