Permit record · California
What San Francisco paid for a water heater
Not an estimate. We read 56 permits filed with San Francisco and took the value written on each one.
Half of these jobs landed between $2,000 and $10,950. One in ten came in under $1,400; one in ten ran past $23,250.
The same job, other cities
| City | Median | Typical range | Permits |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | $5,200 | $2,000 – $10,950 | 56 |
| New York, NY | $13,500 | $7,000 – $20,000 | 881 |
| Chicago, IL | $6,048 | $2,500 – $13,821 | 309 |
| Marin County, CA | $3,850 | $2,500 – $5,003 | 278 |
| Sacramento, CA | $3,000 | $1,775 – $7,057 | 280 |
| Everett, WA | $2,892 | $2,382 – $4,648 | 672 |
| Corona, CA | $2,300 | $1,800 – $3,000 | 100 |
| Kansas City, MO | $2,291 | $1,636 – $3,000 | 565 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $2,200 | $1,500 – $3,186 | 115 |
| New Orleans, LA | $1,800 | $1,000 – $5,000 | 1,733 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $1,000 | $501 – $4,000 | 52 |
Across the cities we cover, the same job runs from $1,800 in New Orleans to $13,500 in New York — a 7.5× spread. See all cities →
Other projects in San Francisco
| Project | Median | Permits |
|---|---|---|
| Roof Replacement | $16,000 | 6,806 |
| Kitchen Remodel | $65,700 | 5,445 |
| Bathroom Remodel | $31,057 | 2,871 |
| Siding or Stucco | $17,000 | 1,557 |
| Deck or Patio | $18,000 | 1,059 |
| Garage | $20,000 | 751 |
| Home Addition | $86,794 | 677 |
| Solar Panels | $25,950 | 406 |
| Window Replacement | $13,860 | 289 |
| Interior Remodel | $108,000 | 285 |
| HVAC Replacement | $15,000 | 213 |
| ADU / Guest House | $165,000 | 167 |
| Foundation Repair | $27,388 | 79 |
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 2026-09-24.