When a permit is (and isn't) required
The dividing line in most St. Louis-area jurisdictions is install/replace vs. repair. Installing or replacing a furnace, AC, heat pump, water heater, gas line, or new ductwork is normally permitted and inspected. Swapping a failed component on existing equipment normally isn't.
- Permit typically required: full system changeout, new equipment, gas-line or electrical changes, new/modified ductwork
- Permit typically not required: capacitor, motor, igniter, thermostat, refrigerant service
- Exact permitted-work lists and fees vary by municipality across the St. Louis metro — confirm with your local building department, or let us handle the permit for your job
Why it matters to you
A permit isn't red tape — it's the independent check that the gas, electrical, and venting on a life-safety appliance were done right, plus a record that protects your home's value and insurability. Skipping it to save a few dollars can cost far more at resale or after a failure.
Failure modes
Unpermitted changeouts can fail a later inspection, jeopardize insurance claims, and complicate a sale. Owner-pulled permits for a contractor's work can shift liability to you. When in doubt, ask the contractor who pulls the permit — the answer should be 'we do.'
How Degenhardt handles it
If your job needs a permit, we pull it and manage the inspection. You get equipment installed to code, on record, by union-trained and NATE-certified technicians.
Proof: a licensed, family-owned contractor serving the St. Louis metro since 1984 — on the jobs we install, we pull the required permit and manage the inspection, with NATE-certified, Sheet Metal Workers' Local 36 union-trained technicians.
Note: This page is educational, not legal advice. Codes, fees, and permit requirements change and vary by jurisdiction — always confirm specifics with your local building department (the Authority Having Jurisdiction) before starting work.
Frequently asked questions
In most jurisdictions, yes — water-heater replacement typically requires a permit because of the gas/electrical and venting connections. Confirm with your local building department; we handle it when required.
Some jurisdictions allow homeowner permits for your own residence, but for contractor-installed equipment the contractor should pull it. An 'owner' permit on a company's work can leave you holding the liability.