What's Required in Indianapolis
- No permit for tile, vanities, mirrors, doors and other fixtures attached to walls or floors (Sec. 536-201(b)(5))
- No plumbing permit for toilets, sinks, faucets, tubs, traps or valves replaced in place, in-kind piping up to 20 percent, or an identical water heater (b)(21)-(b)(23)
- No permit to replace a bathroom exhaust fan (b)(12); appliances on existing circuits need no electrical permit (b)(20)
- Plumbing permit ($153 up to 1,000 sq ft) for moved or added drains, supplies or gas lines, pulled by a state-licensed plumber registered with the city
- Electrical permit ($169 up to 1,000 sq ft) for any new circuit, pulled by a city-licensed electrical contractor or an approved owner-occupant
- Structural permit ($40 + $150 + $200) for layout changes, new openings or a new bathroom; floor plan with legend, uses, smoke detectors, framing details
- Under-slab and rough-in inspections before covering; frame inspection before drywall; 48-hour availability
- Septic permit from the Marion County Health Department if a bedroom is added on a septic system
- Completion Card within 14 days of finishing to close each permit
Do You Need a Permit to Remodel a Bathroom in Indianapolis?
Not for a refresh. Sec. 536-201(b) of the Building Standards and Procedures exempts the whole cosmetic layer: fixtures attached to the walls or floors such as cabinets, shelving, tracks, wall and floor coverings and doors (so tile, a vanity, a mirror and a new door); replacement of appliances, fixtures, traps and valves in a plumbing system (a new toilet, sink, faucet, tub or shower valve in the same location); replacement in kind of piping up to 20 percent of the house; replacement of a bathroom exhaust fan; and a water heater replaced with one identical in venting and fuel. The Department of Business and Neighborhood Services (DBNS) wants a permit when the remodel moves or adds a drain or supply, adds circuits, changes the layout with new walls or openings, or turns another room into a bathroom. Those are separate plumbing, electrical and structural permits, each a flat fee.
Indianapolis Bathroom Remodel Rules by Scenario
| What you are doing | City filing | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| New tile, vanity, mirror, lighting fixtures on existing circuits, paint | None | Sec. 536-201(b)(5) |
| Toilet, sink, faucet, tub or shower valve replaced in the same spot | None | Sec. 536-201(b)(22): replacement of fixtures, traps and valves |
| Replacing the bathroom exhaust fan, or an identical water heater | None | Sec. 536-201(b)(12) and (b)(23) |
| Moving the toilet or shower drain, adding a second sink, tub-to-shower conversion with a new drain | Plumbing permit ($153) | Only in-place replacement is exempt |
| New GFCI circuit, new fan on a new circuit, heated floor, electric towel warmer | Electrical permit ($169) | Any new electrical circuit |
| Moving walls, enlarging the room, new window opening | Structural permit ($390) + trade permits | Remodel of a Class 2 structure; non-bearing walls alone are exempt |
| New bathroom in a basement, attic or former closet | Structural ($390) + plumbing ($153) + electrical ($169) = $712 | Checklist: rooms labeled existing and proposed use; egress and smoke detectors |
How Much Does a Bathroom Remodel Permit Cost in Indianapolis?
The January 5, 2026 DBNS schedule is flat per permit. Plumbing repair, alteration or remodel of a residence: $153 up to 1,000 square feet of house, plus $23 per additional 500 square feet. Electrical repair to an existing structure: $169 up to 1,000 square feet, plus $23 per 500. Structural remodeling, alteration or repair with no addition: $40 application, $150 plan review, $200 issuance, $390 up to 1,000 square feet. Craft permits carry no application fee and were not changed in 2026. So a bathroom where only the shower drain moves is $153; drain plus a new circuit is $322; a full layout change or a new bathroom is $712 in a house up to 1,000 square feet and about $781 in a 1,500 square foot house. A failed inspection costs $175 to repeat.
Who Pulls Each Permit?
The structural permit may be pulled by the property owner for work done personally (with a Statement of Intent) or by a listed general contractor. Plumbing permits go to a plumbing contractor licensed by the Indiana Plumbing Commission and registered with the city; DBNS says homeowners can pull plumbing permits only in limited situations, decided by email on the project details. Electrical permits go to a city-licensed electrical contractor unless you own and occupy the home and have the licensing board's written approval of your skill, which DBNS runs as a homeowner exam. A non-identical water heater (different venting or fuel) is a plumbing permit type on the plumbing application. If one contractor is responsible for the whole job, it must pull the permits under its own listing.
Plans, Inspections and the Basement Bathroom
For a structural permit the Residential Plan Submittal Checklist wants a floor plan of each floor in scope with a legend of all proposed work, rooms labeled with existing and proposed use, smoke detector locations and all doors and windows, plus wall, window and door framing details. A new bathroom that comes with a new bedroom in a home on septic also needs a septic permit from the Marion County Health Department. Inspections: an under-slab plumbing inspection before a basement drain is covered, a separate rough inspection for each craft before walls close, a frame inspection after wiring and pipes are in, and finals requested with the Completion Card.
How to Get a Bathroom Remodel Permit in Indianapolis
Decide what moves
Same-spot fixtures, tile, vanity and fan replacement: no permit. Moved drains: plumbing permit. New circuits: electrical permit. New walls, openings or rooms: structural permit.
Draw the plan for structural work
Floor plan with existing and proposed layout, a legend, room uses, smoke detectors, doors and windows, and framing details per the Residential Plan Submittal Checklist.
Apply in Accela Citizens Access
File the structural permit yourself (with a Statement of Intent) or through a listed contractor; pay the $40 application and $150 review fees at submittal.
Have the licensed trades pull their permits
The plumber files the $153 plumbing permit and the electrician the $169 electrical permit, each referencing the structural permit number.
Inspect before closing walls, then finish
Under-slab, rough plumbing, rough electrical and frame inspections before anything is covered; submit the Completion Card for finals within 14 days of completion.