What's Required in Pittsburgh
- Tile, paint, cabinets, countertops and similar finish work need no permit.
- All plumbing in Pittsburgh is permitted by the Allegheny County Health Department, not the city.
- Any plumbing installed or altered needs an approved ACHD plan, including fixture replacement cards for in-place swaps.
- ACHD charges $80 for a Level 1 plan, $22 per fixture and $27 for a fixture replacement card.
- Starting plumbing work before the permit adds a fee; ACHD lists late fees of $144 within 72 hours and $280 after.
- Installing or replacing an exhaust fan needs a PLI mechanical permit.
- New circuits, receptacles and lights need a PLI electrical permit, eligible for a one-day EZ permit.
- Each PLI permit costs $6 per $1,000 of value with a $130 minimum, plus $11.50 in fixed fees.
- Landlords must hire a master plumber for plumbing in rental units.
Do You Need a Permit to Remodel a Bathroom in Pittsburgh?
Usually, but not from the city alone. PLI's Work Not Requiring a Permit page exempts painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, countertops and similar finish work, so new tile and paint need nothing. Plumbing is another matter: PLI says the Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) Plumbing Division is responsible for plumbing permits, and ACHD says a plumbing plan must be approved before any plumbing is installed or altered, including replacement cards for in-place replacements. Its rules exempt faucet and valve repairs and clearing stoppages, but require a permit when any part of the plumbing system becomes defective and is replaced.
PLI handles the rest. A new or replacement exhaust fan is a residential mechanical scope; new circuits, GFCI receptacles and lights are electrical work eligible for a one-day EZ permit; and removing a non-load-bearing wall is an EZ building scope. PLI's electrical page even lists in-kind replacement of devices and light fixtures as a permit work scope, although its licensing rules call some like-for-like device swaps exempt, so ask before you skip it. An EZ permit covers one scope only; several scopes go on a standard application.
Pittsburgh Bathroom Permit Rules by Scenario
| What you are doing | City filing | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Tile, paint, vanity cabinet, mirror | None | PLI exempt list, finish work |
| Fixing a faucet or clearing a clog | None | ACHD Article XV exempt work |
| Replacing a toilet, sink or tub in the same spot | ACHD fixture replacement card ($27) | ACHD fee schedule; permitting page |
| Moving the toilet or shower, or adding fixtures | ACHD plumbing permit ($80 plus $22 per fixture) | ACHD fee schedule, Level 1 |
| Installing or replacing an exhaust fan | PLI mechanical permit | PLI mechanical, minor alteration |
| New GFCI circuit or lighting | PLI electrical permit (EZ eligible) | PLI EZ electrical, power and lighting |
| Moving a non-load-bearing wall | PLI EZ building permit | PLI EZ building scopes |
How Much Do Bathroom Permits Cost in Pittsburgh?
ACHD's fee schedule, effective January 1, 2023, charges $80 for a Level 1 plan (0 to 5 fixtures) plus $22 per fixture, or $27 for a fixture replacement card. Starting plumbing work before the permit brings a fee on top of the permit fees under ACHD's rules, and the fee schedule lists late fees of $144 within 72 hours and $280 after that. Each PLI permit costs the 2026 residential base fee of $6.00 per $1,000 of its work value, minimum $130, plus a $4.50 state training fund fee, a $5.00 digital record retention fee and a $2 technology fee at the minimum, so a small permit is $141.50.
Two examples. Swapping a toilet in the same spot: $27. A full remodel that moves the shower, toilet and lavatory, adds a GFCI circuit and a vented fan: ACHD $80 + 3 fixtures at $22 = $146, electrical $141.50 and mechanical $141.50, for $429. Moving a non-load-bearing wall in the same job adds a $141.50 building permit, for $570.50. Those are PLI's residential rates; its permitting page puts attached single- and two-family dwellings in the commercial category, where the minimum base fee is $605, so confirm which category the portal assigns your house.
Who Can Do the Work?
Plumbing is not a city permit at all: the Allegheny County Health Department issues it through its Citizen Access Portal. ACHD's 2025 Article XV revision lets a bona fide owner presently occupying an existing single-family building do the plumbing; otherwise a licensed master plumber does, and landlords must hire a master plumber for rental units. For PLI permits, the homeowner can do building work on a primary residence; PLI's licensing rules require an electrical trade license for work that needs an electrical permit and an HVAC/Mechanical trade license to install or replace mechanical systems.
How to Get a Bathroom Remodel Permit in Pittsburgh
Sort the scope
Finish work needs nothing; plumbing goes to ACHD; fans, wiring and walls go to PLI as separate permits.
File the ACHD plumbing plan
Submit the plan or a $27 replacement card through ACHD's Citizen Access Portal and wait for approval before touching the plumbing.
File PLI permits in OneStopPGH
Use one-day EZ permits for single scopes like a new circuit, or a standard application if several PLI scopes are involved.
Rough inspections before closing walls
ACHD inspects plumbing as work proceeds; request PLI electrical and mechanical inspections through OneStopPGH.
Final inspections
ACHD requires a final inspection on every plumbing permit; close out each PLI permit with its final.