Riverside County, CA Building Safety: Plumbing Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Code adopted
- 2025 California Plumbing Code, in full
- Adoption section
- Riverside County Code § 15.04.190
- No permit needed
- Stopping leaks, clearing stoppages only
- Permit required
- Any pipe or fixture replacement
- Applies to
- Unincorporated county area only
Summary
Riverside County adopts the 2025 California Plumbing Code in full for unincorporated areas and requires a permit for new plumbing work, though minor leak repairs and stoppage clearing are exempt under the county's building code amendments.
Plumbing: 1.The stopping of leaks in drains, water, soil, waste or vent pipe, provided, however, that if any concealed trap...becomes defective and it becomes necessary to remove and replace the same with new material, such work shall be considered as new work and a permit shall be obtained...2.The clearing of stoppages or the repairing of leaks in pipes, valves or fixtures and the removal and reinstallation of water closets, provided that such repairs do not involve or require the replacement or rearrangement of valves, pipes or fixtures.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 84 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
Unincorporated Riverside County adopts the 2025 California Plumbing Code (Title 24, Part 5 of the state Code of Regulations) in its entirety under County Code Section 15.04.190. County amendments to the Building Code's Section 105.2 spell out which plumbing jobs skip a permit: stopping a leak in a drain, water, soil, waste or vent pipe, and clearing stoppages or repairing leaks in pipes, valves or fixtures, including swapping a water closet, as long as no pipe or fixture is replaced or rearranged. Replacing a defective pipe counts as new work needing a permit and inspection, with fees set under County Ordinance No. 671 and Appendix A to Ordinance No. 457.
Violations & Fines
Doing permit-required plumbing work without a permit is enforceable as a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine up to $1,000, up to six months in jail, or both, with each day of continued violation a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to fix a leaky pipe in unincorporated Riverside County?
What plumbing code does Riverside County enforce?
Does this apply inside the city of Riverside or Temecula?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Riverside County
California rules heatmap·Compare Riverside County to another location·View the California building safety overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.