Permit Required? Required
Typical Fee Range $250–$800 Building permit ($125 base) plus fixture-based plumbing and electrical 'Trade Permits'.
Fee Method Project-based
Apply Online Apply at Portland Permitting & Development →

What's Required in Portland

  • Permit required for any movement of plumbing fixtures or adding/relocating electrical outlets.
  • Shower pan liners must be flood-tested and inspected before tile is applied.
  • Electrical outlets in the bathroom must be GFCI-protected and on a dedicated circuit.
  • Exhaust fan required in bathrooms without an operable window for ventilation.
  • Tempered safety glass mandatory for windows within 60 inches of a tub or shower drain.
  • Like-for-like cabinet or floor replacement is exempt if no utilities are moved.

Do You Need a Permit to Remodel a Bathroom in Portland

It depends on what you’re changing. A cosmetic bathroom refresh in Portland — 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 Portland Permitting & Development; the requirements above outline what Portland treats as permit-worthy.

What Bathroom Work Needs a Permit in Portland

In Portland, 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 Portland Permitting & Development before you start.

How to Get a Bathroom Remodel Permit in Portland

1

Step 1: DevHub Application

Apply online for a 'Residential Alteration' permit via Development Hub PDX.

2

Step 2: Pay Fees

Pay the permit and fixture fees online ($250 minimum total typical).

3

Step 3: Rough Inspections

Schedule inspections for plumbing and electrical before covering walls.

4

Step 4: Construction

Install finish plumbing, tile, and electrical fixtures.

5

Step 5: Final Inspection

Schedule final sign-off for all trade categories to close the permit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Like-for-like replacement of a toilet in the same location is generally exempt.
Typical total fees start around $250 including building and one trade permit.
Yes, owner-occupants can pull their own plumbing permits for their primary home.
Only if you’re changing more than surfaces. Cosmetic work in Portland — 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 Portland Permitting & Development.