Plumbing help for Pasadena, CA
Emergency Plumber in Pasadena, CA: Which Plumbing Jobs Need a Permit and Which Do Not
Pasadena is one of the few cities that publishes a list of plumbing work needing no permit. This page puts that list next to the jobs that do need one, so you can read a plumber's quote against what the City actually requires.
Clearing a drain needs no permit in Pasadena. Replacing the pipe does.
Pasadena publishes a list of work that is exempt from a plumbing permit. Stopping leaks in drain, water, soil, waste and vent pipe is exempt. So is clearing stoppages.
Removing and reinstalling a toilet is exempt too, provided the work does not replace or rearrange valves, pipes or fixtures. Replacing a concealed trap or drainpipe that has gone bad is different: the City treats it as new work, and a permit and inspection apply.
| Job | Permit under the City list? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Clear a clogged drain | Exempt | Clearing stoppages is on the exempt list |
| Stop a leak in a drain or supply pipe | Exempt | Stopping leaks is on the exempt list |
| Pull and reset a toilet | Exempt, if no pipes or valves change | Replacement or rearrangement removes the exemption |
| Replace a failed concealed trap or drain pipe | Permit needed | Treated as new work |
The line between a repair and new work is where bids differ. If a plumber says a permit is not needed for a stubborn clog, that is right. If the same plumber says it is not needed for a replaced drain pipe, ask them to show you the City's list.
Remodeling a bathroom in an older Pasadena house
The City's bathroom remodel handout says a permit covers relocating or replacing a vanity, toilet, sink, tub or shower. It also says non-compliant fixtures elsewhere in the house must be upgraded, such as shower valves that are pressure balanced or thermostatic and limited to 120 degrees, unless the home was built after January 1, 1994.
That moves the budget. A remodel of one bathroom in a house built before 1994 can pull in work on the other bathrooms. Ask the plumber to read the handout against your house before the quote is final.
- Ask which fixtures the permit will require you to upgrade.
- Ask whether the quote includes the other bathrooms if they are affected.
- Ask who submits the permit and when the inspection happens.
Planning bathroom plumbing in Pasadena? Call and ask what the plumbing scope should include.
Your sewer starts 24 inches outside the wall
The City maintains the sewer mains, but the owner is responsible for the house sewer from 24 inches outside the building wall to the City sewer, including the part under the public street. The responsibility comes from Pasadena Municipal Code 13.24.610, according to the City's house sewer information sheet.
The City recommends annual cleaning and inspection, and sends permit questions about this work to Public Works at [email protected].
- Ask for a camera inspection when you buy a house.
- Ask what the plumber will do if the pipe is damaged under the street.
- Ask who files the Public Works permit for work in the street.
Cracked or root-filled pipe under the street can sometimes be lined without digging. See trenchless pipe lining in Pasadena for the limits.
Pasadena Water and Power, or the pipes inside your house?
Pasadena Water and Power is the City-owned utility. Its troubleshooting page separates utility problems from private plumbing, and says discolored water from interior iron pipes is the owner's or landlord's to fix.
Before you call anyone, run an outdoor tap and a kitchen tap and compare. Water that is clear outside and brown inside points to your pipes, which is a plumber's job.
Hire a plumber the City will deal with
The Permit Center, at Pasadena City Hall, 100 North Garfield Avenue, says contractors and their agents must have a City business license to pull permits. Ask the plumber for it along with the state license, which you can check at cslb.ca.gov. California requires a license for jobs of $1,000 or more, labor and materials together.
Permits can be filed online, and electrical, mechanical and plumbing permits go through the Express Permit Portal. The Permit Center phone is (626) 744-4200.
Four questions to put to any Pasadena plumbing quote
- Does the work stay a repair, or does it replace or rearrange pipes, valves or fixtures?
- If it counts as new work, who files the permit, and is it in the price?
- Will the plumber hold both a state license and a City business license?
- What happens to the old pipe or fixture, and who documents it for the inspector?
The first question decides most of the others. A leak stopped in a drain is exempt. A replaced concealed trap is new work. The answer should appear in the quote, not on the day of the visit.
Bring the quote and the City exempt list to the first conversation. A plumber who knows the rules will not mind the comparison, and one who has not read them will show it.
Pasadena sits north of Alhambra, past South Pasadena
Pasadena sits to the north of Alhambra, beyond South Pasadena. A call from Pasadena reaches the same dispatch line as an Alhambra call, and the dispatcher confirms your address before anyone is sent.
Call (833) 571-0120. South Pasadena homeowners are the next city to the south.
Pasadena plumbing questions
Do I need a permit to clear a drain in Pasadena?
No. Pasadena's exempt list includes clearing stoppages and stopping leaks in drain and supply pipes. Replacing a defective concealed trap or drain pipe is treated as new work and needs a permit.
Who owns the sewer line under the street in Pasadena?
The owner is responsible for the house sewer from 24 inches outside the building wall to the City sewer, including under the public street, according to the City. The City maintains the mains.
Does a Pasadena bathroom remodel require other fixture upgrades?
The City's handout says non-compliant fixtures throughout the house must be upgraded, such as shower valves, unless the home was built after January 1, 1994.
Plumbing help in Pasadena?
Say what is wrong, how old the house is and whether the work might involve moving pipes. You will get a clear read on the repair and on whether a permit applies.