# How to compare water heater quotes across Palm Beach County's towns
Write your water heater job up once so every contractor who bids prices the same scope, then compare the equipment, included work and local permit requirements.

## Key facts

- In unincorporated Palm Beach County, the county lists water heater change-outs for houses and duplexes as permit work. [Source](https://discover.pbc.gov/pzb/building/PDF/permit_types.pdf)
- Greenacres requires plan review for tankless water heaters. [Source](https://www.greenacresfl.gov/DocumentCenter/View/395/Water-Heater)
- Palm Beach Gardens requires a residential plumbing permit when converting to a tankless water heater. [Source](https://www.pbgfl.gov/DocumentCenter/View/23368/Water-Heater-Change-Out)
- Boca Raton's electric water heater checklist calls for a plumbing application. [Source](https://www.myboca.us/DocumentCenter/View/262/Water-Heater-Changeout-PDF-)

## Why get more than one water heater quote?

Compare water heater quotes because they can describe different jobs for the same home. A bidder may price the same type of tank while another proposes tankless or a larger unit. Use the same written scope to compare the proposed work and each quoted price.

## How does bidding from photos and a scope card work? <!--method-->

Contractors who take part price your photos and written scope card, so nobody visits before you see any prices. Homeowners pay InstaBids nothing. Contact details stay hidden until the homeowner picks a contractor and they confirm the connection. The contractor you pick may visit once before settling the final price against the percentage the bid stated.

## What photos should I take of my water heater?

Photograph the heater's label, the space around it, the visible pipes and valves, and the vent or electrical connection. Add pictures of any leak, rust or drain pan. Include these with your notes about the replacement you want.

## My water heater is leaking now. Should I post a job?

No, not if the leak needs attention now. Shut off the water to the heater and call a plumber directly. A bid card suits a planned replacement, such as replacing an older tank that still works, with photos and a written scope.

## Which Palm Beach County towns require a water heater permit?

Look at Boca Raton, Delray Beach and Palm Beach for published water heater permit requirements, with more local sources in the table. Unincorporated Palm Beach County also lists heater change-outs as permit work; ask your building office which rule applies to your replacement.

