Permit Required? Required
Typical Fee Range $250–$600 Building permit plus fixture-based plumbing and electrical trade fees.
Fee Method Project-based
Apply Online Apply at Metro Nashville Codes Department →

What's Required in Nashville

  • A permit is required for any movement of plumbing fixtures or additions to electrical wiring.
  • 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 Nashville

It depends on what you’re changing. A cosmetic bathroom refresh in Nashville — 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 Metro Nashville Codes Department; the requirements above outline what Nashville treats as permit-worthy.

What Bathroom Work Needs a Permit in Nashville

In Nashville, 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 Metro Nashville Codes Department before you start.

How to Get a Bathroom Remodel Permit in Nashville

1

Step 1: Online Filing

Apply online for a 'Residential Alteration' permit via the ePermits portal.

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.

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Step 4: Construction

Install finish plumbing, tile, and electrical fixtures.

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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 trade permits.
Yes, owner-occupants can pull their own plumbing permits for their primary home.
Only if you’re changing more than surfaces. Cosmetic work in Nashville — 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 Metro Nashville Codes Department.