What's Required in Philadelphia
- No plumbing permit for replacing faucets, valves and parts, re-setting a toilet without replacing pipes or fixtures, stopping leaks or clearing stoppages
- Plumbing permit pulled by a licensed master plumber for any fixture replacement ($31, no piping), line or stack replacement ($37) or fixtures with new branch piping ($50 for the first 7), plus $3 city and $4.50 state surcharges
- EZ Bathroom and Kitchen permit (no plans, no building permit) only in a one-family dwelling, within the existing bathroom footprint, with no structural work beyond joist sistering
- Electrical permit pulled by a licensed electrical contractor for new circuits, lighting or fan wiring: $25 per $1,000 of electrical cost, $63 minimum, plus surcharges; inspected by a licensed electrical inspection agency
- Building permit ($76 first 500 sq ft plus $56 per 100 sq ft) for a new or enlarged bathroom, a bathroom in a two-family or larger building, or structural changes
- Nonabsorbent tub and shower wall finish to at least 6 ft on ASTM C1178, C1278 or C1396 backer board; shut-off valves on every fixture except tubs and showers
- Window of at least 3 sq ft, half openable, or artificial light with a local exhaust fan that does not recirculate; 7 ft minimum ceiling height
- Historic Registry properties need Philadelphia Historical Commission approval before the EZ process applies
Do You Need a Permit to Remodel a Bathroom in Philadelphia?
For almost any real bathroom job, yes, and the permit is a plumbing permit. L&I's plumbing page says a permit is needed for the installation, alteration, renewal, replacement or repair of plumbing, with three narrow exemptions: replacing faucets, valves and parts, removing and re-installing a toilet when no pipes or fixtures are replaced or moved, and stopping leaks or clearing stoppages. Replacing the toilet, vanity sink, tub or shower with a new fixture needs a permit even in the same spot; the fee summary prices that as "fixture replacement, no piping work". Painting, tile over existing walls, and a new vanity cabinet are finish work that needs no building permit. The EZ Bathroom and Kitchen Alterations standard (PB_026, revised July 2026) lets a same-footprint remodel in a one-family home run on the plumbing permit alone, with no plans and no separate building permit, covering new fixtures with branch piping, a dedicated exhaust fan, non-bearing partitions, new drywall, subfloor and joist leveling. Any new wiring needs a separate electrical permit.
Philadelphia Bathroom Permit Rules by Scenario
| What you are doing | City filing | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| New faucet, showerhead, toilet flapper or fill valve; re-setting the same toilet on a new wax ring | None | Plumbing permit page: minor repairs |
| Paint, tile over existing walls, new mirror, vanity cabinet with the same sink | None | Building permit page: interior finish work |
| New toilet, sink, tub or shower in the same location, no piping changes | Plumbing permit, $31 + $7.50 | Fee summary: fixture replacement, no piping (1-2 family) |
| Same-footprint remodel with new branch piping, exhaust fan, non-bearing walls (one-family home) | EZ plumbing permit, $50 + $7.50, no building permit | EZ Bathroom and Kitchen standard; fee summary |
| New GFCI circuit, lighting or fan wiring | Electrical permit, $63 minimum + $7.50 | Electrical permit page |
| Adding a bathroom, enlarging one, or a bath in a two-family home | Building permit ($76 first 500 sq ft) plus plumbing and electrical | EZ standard limits; fee summary alterations |
| Replacing a waste stack or water line without fixtures | Plumbing permit, $37 + $7.50 | Fee summary: repair/replacement of lines and stacks |
How Much Does a Bathroom Permit Cost in Philadelphia?
The construction fee summary gives one- or two-family plumbing fees by item: $31 for fixture replacement with no piping, $37 for repairing or replacing water lines, waste lines or stacks, $31 for a water heater, and $50 for the first 7 fixtures when an alteration installs fixtures with new branch piping. Add the $3 city and $4.50 state surcharges on each permit. So a straight toilet-and-vanity swap is $38.50, and a same-footprint remodel with re-piped fixtures is $57.50. The electrical permit for a new bathroom circuit is $25 per $1,000 of electrical cost with a $63 minimum, or $70.50 with surcharges, bringing the typical EZ remodel to about $128. If you are adding a bathroom or moving its walls outward, a building permit is required at $76 for the first 500 square feet plus $56 per additional 100 ($83.50 with surcharges), and the three permits total about $211.50 at the electrical minimum. The plumbing page's $100 filing fee is applied toward the permit fee; the July 2026 fee summary (effective October 1, 2026) keeps the January 2025 plumbing rows.
What the Inspector Checks
The EZ standard applies only to buildings used solely as a one-family dwelling, within the existing bathroom footprint, and prohibits structural work beyond sistering sagging joists. Tub and shower walls must carry a nonabsorbent finish to at least 6 feet above the floor on water-resistant backer board meeting ASTM C1178, C1278 or C1396. A bathroom needs a window of at least 3 square feet, half openable, or artificial light plus a local exhaust fan; exhaust air may not be recirculated in the house. Each fixture other than a tub or shower needs a shut-off valve, S-traps are allowed only as direct replacements, ceilings stay at 7 feet, and the master plumber lists every fixture on the signed standard. Historic Registry buildings need Historical Commission approval before the EZ process applies.
Who Files and How Long It Takes
Plumbing is not a homeowner permit in Philadelphia: a licensed master plumber must oversee the work, and the EZ standard says a Philadelphia licensed plumbing contractor performs it. Electrical work must be done by a licensed electrical contractor and inspected by a licensed electrical inspection agency the owner hires. L&I's plumbing processing sheet lists repairs and new fixtures with piping at 3 business days, or same day at the Permit and License Center for up to three applications; house drain, water line and water heater permits may issue immediately to a contractor in good standing. A plan-based alteration permit takes 15 business days.
How to Get a Bathroom Remodel Permit in Philadelphia
List every fixture and wire that changes
Faucets, valves and finishes are free. New fixtures, moved drains, an exhaust fan and new circuits each trigger a plumbing or electrical permit.
Check EZ eligibility
One-family home, same footprint, no structural work, not on the Historic Registry. A new or enlarged bathroom needs a building permit with plans and a 15-business-day review.
Have the master plumber file in eCLIPSE
The plumber selects the EZ Bathroom and Kitchen Remodel work type, lists the fixtures on the signed standard, and pays $31 or $50 plus $7.50 in surcharges; processing is about 3 business days.
Have the electrical contractor file separately
The electrical permit is $25 per $1,000 of electrical cost with a $63 minimum; the contractor submits the executed contract and you hire a licensed electrical inspection agency.
Inspect before tile goes on
Request rough plumbing and electrical inspections through eCLIPSE or (215) 255-4040, then the final for the Certificate of Approval.