Table: Palm Beach County water heater permit sources

| Place | What the source says | Official source | Checked (UTC) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantis | The general rule requires permits for interior plumbing and electrical work. | [Source](https://www.atlantisfl.gov/156/Building-Department) | 13 October 2026 |
| Boca Raton | The electric heater checklist calls for a plumbing application. | [Source](https://www.myboca.us/DocumentCenter/View/262/Water-Heater-Changeout-PDF-) | 13 October 2026 |
| Boynton Beach | The city has a permit form for an exact water heater change-out. | [Source](https://www.boynton-beach.org/DocumentCenter/View/1310/Water-Heater-Change-Out-Form) | 13 October 2026 |
| Delray Beach | Water heater replacement is listed in the city's express-permit category; confirm the application requirements with the city. | [Official permit page](https://www.delraybeachfl.gov/government/city-departments/development-services/coming-soon-delray-beach-eservices/building-permit-applications) | 13 October 2026 |
| Greenacres | Tankless and solar water heaters require plan review. | [Source](https://www.greenacresfl.gov/DocumentCenter/View/395/Water-Heater) | 13 October 2026 |
| Gulf Stream | Highland Beach handles building permits; Gulf Stream keeps zoning approval. | [Source](https://www.gulf-stream.org/permits/) | 13 October 2026 |
| Haverhill | The general home-repair permit rule includes plumbing and electrical work. | [Source](https://www.townofhaverhill-fl.gov/1217/Building-Department) | 13 October 2026 |
| Highland Beach | The town has a permit form for an exact water heater change-out. | [Source](https://highlandbeach.us/DocumentCenter/View/156/Water-Heater-Change-Out-Form-PDF) | 13 October 2026 |
| Juno Beach | The small-project exemption excludes plumbing, electrical and gas work. | [Source](https://www.juno-beach.fl.us/DocumentCenter/View/893/HB-803-Permitting-Updates) | 13 October 2026 |
| Jupiter | Its 2022 replacement form accompanies the permit at inspection; switching from tank to tankless requires plan review. | [2022 replacement form](https://www.jupiter.fl.us/DocumentCenter/View/12238/Water-Heater-Replacement) | 13 October 2026 |
| Jupiter Inlet Colony | The town's permit information includes water heater replacement. | [Source](https://www.jupiterinletcolony.gov/275/Building-Permit-Fees) | 13 October 2026 |
| Lake Worth Beach | The city's small-project exemption notice keeps plumbing, electrical and gas work subject to permits; ask which requirements apply to your heater. | [Official notice](https://lakeworthbeachfl.gov/assets/hb803-notice.pdf) | 13 October 2026 |
| Lantana | Plumbing, electrical and gas work appear on the permit-required list. | [Source](https://www.lantana.org/158/Building-Permits) | 13 October 2026 |
| Loxahatchee Groves | The replacement form requires plan review for a different-size, tankless or solar heater. | [Source](https://www.loxahatcheegrovesfl.gov/DocumentCenter/View/2137/Water-Heater-Change-Out_Application-Package) | 13 October 2026 |
| Manalapan | A water heater change-out needs a separate permit. | [Source](https://manalapan.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Separate-Permit-Requirements-1.pdf) | 13 October 2026 |
| North Palm Beach | Water heater replacement appears on the permit-required list. | [Source](https://www.village-npb.org/DocumentCenter/View/11824/PERMIT-REQUIREMENTS) | 13 October 2026 |
| Ocean Ridge | The town's permit page lists a form for an exact water heater change-out and a plumbing-contractor affidavit. | [Official form listing](https://www.oceanridge.gov/departments/building_zoning/permits.php) | 13 October 2026 |
| Palm Beach | The affidavit posted as the town's 2019 version starts with issuance of a town permit. | [Affidavit posted as 2019 version](https://www.townofpalmbeach.com/DocumentCenter/View/10426/2019-HWH-Changeout-Affidavit) | 13 October 2026 |
| Palm Beach County (unincorporated) | The county's permit list includes water heater change-outs for houses and duplexes. | [Source](https://discover.pbc.gov/pzb/building/PDF/permit_types.pdf) | 13 October 2026 |
| Palm Beach Gardens | The standard change-out guide lists no plan review; a tankless conversion needs a residential plumbing permit. | [Source](https://www.pbgfl.gov/DocumentCenter/View/23368/Water-Heater-Change-Out) | 13 October 2026 |
| Palm Beach Shores | Water heaters appear on the town's list of work requiring a permit. | [Source](https://cms7files.revize.com/palmbeachshores/General_Building_Permitting_Info%5B1%5D.pdf) | 13 October 2026 |
| Palm Springs | The village lists a water heater change-out form among its permit forms. | [Source](https://www.vpsfl.org/288/Forms-Applications) | 13 October 2026 |
| Riviera Beach | The city's 2020 code amendments exclude water heaters from the household-fixture exemption. | [2020 amendments](https://www.rivierabch.com/filestorage/24577/24756/25061/75511/Riviera_Beach_Amendments_to_Chapter_One_of_the_Florida_Building_Code_7th_Edition_2020.pdf) | 13 October 2026 |
| Royal Palm Beach | Water heater change-outs appear on the village's permit-required list. | [Source](https://www.royalpalmbeachfl.gov/FAQ.aspx) | 13 October 2026 |
| South Bay | The general permit rule includes plumbing; its no-permit list names water heater repair. | [Source](https://www.southbaycity.com/DocumentCenter/View/310/Building-Permit-Requirements-) | 13 October 2026 |
| South Palm Beach | Water heater installation or replacement appears on the permit-required list. | [Source](https://www.southpalmbeach.com/sites/default/files/fileattachments/building_department/page/5571/a_building_permit_is_required_when.pdf) | 13 October 2026 |
| Tequesta | The change-out application needs the change-out form and the heater's specification sheet. | [Source](https://www.tequesta.org/DocumentCenter/View/12896/Water-Heater-Change-Out-Permit-Submittal-Requirements---ADA) | 13 October 2026 |
| Wellington | The change-out packet asks for a replacement worksheet and the heater's specification sheet. | [Source](https://www.wellingtonfl.gov/DocumentCenter/View/4968/Water-Heater-Change-Out_FINAL-es) | 13 October 2026 |
| West Palm Beach | The city's small-project exemption affidavit excludes plumbing, electrical and gas work; ask the Building Division about your heater replacement. | [Official affidavit](https://www.wpb.org/files/assets/city/v/1/development-services/documents/building-div/permit-exemption-request-affidavit.pdf) | 13 October 2026 |
| Westlake | The general rule covers plumbing-system replacement; ask the city which exemption, if any, fits your heater job. | [Source](https://www.westlakegov.com/building/page/when-do-i-need-permit) | 13 October 2026 |

