Permit record · California
What San Francisco paid for a water heater
Not an estimate. We read 55 permits filed with San Francisco and took the value written on each one.
Half of these jobs landed between $2,025 and $11,900. One in ten came in under $1,580; one in ten ran past $23,600.
The same job, other cities
| City | Median | Typical range | Permits |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | $5,400 | $2,025 – $11,900 | 55 |
| New York, NY | $13,000 | $7,000 – $20,000 | 890 |
| Chicago, IL | $6,000 | $2,500 – $13,795 | 310 |
| 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 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $1,000 | $501 – $4,000 | 51 |
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 San Francisco
| Project | Median | Permits |
|---|---|---|
| Roof Replacement | $16,000 | 7,068 |
| Kitchen Remodel | $65,000 | 5,492 |
| Bathroom Remodel | $31,128 | 2,892 |
| Siding or Stucco | $17,000 | 1,602 |
| Deck or Patio | $17,807 | 1,068 |
| Garage | $20,000 | 749 |
| Home Addition | $85,000 | 687 |
| Solar Panels | $26,208 | 394 |
| Window Replacement | $13,000 | 295 |
| Interior Remodel | $108,435 | 284 |
| HVAC Replacement | $15,000 | 220 |
| ADU / Guest House | $165,000 | 172 |
| Foundation Repair | $27,694 | 80 |
Source
Source: City and County of San Francisco DBI — 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.