What's Required in San Jose
- Tile, paint, cabinets and counter tops are exempt finish work (SJMC 24.02.120.A.9)
- Removing and reinstalling the same toilet, stopping leaks and clearing stoppages need no plumbing permit; replacing a fixture does (SJMC 24.02.130)
- Fixture replacements, DWV/water alterations and water heater replacements are online plumbing permits for single-family homes
- New circuits, receptacles and light fixtures need an electrical permit; same-location switch or receptacle replacement does not
- An exhaust fan needs a mechanical permit (online)
- Removing a wall or enlarging the room is a building permit with plans; Bath processing line $211
- Rough plumbing, mechanical and electrical inspected before concealment; final at completion
- Permits expire after 12 months without a start or 180 days without progress
Do You Need a Permit to Remodel a Bathroom in San Jose?
For the surfaces, no; for the fixtures and wiring, yes. San Jose Municipal Code 24.02.120 exempts painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, counter tops and similar finish work, so retiling the floor, a new vanity cabinet and top, and paint need nothing. The plumbing exemption in 24.02.130 is narrow: stopping leaks, clearing stoppages, and the removal and reinstallation of water closets, provided such repairs do not involve or require the replacement or rearrangement of valves, pipes or fixtures. Put in a new toilet, tub, shower valve or faucet and it is a fixture replacement, which SJPermits.org issues as an online plumbing permit without plans. Moving a drain, converting a tub to a shower, adding a fan or a circuit, or taking out a wall goes further and needs a permit with review.
San Jose Bathroom Remodel Rules by Scenario
| What you are doing | City filing | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| New tile, paint, vanity cabinet and top, mirror; same fixtures | No permit | SJMC 24.02.120.A.9 |
| Pulling and resetting the same toilet, fixing a leak or clearing a drain | No permit | SJMC 24.02.130.B |
| New toilet, faucet, shower valve or tub in the same location | Online plumbing permit (Fixture Single Replacement; multiple fixtures also online) | SJPermits online permits |
| Moving a drain, tub-to-shower conversion, or adding a fixture | Plumbing permit with review (DWV / Water Alteration) | SJMC 24.02.130.A; 24.02.100 |
| New exhaust fan, or a new circuit, outlet or light | Mechanical permit for the fan; electrical permit for wiring | SJPermits online: Exhaust Fan, Receptacles, Light Fixtures |
| Water heater replacement | Online plumbing permit; $52 processing at the Permit Center | SJPermits; fee schedule processing table |
| Removing a wall or enlarging the bathroom | Building permit with plans (Bath line, $211 processing) | Fee schedule processing table; SJMC 24.02.220 |
How Much Does a Bathroom Remodel Permit Cost in San Jose?
The Schedule of Fees and Charges effective July 1, 2026 lists a Bath permit processing line at 1.0 hour, $211. The building or combination permit is charged at $315 per hour of inspection time in tiers of 40, 70, 130 or 250 minutes, and plan check runs $325 per hour with a 30-minute over-the-counter minimum. A same-footprint remodel with new fixtures, a fan and a circuit in Tier 1 is about $211 + $210 + $162.50, roughly $585. A remodel that moves the drain and takes out a wall, in Tier 3 with a one-hour plan check, is about $211 + $682.50 + $325, roughly $1,220. Trade permits filed on their own are the greater of a $315 per hour minimum or an itemized amount; a water heater swap carries only a $52 processing charge at the Permit Center. The Building Official may adjust the assessment to the actual scope, and unpermitted work is charged two times the plan review and inspection cost when it is found.
What Gets Inspected
The code requires rough plumbing, mechanical and electrical to be inspected before they are covered and before the framing inspection, so the new drain, vent, supply lines, fan duct and wiring are checked with the walls open, and a final inspection closes the permit. San Jose applies the 2025 California Residential, Plumbing, Mechanical and Electrical Codes, in effect since January 1, 2026. Reinspection fees can be charged when the work is not ready or corrections are not made, and the permit expires after 12 months without a start or 180 days without an inspection showing progress.
Who Pulls the Permits
You can, as owner-builder, if you are improving a principal residence you have lived in for 12 months, or you can hire licensed trades directly; any contractor needs a state license for a job of $1,000 or more. Online permits are available around the clock at SJPermits.org for single-family and duplex properties; a relocation or structural scope starts there and uploads plans to SJePlans. Inspections are scheduled online and must be cancelled by 2 pm two business days ahead to avoid a charge.
How to Get a Bathroom Remodel Permit in San Jose
Split the scope
Surfaces are exempt; fixtures, wiring, fans and walls are permitted work.
Pull online permits for in-place replacements
Fixture Single Replacement, Exhaust Fan, Receptacles and Light Fixtures are issued at SJPermits.org without plans.
File plans when plumbing moves or walls change
Start on SJPermits.org and upload to SJePlans: existing and proposed fixture layout, drain and vent changes, any structural detail.
Pay the fees
$211 Bath processing, tiered inspection fee at $315 per hour, plan check at $325 per hour; standalone trade permits carry a $315 minimum.
Inspect rough and final
Call rough inspection before drywall or tile backer goes on; cancel by 2 pm two business days ahead.