This table covers the sources confirmed for this guide. It is not a complete county survey. A general plumbing rule is not a separate ruling on every heater job, and a missing town does not mean a permit is unnecessary.

The county's no-permit list names repair or replacement of heating elements. It does not describe a whole-heater replacement as that repair. [County repair exemptions](https://discover.pbc.gov/pzb/PDF/whennotrequired.pdf).

Boca Raton also has a plumbing-application checklist for gas and tankless change-outs. [Gas and tankless checklist](https://www.myboca.us/DocumentCenter/View/34429/Water-Heater-Changeout-Gas-PDF).

## Is there a separate permit process for an exact water heater swap?

Yes, Boynton Beach and Highland Beach publish forms specifically for an exact water heater replacement. Ask your building office whether your job fits that form and what it needs before issuing the permit. The form alone does not establish an issue date.

[Boynton Beach change-out form](https://www.boynton-beach.org/DocumentCenter/View/1310/Water-Heater-Change-Out-Form) and [Highland Beach change-out form](https://highlandbeach.us/DocumentCenter/View/156/Water-Heater-Change-Out-Form-PDF).

## Does switching to a tankless water heater change the permit?

Yes, in the towns below that spell it out. Greenacres and Loxahatchee Groves require plan review for tankless heaters. Palm Beach Gardens directs tankless conversions to a residential plumbing permit. Ask each bidder which applications and supporting documents their quote includes.

North Palm Beach's tankless checklist asks for electrical load calculations and a gas plan where applicable. [North Palm Beach checklist](https://www.village-npb.org/882/Permit-Submittal-Requirements-Checklists).

## Where do I look up a plumber in Palm Beach County?

Use the official Florida DBPR search to look up the plumber's state record by name or record number. Ask the plumber which record covers the work in your water heater quote before choosing them.

[Florida DBPR search](https://www.myfloridalicense.com/wl11.asp?SID=&mode=0).

## Do hurricane-zone rules affect water heaters in Palm Beach County?

No, Palm Beach County is outside the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone; the Florida building-code definition names Broward and Miami-Dade. For a heater or tankless unit outdoors, ask each bidder how it will be anchored and which requirements apply to the installation.

[Florida Building Code, eighth edition (2023), definitions](https://codes.iccsafe.org/content/FLBC2023P1/chapter-2-definitions).

## What makes one water heater quote higher than another?

Compare the equipment and included work: the same tank or a larger one, tank or tankless, gas or electric, venting, wiring, gas lines, drain pans and permits. Ask each bidder to explain differences before deciding what a lower total means.

## Can I post a water heater job in Palm Beach County?

Yes, you can start a water heater request for a home in Palm Beach County, Florida. InstaBids is in an early pilot there and still building its contractor network, so a job may not get bids yet.

## Who sees my details?

Contractors who bid see your scope card, your photos and your ZIP code. Contact details stay hidden until the homeowner picks a contractor and they confirm the connection. After that, you can talk directly. The contact-detail filter can miss disguised contact details.

## Sources for the facts on this page

The linked official source text was reviewed on 13 October 2026. Document years are shown where an older form or schedule is used; the review date does not make an older document a new rule. Ask your building office how the source applies to your address and scope.

InstaBids' existing explanation of photo bids and contact sharing: [How InstaBids works](/how-it-works).

## How can I request water heater quotes in Palm Beach County?

Describe the job once, add photos, and every contractor who bids prices the same written scope. Contact details stay hidden until the homeowner picks a contractor and they confirm the connection.

InstaBids is in an early pilot in Broward and Palm Beach counties. We are still building our contractor network, so a job may not get bids yet. Your request page shows whether any bids have come in.

[Start a bid card](/intake?from=county-palm-beach-water-heater)

Last checked: 13 October 2026