What's Required in Portland
- A plumbing permit is required to install or replace toilets, sinks, showers, tubs or water heaters, to move piping, and to replace fixtures with concealed plumbing connections.
- An electrical permit is required for any added or moved outlet, light or fan wiring; a mechanical permit is required for a ducted exhaust fan or heating change.
- Adding a bathroom in an existing space requires a building permit plus plumbing, and usually electrical and mechanical, permits.
- The Simple Bathroom Permit covers a new or legalized bathroom with no plans when the work is interior, changes no load-bearing framing, and leaves no more than three toilets on the property.
- Plumbing fixtures are $63 each, the first new circuit $174, the mechanical minimum $167, all plus a 12 percent state surcharge; building permits are valuation-based with 65 percent plan review.
- Homeowners may do their own plumbing and mechanical work; electrical work only in an owner-occupied home not for sale or rent within six months.
- Plumbing rough-in must be inspected before piping is covered, and each permit needs its final (399, 199, 699) inspection.
- More than three bathrooms on the site requires a residential water service application, and new fixtures can trigger System Development Charges.
Do you need a permit to remodel a bathroom in Portland?
For a remodel of an existing bathroom, Portland Permitting & Development (PP&D) says you usually do not need a permit to paint, replace flooring, install new cabinets or countertops without moving plumbing or electrical, or replace fixtures in the same location without altering plumbing, wiring or structure. You will likely need permits if you move or add fixtures, outlets, lights or fans, change walls or openings, move heating or ventilation, or change load-bearing framing. In practice most remodels need trade permits: the plumbing page requires a permit to install or replace toilets, sinks, showers, tubs or water heaters, and only accessible-fixture and emergency repairs are exempt, so a swap with concealed connections is a permit. Adding a bathroom in existing space always needs a building permit plus plumbing, and often electrical and mechanical permits.
How much does a bathroom permit cost in Portland?
Plumbing fixtures are $63 each on the 2026 schedule. Replacing a toilet with concealed connections is $63 plus the 12 percent Oregon surcharge = $70.56. A same-layout refit with a new toilet, sink and tub or shower is 3 x $63 = $189 plus surcharge = $211.68; add one new circuit for a GFCI outlet and light ($174 plus 12 percent = $194.88) and the trade permits total about $407. A ducted exhaust fan is $24 on the mechanical schedule, but the one- and two-family minimum is $167, so a fan-only permit is $187.04. A new bathroom in existing space adds a valuation-based building permit. PP&D values residential alterations at 33.3 percent of the ICC Building Valuation Data figure for Type VB homes times the area, or your stated value if reasonable. At $18,000: building permit $220.85 for the first $2,000 plus 16 x $13.91 = $443.41; plan review and process fee at 65 percent = $288.22; Development Services fee $35.74 plus 16 x $3.74 = $95.58; surcharge $53.21. That is $880.42, and with plumbing ($211.68), electrical for two circuits ($218.40) and the fan ($187.04) the new bathroom runs about $1,498.
| What you are doing | City filing | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Paint, tile, flooring, vanity cabinet and counter without moving plumbing | No permit | On PP&D's list of work that usually needs no permit |
| Replacing the toilet in the same spot | Plumbing permit | Replacing fixtures with concealed plumbing connections is permitted work; $63 plus 12 percent = $70.56 |
| New toilet, sink and tub in the same layout plus a new GFCI circuit | Plumbing and electrical permits | Three fixtures $211.68 plus first circuit $194.88, about $407 |
| Moving the shower drain or adding a second sink | Plumbing permit (plus others as needed) | Moving or adding plumbing fixtures is a listed permit trigger |
| Adding an exhaust fan with a duct | Mechanical permit | Exhaust fan with single duct is $24, billed at the $167 minimum, $187.04 with surcharge |
| New half or full bathroom in existing space, no wall framing changes | Simple Bathroom Permit plus trades | No plans required; building permit at about $880 on an $18,000 valuation plus trade permits, about $1,498 |
| New bathroom that removes a bearing wall or changes the exterior | Standard bathroom permit | Does not qualify for the Simple Bathroom Program; full plan review with floor and structural plans |
What is the Simple Bathroom Permit?
PP&D's Simple Bathroom Program issues a building permit for a new full or half bathroom, or to legalize an existing one, without drawings, when the work is interior only, does not change load-bearing framing, leaves no more than three toilets on the property, and is in the primary residence rather than a detached structure. It cannot be used to remodel an existing bathroom; a remodel that needs a building permit goes through the standard process with floor and structural plans on Development Hub PDX (DevHub). Applications are emailed as one PDF to [email protected], reviewed within five business days, and followed by a required pre-construction meeting booked with inspection code 295. A party sewer or open code violation can disqualify the property, and more than three bathrooms on the site requires a residential water service application.
Who can do the work and what gets inspected?
A recorded homeowner, not an LLC, may do their own plumbing and mechanical work. Electrical work is allowed only for an owner who lives in the home and is not selling or renting within six months; otherwise hire an electrical contractor with CCB and Building Codes Division licenses. Plumbing contractors need a State Plumbing Board license. Trade permits bought on DevHub are issued within 24 hours of payment. Call 503-823-7000 for the rough-ins before piping or wiring is covered and the 399, 199 and 699 finals that close each permit. Permits expire if more than 180 days pass between inspections, and new fixtures can trigger System Development Charges.
How to Get a Bathroom Remodel Permit in Portland
Sort the scope
Decide whether you are refitting fixtures in place, moving plumbing or wiring, or adding a bathroom. Only the last needs a building permit; the others need trade permits.
Pick the permit path
Trade-only work: buy plumbing, electrical and mechanical permits on DevHub. New bathroom: use the Simple Bathroom Program if it qualifies, otherwise the standard permit with plans.
Submit
Simple Bathroom: email the criteria form, building and trade applications as one PDF to [email protected]. Standard: apply through Development Hub PDX.
Pay and book the pre-construction meeting
PP&D emails the fee total once approved to issue. Simple Bathroom permits require a 295 consultation inspection after payment, before work starts.
Inspect rough-in and final
Call 503-823-7000 before covering any piping or wiring, then request the final inspections that close each permit.