What's Required in Louisville
- Tile, paint, vanity tops and similar finish work need no permit (KRC R105.2).
- Resetting the same toilet without rearranging pipes needs no permit (KRC R105.2).
- Moving a fixture, soil or waste opening needs a state plumbing permit from the Division of Plumbing.
- State residential plumbing permits cost $50 plus $14 per fixture or opening, with five inspections included.
- Repairs of leaks, cocks and valves need no plumbing permit.
- New wiring needs a Metro electrical permit; wall changes need a Metro building permit ($75 minimum).
- Homeowner plumbing permits require an affidavit and that the owner personally does the work.
Do You Need a Permit to Remodel a Bathroom in Louisville?
Only for the plumbing, wiring or walls. The Kentucky Residential Code (KRC) exempts painting, tiling, cabinets, counter tops and similar finish work, so retiling, a new vanity top or new paint needs no permit. The KRC's plumbing exemptions also cover clearing stoppages, repairing leaks, and removing and reinstalling a water closet when no valves, pipes or fixtures are replaced or rearranged.
Bathroom plumbing permits do not come from Louisville Metro. Under KRS 318.134 they come from the Kentucky Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction, Division of Plumbing, which assigns inspectors to Jefferson County by zip code. State regulation 815 KAR 20:050 requires a plumbing permit when a fixture, soil or waste opening is moved or relocated, for a new plumbing installation and for a replaced water heater. No permit is needed to repair leaks, cocks or valves or to clean out drains. The regulation does not address swapping a fixture in the same spot, so ask the Division before a like-for-like toilet or tub replacement. Electrical and wall work goes to Metro's Construction Review.
Louisville Bathroom Permit Rules by Scenario
| What you are doing | City filing | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Retiling, new vanity top, paint, flooring | None | KRC R105.2, Building item 6 |
| Pulling and resetting the same toilet | None | KRC R105.2, Plumbing item 2 |
| Moving the toilet, sink or shower drain | State plumbing permit, $50 + $14 per opening | 815 KAR 20:050 |
| Fixing a leak or a valve | None | 815 KAR 20:050, Section 1(3) |
| New circuit, light or fan wiring | Metro electrical permit, $75 or $100 | LMCO 150.096, Electrical item 3 |
| Moving or removing a wall | Metro building permit, $75 minimum | LMCO 150.096, partial alterations |
| Replacing the water heater | State plumbing permit, $50 | 815 KAR 20:050 |
How Much Do Bathroom Permits Cost in Louisville?
The state's residential plumbing permit is $50 plus $14 per fixture or opening, with five inspections included. Moving only the toilet costs $50 + $14 = $64. Metro's electrical permit is $75 for work up to $750 and $100 above that. A Metro building permit for a partial alteration is $50 plus $2.50 per $1,000 of estimated cost, never less than $75 (LMCO 150.096, revised February 6, 2024).
Worked example for a $15,000 remodel that moves the toilet, vanity and shower drain, adds a circuit and moves a wall: plumbing $50 + 3 x $14 = $92; electrical $100; building $50 + 15 x $2.50 = $87.50. Total: $279.50. A tile-and-vanity refresh pays nothing.
Can You Do It Yourself?
Yes, with conditions. The state issues a homeowner plumbing permit for a home the owner occupies when the owner files an affidavit with the application and personally performs all the work. A homeowner may also wire their own home under Kentucky law; Metro's electrical application requires a notarized certification that you live in the home, that it is not for sale and that you are doing all the electrical work yourself. Otherwise the plumbing must be installed under a licensed master plumber, and the electrical permit goes to a licensed electrical contractor.
How to Get a Bathroom Remodel Permit in Louisville
List what moves
Mark every fixture, drain and wall that moves; finish-only work needs no permit.
Get the state plumbing permit
A master plumber or the owner-occupant applies to the Kentucky Division of Plumbing before work starts.
Add Metro permits
File electrical and, for wall changes, building permits with Construction Review.
Book rough-in inspections
Call the state plumbing inspector for your zip code and Metro for electrical before closing walls.
Final inspections
Pass the final plumbing and electrical inspections; extra Metro electrical inspections are $50 each.