What's Required in Fort Worth
- Same-location toilet, sink and vanity swaps, tile and paint need no permit.
- Replacing a bathtub, shower pan or water heater always requires a plumbing permit.
- Moving or adding fixtures, drains or supply lines requires a plumbing permit.
- Replacing or adding an exhaust fan requires a mechanical permit.
- Replacing 16 sq ft or more of wall or ceiling drywall requires a building permit.
- Remodel fees are $119 per trade plus a $33.08 application fee and a $16.87 technology fee.
- Trade permits go only to Texas license holders or homestead owner-occupants.
- Submit existing and proposed floor plans and MEP plans for altered systems.
Do you need a permit to remodel a bathroom in Fort Worth?
For a cosmetic refresh, no. Fort Worth's residential permitting page says cosmetic remodels and plumbing fixture replacement do not need permits. The Administrative Code exempts tiling and similar finish work. It also exempts replacing a toilet, sink or similar fixture, as long as no pipes, valves or fixtures are replaced or rearranged. A new vanity, a new toilet in the same spot, fresh tile and paint need no permit.
Fort Worth draws one line that surprises people. The same code section says replacing water heaters, shower pans and bathtubs requires a permit. The city's Nuts & Bolts brochure repeats it: plumbing work including water heaters and shower pans requires a plumbing permit. A tub-to-tub swap is therefore permitted work, even in the same location. Moving a toilet or drain, adding a shower, rewiring, or replacing an exhaust fan all need trade permits. Replacing 16 square feet or more of drywall on a wall or ceiling needs a building permit.
How much does a bathroom remodel permit cost in Fort Worth?
Residential remodels in Fort Worth are priced by the number of trades, not the size or cost of the job. Texas Local Government Code 214.907 bars value-based residential fees. Under Fee Ordinance 26-28781, effective October 1, 2026:
- Remodel permit: $119.00 per trade ($238.00 for 2, $357.00 for 3, $476.00 for 4), plus the $33.08 application fee and $16.87 technology fee.
- Single-trade permit for a one-item job: $33.08 plus the item fee. Examples are $10.34 for the first plumbing fixture and $2.06 for a toilet exhaust fan or duct.
Worked examples: replacing a bathtub on a standalone plumbing permit is $33.08 + $10.34 = $43.42. A new exhaust fan on a standalone mechanical permit is $33.08 + $2.06 = $35.14. A gut remodel touching building, plumbing and electrical is $357.00 + $49.95 = $406.95. With a new ducted fan as a fourth trade, it is $525.95. Each additional plumbing fixture adds $4.22, and each outlet or switch adds $0.54.
| What you are doing | City filing | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| New vanity, faucet or toilet in the same spot | No permit | Fixture replacement without moving pipes is exempt |
| Retile the floor and walls, paint | No permit | Finish work is exempt (16 sq ft or more of drywall replacement is not) |
| Replace a bathtub in the same location | Plumbing permit, about $43.42 | Bathtub replacement always needs a permit |
| Replace a shower pan | Plumbing permit | Shower pans always need a permit |
| Replace or add an exhaust fan | Mechanical permit, about $35.14 | Exhaust fans need a mechanical permit |
| Move the toilet, add circuits, new drywall | Remodel permit, 3 trades, $406.95 | $357.00 + $49.95, plus trade items |
| Gut remodel with new fan ducting | Remodel permit, 4 trades, $525.95 | $476.00 + $49.95, plus trade items |
Who can pull bathroom permits?
Plumbing, electrical and mechanical permits are issued only to holders of the required Texas state licenses. The exception is an owner working on a house they own and occupy as a primary residence, under a homestead permit. Homeowners may not work on the electrical service or main breaker. The building side of a remodel goes to a building contractor registered with the city, or to the homestead owner. Apply in Accela Citizen Access. Each trade permit is separate from the building permit and has its own inspections.
What to submit and expect
For a remodel permit, submit existing and proposed floor plans with rooms labeled. Add MEP plans for any system you change. Plumbing plans show supply, drain and vent sizes, and electrical plans show GFI outlets and smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. First review comments come within 7 business days. Work started without a permit is charged an investigation fee equal to the permit fee.
How to Get a Bathroom Remodel Permit in Fort Worth
List the trades involved
Decide whether the job touches plumbing, electrical, mechanical (fan) or building work. A tub or shower pan replacement alone is a plumbing permit.
Prepare plans if it is a remodel
Draw existing and proposed floor plans and MEP plans showing fixtures, drains, outlets and the fan.
Apply in Accela Citizen Access
The registered contractor or homestead owner files the remodel or trade permit. Licensed plumbers and electricians pull their own trade permits.
Pay the fees
Pay $119 per trade plus the $33.08 application fee and $16.87 technology fee, or the single-trade application and item fees.
Pass inspections before closing walls
Schedule plumbing top-out, electrical rough and the shower pan inspection before tile goes on, then the finals.