Do You Need a Permit for a Bathroom or Kitchen Remodel?

Quick Facts

From our city pages and each city's open permit data (refreshed October 30, 2026).

Finish Work Versus Permit Work

Austin's published exemptions are typical. Painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, countertops and similar finish work do not need a building permit for one- and two-family homes and townhouses up to three stories, and drywall repair up to 128 square feet is exempt unless it is part of a tub or shower surround. On the plumbing side, replacing fixtures, exposed traps, supply valves or faucets is exempt when no other departments or trade inspections are involved. But Austin says plainly that a new or replacement shower, tub, or tub and shower combination is not exempt.

Nashville's codes list reaches similar results for one- and two-family homes: no permit for kitchen cabinets (new, replacement or additional) or for vanities without electrical or plumbing, but a permit for new shower or bath enclosures and for relocating any electrical fixture, switch or outlet. The broader picture of what is exempt is in Work That Does Not Need a Building Permit: IRC R105.2 Exemptions.

Step-by-Step: What to Do

1. List every element of the scope: finishes, fixtures, plumbing moves, circuits, walls, windows.
2. Check each against your city's exemption list.
3. If any item needs a permit, have the contractor pull the permit for the full scope.
4. Schedule rough-in inspections before walls and floors are closed.
5. Get the final inspection and keep the records.

Los Angeles: Remodels Without Structural Changes Are Express Permits

LADBS Information Bulletin P/GI 2026-003 lists "Kitchen/bathroom remodel for residential buildings (no structural changes)" as an express building permit, with no plan check. The same bulletin lists replacing and adding plumbing fixtures as express plumbing permits, replacing drywall (no new walls) in single-family homes and duplexes, and rewiring or adding devices to existing circuits as express electrical permits. Remodels that move bearing walls or add floor area go to plan check. The full express list is summarized in LADBS Express Permits for Re-Roofs and A/C Replacement.

Chicago: The 2,000 Square Foot Express Path

Chicago's Express Permit Program covers nonstructural residential remodeling up to 2,000 square feet without adding, removing or reconfiguring walls or doorways for rooms other than closets. With drawings by an Illinois-licensed architect or structural engineer, the same limit applies with wall changes. It also covers electrical work, mechanical work, and plumbing that adds up to 5 water supply fixture units; the city's own example is that adding a private bathroom is 4 units. Structural work, new stairs, converting unheated space to living space, and exterior work such as window replacement fall outside it.

San Francisco: Plumbing for Kitchen and Bath

San Francisco requires a permit before cutting into or replacing pipes, especially pipes that will be covered by a wall or buried. Plumbing work related to a kitchen or bath permit can be approved immediately for B-licensed general contractors on PermitSF, and separate permits are needed for plumbing and mechanical work. The city's data show how common these are: 1,940 permits; median 0 days to issue for bathrooms and 1,340 permits; median 1 days to issue for kitchens.

Remodel Permits Issued in the Last 12 Months

Bathrooms

Permits issued 2025-10-30 through 2026-10-30, matched by keywords in each city's published permit descriptions. A permit can cover more than one job, and description wording varies by city, so treat counts as a floor rather than an exact total.

Kitchens

Permits issued 2025-10-30 through 2026-10-30, matched by keywords in each city's published permit descriptions. A permit can cover more than one job, and description wording varies by city, so treat counts as a floor rather than an exact total.

San Francisco's near-zero medians reflect over-the-counter and express issuance. Austin's longer medians (70 days for bathrooms) show remodels there more often go through review.

What Usually Triggers the Permit in a Remodel

• Replacing or adding a tub or shower, or building a new shower pan.
• Moving a toilet, sink or drain, or adding any fixture.
• New circuits, moving outlets or switches, or adding a bathroom fan.
• Removing or adding walls, or enlarging a doorway or window.
• Gas work for a range, or venting changes for a range hood.

If your scope has even one of these, ask for the permit to cover the whole job so inspectors see the rough-in before it is closed up.

Building Departments in the Cities We Cover

Rules in this guide vary by jurisdiction. These are the official departments that issue residential permits in the 15 cities we track, with the city's open-data source for permit records. Each city page shows the rules for roofing, HVAC, solar, fence and deck work.

Before relying on any rule, read the department's current page or call its permit desk. Model-code sections cited here (such as IRC R105) are adopted locally, often with amendments.