What's Required in Jacksonville
- Plumbing, electrical and mechanical work each need a separate permit.
- Faucet replacement after the stop, stopping leaks and clearing drains need no permit.
- Water heater replacement needs a permit; electric water heaters in single-family homes get a no-inspection auto-expire permit.
- Re-piping costing $5,000 or less at a single-family home is permitted without plan review or inspection.
- Plumbing fees are $11 per fixture with a $60 minimum.
- Improvements over $5,000 need a recorded Notice of Commencement before the first inspection.
- Owner-builders must be on the deed, apply in person and provide proof of homestead exemption.
- Permits are valid for 180 days.
Do you need a permit to remodel a bathroom in Jacksonville?
If you move or add plumbing, wiring or walls, yes. Each trade is its own permit. The Building Inspection Division's exempt list for homes covers three things:
- patio slabs
- replacing faucets after the shutoff (the stop)
- stopping leaks and clearing drains, as long as no valves, pipes or fixtures are replaced or rearranged
Tile, paint and a new vanity top are cosmetic items the city does not inspect. Some work needs a permit but no inspection. Under Ordinance Code 320.408(f), these single-family jobs get a permit that auto-expires once paid, with no plan review or inspection:
- installing an electric water heater
- re-piping that costs $5,000 or less
- replacing light fixtures, switches, ceiling fans and receptacles
Does swapping a toilet or vanity need a permit?
The city's pages disagree, so confirm with BID before you skip it. The residential permits page exempts only faucets after the stop. The BID FAQ first lists "replacement of water heaters or other plumbing fixtures" as work that needs a permit, then lists "replacement of plumbing fixtures after the stop excluding water heaters" as work that doesn't. The Florida Building Code allows removing and reinstalling a toilet without a permit when no pipes, valves or fixtures are replaced. A water heater replacement always needs a permit.
How much does a bathroom remodel permit cost in Jacksonville?
A remodel is an alteration under Section 320.409, subsection (6). It's charged per $1,000 of estimated cost:
- $3.00 BID fee, with a $112.50 minimum
- $0.65 resource management
- a landscape fee of 12% of the BID fee
- $1.00 Development Services
- $0.90 debris
- plan review of 67% of the BID fee or $75, whichever is greater
Plumbing is $11 per fixture and electrical has a $60 minimum. Each trade permit has a $60 minimum.
- $15,000 remodel with a new shower, toilet and sink: $112.50 + $9.75 + $13.50 + $15 + $13.50 + $75.38 = $239.63. Add the plumbing permit (3 × $11 = $33, so the $60 minimum) and an electrical permit at $60 for $359.63.
- Plumbing-only job, such as moving one drain without a building permit: $60.
Florida's 1 percent and 1.5 percent building-code surcharges apply to permit fees.
| What you are doing | City filing | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| New faucet or showerhead | No permit | Faucets after the stop are exempt |
| Retile, paint, new mirror | No permit | City does not inspect cosmetic items |
| Replace the toilet or vanity in place | Confirm with BID | City pages disagree |
| Replace an electric water heater | Plumbing permit, no inspection | Auto-expire under 320.408(f) |
| Move the toilet or shower drain | Plumbing permit | $11 per fixture, $60 minimum |
| Add a GFCI circuit or new lighting | Electrical permit | $60 minimum |
| $15,000 gut remodel | Building + plumbing + electrical | About $360 |
Who can pull the permits?
You can, as an owner-builder on your own primary residence. You must be on the deed, apply in person and provide proof of homestead exemption. Any licensed plumber or electrician you hire must pull their own permit tied to yours. Otherwise the permit goes only to a qualified contractor. City guidance says plumbing, electrical and HVAC work must be done by contractors certified in those trades. Projects over $5,000 need a recorded Notice of Commencement before the first inspection. Permits are good for 180 days, and a failed inspection costs a $45 reinspection fee.
How to Get a Bathroom Remodel Permit in Jacksonville
Scope the trades
Decide what moves: drains, supply lines, circuits or walls. Your plans must say clearly which trades are not being revised.
Apply
Contractors file in JaxEPICS. Owner-builders apply in person at 214 N. Hogan St. and sign the owner's affidavit.
Link the trade permits
Each licensed plumber or electrician you hire pulls their own permit associated with your building permit.
Pay and record
Pay the plan review fee, then the balance. Record a Notice of Commencement for jobs over $5,000 and post it with the permit.
Inspect before closing walls
Schedule plumbing and electrical rough inspections before the walls are covered, then finals, at (904) 255-8500 option 4.