What's Required in Minneapolis
- Replacing toilets and sink faucets in place needs no permit in one- and two-family homes if piping is not altered.
- Installing or replacing a tub, shower or lavatory requires a plumbing permit.
- Moving any fixture's supply, drain or vent piping requires a plumbing permit.
- Opening or removing walls requires a building permit priced on the job's valuation.
- A new or replaced bath fan requires a mechanical permit under the Level 1 flat fee.
- New lights, outlets or circuits require an electrical permit from the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry.
- Owner-occupants of single-family homes may pull their own plumbing permits under Section 85.80.
- Plumbing must be inspected before it is covered and tested before use.
Do you need a permit to remodel a bathroom in Minneapolis?
Not for every bathroom job. Minnesota Rules 1300.0120 exempts tiling, cabinets, countertops and similar finish work, and Minneapolis's exempt-work list says that in one- and two-family homes you can replace sink faucets and toilets, or the internal parts of toilets, faucets and valves, without a permit, as long as you do not alter or replace the existing water supply line or plumbing piping. The state plumbing rule lets the city waive permits for resetting a toilet when the piping is not altered. Once the remodel adds or moves a fixture, swaps a tub or shower, opens a wall, adds a fan duct or adds wiring, you need the matching permit.
How much does a bathroom remodel permit cost in Minneapolis?
Plumbing is the permit most bathroom jobs need. The city charges $41.40 per fixture, counting each tub, shower, lavatory or toilet installed, with an $85.20 minimum that includes the $1 state surcharge. If walls come out, add a building permit priced on the job value, labor and materials included: $104.20 for the first $2,000 plus $20.60 for each additional $1,000 up to $25,000. When plans are reviewed, add a plan review fee of 65% of the permit fee and the state surcharge of 0.0005 times the value.
- Replacing a tub with a new tub and shower valve in the same spot: one fixture at $41.40, so the $85.20 plumbing minimum applies.
- A $15,000 remodel that opens walls and moves the toilet, sink and shower: building permit $104.20 + 13 x $20.60 = $372.00, plan review $241.80, surcharge $7.50, plus plumbing 3 x $41.40 + $1 = $125.20, for $746.50.
A new or replaced bath fan is mechanical Level 1 work, a flat $84.20 plus $1. Wiring goes to the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI): $12 per new circuit when there are fewer than 15, at least $55 per inspection trip, plus a $25 permit fee and $1 surcharge.
| What you are doing | City filing | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| New vanity, tile, paint | No permit | Finish work, Minn. R. 1300.0120 |
| Replacing a toilet or sink faucet in place | No permit | 1-2 family homes, piping not altered |
| Replacing a tub, shower or lavatory | Plumbing permit | $41.40 per fixture, $85.20 minimum |
| Moving the toilet, sink or shower drain | Plumbing permit | Relocating piping is not an ordinary repair |
| Removing or opening a wall | Building permit | Valuation fee, plan review, surcharge |
| New or replaced bath exhaust fan | Mechanical permit | Level 1 flat fee $84.20 + $1 |
| New lights, outlets or circuits | State electrical permit (DLI) | $12 per circuit, $55 per inspection minimum |
Can a homeowner pull a bathroom plumbing permit in Minneapolis?
Yes, in a single-family home you own and live in. Section 85.80 lets the owner of a single-family detached or attached dwelling get permits for their own work without the city's plumbing license or certificate of competency, provided the home has its own legally established lot and does not share electric, gas, water or sewer service with another dwelling. The exemption does not cover gas work for heating equipment. Anyone you hire must be licensed for the work. Plumbing permits at one- and two-family homes need no plan submittal; you apply and schedule the rough-in and final inspections. State law lets you do your own wiring in a home you own and occupy that has its own electrical service, but not in a two-family dwelling.
How to Get a Bathroom Remodel Permit in Minneapolis
List the fixtures
Count each tub, shower, lavatory or toilet you will install or move; in-place toilet and faucet swaps do not count.
File the plumbing permit
Email the plumbing permit application to [email protected]; one- and two-family homes need no plans.
Add other permits
Apply for a building permit if walls change, a mechanical permit for the fan, and a DLI electrical permit for wiring.
Rough-in inspections
Have plumbing and wiring inspected before walls and floors are closed up.
Final inspections
Finish the work and pass the final inspection on each permit.