Permit Required? Required
Typical Fee Range $300–$900 Includes a $292 base hourly plan review rate plus fixture-based trade fees for plumbing and electrical.
Fee Method Project-based
Apply Online Apply at Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections →

What's Required in Seattle

  • Building permit required for any reconfiguration of walls or structural layout
  • Plumbing permit from Public Health – Seattle & King County required for fixture moves
  • Electrical permit mandatory for new lighting, fans, or GFCI circuit additions
  • Exhaust fans must be vented directly to the exterior using approved ducting
  • Shower pan liners require a 24-hour flood test inspection before tile application
  • Tempered safety glass is mandatory for windows within 60 inches of a tub or shower drain

Do You Need a Permit to Remodel a Bathroom in Seattle

It depends on what you’re changing. A cosmetic bathroom refresh in Seattle — 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 Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections; the requirements above outline what Seattle treats as permit-worthy.

What Bathroom Work Needs a Permit in Seattle

In Seattle, 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 Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections before you start.

How to Get a Bathroom Remodel Permit in Seattle

1

Step 1: Portal Registration

Create an account on the Seattle Services Portal to start a 'Construction' application.

2

Step 2: STFI Check

Determine if your remodel qualifies for a 'Subject-to-Field-Inspection' (STFI) permit for faster processing.

3

Step 3: Document Upload

Upload a scale floor plan and a Statement of Financial Responsibility.

4

Step 4: Fee Payment

Pay the minimum $292 hourly base fee plus any trade surcharges online.

5

Step 5: Rough-In Inspections

Schedule plumbing, electrical, and framing inspections before closing the walls.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, an electrical permit is required if you are installing or replacing mechanical venting.
Yes, if they own and occupy the home and perform the work themselves.
Simple STFI permits can be issued in 1–3 business days; full reviews take 4–8 weeks.
Only if you’re changing more than surfaces. Cosmetic work in Seattle — 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 Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections.
Yes — relocating a toilet, sink, or shower drain, or adding a new fixture, generally requires a plumbing permit in Seattle, even inside a cosmetic-looking remodel. Replacing a fixture in the same spot usually doesn’t. Check with the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections.