Permit Required? Required
Typical Fee Range $200–$800 Building fee plus fixture-based plumbing ($75 minimum) and electrical fees.
Fee Method Valuation-based
Apply Online Apply at Permitting Services Division →

What's Required in Orlando

  • Plumbing permit for tub/shower and toilet replacements.
  • Electrical permit for GFCI circuits and lighting.
  • Scale drawings of the layout must be professionally verified.
  • Shower pan inspection mandatory before tiling.
  • Notice of Commencement required if project cost exceeds $2,500.
  • Lead-safe work practices mandatory for homes built before 1978.

Do You Need a Permit to Remodel a Bathroom in Orlando

It depends on what you’re changing. A cosmetic bathroom refresh in Orlando — new paint, a vanity or toilet swapped in the same spot, re-tiling, or replacing a faucet — usually doesn’t need a building permit. You cross into permit territory once you move or add plumbing or electrical, relocate fixtures, change the layout, remove or move a wall, or add square footage. Because remodels often bundle plumbing and electrical work, many projects need those trade permits even when the building permit is borderline. Check the specifics with the Permitting Services Division; the requirements above outline what Orlando treats as permit-worthy.

What Bathroom Work Needs a Permit in Orlando

In Orlando, the trigger is usually moving systems, not refreshing surfaces. Work that typically requires a permit: relocating or adding plumbing (moving a toilet, sink, or shower drain), adding a shower or tub where there wasn’t one, new or moved electrical circuits and outlets, removing or altering a wall, converting a half bath to a full bath, or turning another room into a bathroom. Like-for-like swaps in the same location — same toilet spot, same tub footprint — usually don’t. Even removing a tub can need a plumbing permit if the drain is capped or moved, so confirm with the Permitting Services Division before you start.

How to Get a Bathroom Remodel Permit in Orlando

1

Step 1: Layout Plan

Identify where fixtures and outlets will be located.

2

Step 2: Portal Submission

Apply for residential alteration and trade permits online.

3

Step 3: Rough Inspections

Inspectors check wiring and pipes before wall closure.

4

Step 4: Pan Test

Verify the shower membrane is watertight.

5

Step 5: Final Audit

Final check of all fixtures and safety compliance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, plumbing fixture changes require a permit in Orlando.
The minimum electrical permit fee is $38.
Yes, but you must sign an Owner/Builder declaration in person.
Only if you’re changing more than surfaces. Cosmetic work in Orlando — paint, re-tiling, swapping a vanity or toilet in the same spot — usually needs no permit, but moving or adding plumbing or electrical, relocating fixtures, or changing the layout does. Confirm the scope with the Permitting Services Division.
Yes — relocating a toilet, sink, or shower drain, or adding a new fixture, generally requires a plumbing permit in Orlando, even inside a cosmetic-looking remodel. Replacing a fixture in the same spot usually doesn’t. Check with the Permitting Services Division.