Permit Required? Required
Typical Fee Range $150–$500 Based on work value plus individual trade permit costs.
Fee Method Valuation-based
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What's Required in Virginia Beach

  • Permit required for any plumbing fixture relocation.
  • Plumbing permit for tub or shower replacement.
  • Electrical permit for GFCI circuits and lighting.
  • Exhaust fan must vent directly to the exterior.
  • Shower pan inspection mandatory before tiling.
  • Tempered glass required for windows near water fixtures.

Do You Need a Permit to Remodel a Bathroom in Virginia Beach

It depends on what you’re changing. A cosmetic bathroom refresh in Virginia Beach — 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 Planning & Community Development - Building Permits and Inspections; the requirements above outline what Virginia Beach treats as permit-worthy.

What Bathroom Work Needs a Permit in Virginia Beach

In Virginia Beach, 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 Planning & Community Development - Building Permits and Inspections before you start.

How to Get a Bathroom Remodel Permit in Virginia Beach

1

Step 1: Outline Work

Identify if structural or system changes are planned.

2

Step 2: Submit Application

Apply for a residential alteration permit via Accela.

3

Step 3: Rough Inspections

Required for plumbing and electrical before closing walls.

4

Step 4: Waterproofing Check

Inspect the shower membrane and pan for leaks.

5

Step 5: Final Check

Final sign-off of all bathroom fixtures and ventilation.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, if it's in the same location and no piping changes.
Yes, unless you have an operable window meeting code size.
An inspection where the shower floor is filled with water for 24 hours.
Only if you’re changing more than surfaces. Cosmetic work in Virginia Beach — 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 Planning & Community Development - Building Permits and Inspections.
Yes — relocating a toilet, sink, or shower drain, or adding a new fixture, generally requires a plumbing permit in Virginia Beach, even inside a cosmetic-looking remodel. Replacing a fixture in the same spot usually doesn’t. Check with the Planning & Community Development - Building Permits and Inspections.