Permit Required? Required
Typical Fee Range $150–$600 Building base ($91) plus individual trade permits (approx. $97 per trade).
Fee Method Project-based
Apply Online Apply at Houston Permitting Center →

What's Required in Houston

  • A permit is required for replacing or adding any plumbing fixture (toilet, tub, sink).
  • Shower pan liners must be inspected for water-tightness (flood test) before tile.
  • Electrical outlets in the bathroom must be GFCI-protected and on a 20A circuit.
  • Mechanical exhaust fan required if the bathroom has no operable window.
  • Tempered safety glass required for any window within 60 inches of a tub or shower.
  • Like-for-like cabinet or floor replacement is exempt if no utilities are moved.

Do You Need a Permit to Remodel a Bathroom in Houston

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

What Bathroom Work Needs a Permit in Houston

In Houston, 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 Houston Permitting Center before you start.

How to Get a Bathroom Remodel Permit in Houston

1

Step 1: Select Contractors

Verify plumbers and electricians are registered with the City of Houston.

2

Step 2: iPermits Filing

Apply for a 'Building Residential' alteration permit online.

3

Step 3: Fee Payment

Pay the minimum building ($91.06) and plumbing ($97.56) fees (2026 rates).

4

Step 4: Mid-Point Inspections

Schedule rough-in checks for plumbing and electrical before closing walls.

5

Step 5: Final Inspection

Complete the finish work and schedule final sign-off for all trades.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, Houston requires a plumbing permit for any fixture replacement or movement.
Minimum total is about $225 including the building permit and one trade.
Yes, if you own and reside in the home, but you must still pull a permit.
Only if you’re changing more than surfaces. Cosmetic work in Houston — 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 Houston Permitting Center.
Yes — relocating a toilet, sink, or shower drain, or adding a new fixture, generally requires a plumbing permit in Houston, even inside a cosmetic-looking remodel. Replacing a fixture in the same spot usually doesn’t. Check with the Houston Permitting Center.