What's Required in Houston
- Painting, tiling, cabinets and countertop repair or replacement, and similar finish work need no permit (Residential Permitting 101)
- Drywall repair on non-fire-rated walls up to 100 sq ft aggregate is exempt
- Any repair, replacement, alteration or installation of plumbing, electrical or mechanical equipment requires a permit (Top 10 sheet)
- Plumbing permits: registered master plumber (TSBPE) or the homeowner homestead permit ($86.39 + admin); fixtures $34.24 for 1-3, $11.41 each after, $97.56 minimum
- Water heater replacement needs a plumbing permit; no plan review at a single-family residence
- Electrical permits: only TDLR-licensed master electricians registered with the city; $91.06 minimum
- A floor-plan change is a remodel requiring a residential remodel permit with plan review; fee by square footage + 25% plan review
- Each permit carries the $33.56 administrative fee; permits valid 6 months
Do You Need a Permit to Remodel a Bathroom in Houston?
For the plumbing and wiring, yes; for the finishes, no. Houston Public Works lists painting, tiling, cabinets and countertop repair and replacement and similar finish work as minor repair and maintenance that needs no building permit, together with drywall repair on non-fire-rated walls up to 100 square feet. The Building Code Enforcement Top 10 sheet is equally clear on the other side: any work to repair, replace, alter or install mechanical, electrical and plumbing equipment requires a permit. In a bathroom that means the toilet, sink, tub and shower connections, the water heater, the exhaust fan wiring and any new circuit each need a trade permit, and a change to the floor plan needs a residential remodel permit as well.
Houston Bathroom Permit Rules by Scenario
| What you are doing | City filing | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Retiling, painting, new vanity cabinet and countertop, new flooring | None | Residential Permitting 101, minor repair exemption (1) |
| Drywall repair on a non-fire-rated wall, up to 100 sq ft | None | Residential Permitting 101, minor repair exemption (2) |
| Replacing or relocating a toilet, sink, tub or shower valve | Plumbing fixture permit by a registered master plumber, or the homeowner homestead permit | HPC Plumbing Fixture Permit (HPWCODE 1093); Homeowner's Plumbing Permit |
| Replacing the water heater | Plumbing permit; no plan review at a single-family home | HPC Water Heater permit (HPWCODE 1101) |
| New GFCI circuit, exhaust fan wiring, heated floor, lighting | Electrical permit by a registered master electrician | HPC Electrical Outlet and Fixture permits |
| Moving walls or enlarging the bathroom | Residential remodel permit with plan review | HPC Residential Remodel Permit (HPWCODE 1135) |
| Adding a bathroom in a new addition | Residential addition permit with plan review (10 business days) | HPC Residential Addition Permit (HPWCODE 1134) |
How Much Does a Bathroom Permit Cost in Houston?
Every permit carries the $33.56 administrative fee on top of its base on the 2026 Building Code Enforcement fee schedule. Plumbing fixtures are $34.24 for one to three and $11.41 each after that, against a $97.56 plumbing minimum, so a toilet, sink and shower valve come to $97.56 plus admin, about $131; four fixtures add $11.41. A water heater is the same $34.24 for the first three, again subject to the minimum. Electrical outlets and fixtures are $1.34 each against a $91.06 electrical minimum, so the wiring permit is about $125. A remodel permit for a floor-plan change is priced by square footage (Texas HB 852 bars valuation-based residential fees): for wood-frame construction, $47.00 base plus $5.36 per 8.17 square feet after the first 57.16, with the $91.06 minimum, plus 25 percent plan review and the admin fee, so a 100-square-foot bathroom whose walls move is about $156. Plumbing plus electrical plus a remodel permit therefore lands around $410 to $450 before the contractors' own prices; a homeowner doing the plumbing personally pays $116.11 for the homestead permit instead.
Who Pulls Which Permit in Houston
Houston does not license general contractors, and the building permit may be purchased by the owner, agent or contractor. Trade permits are issued after the building permit and only to registered licensees: plumbing permits to master plumbers licensed by the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners and registered with the city, electrical permits solely to master electricians licensed by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation and registered with the city. The one homeowner path is plumbing: a homeowner who owns, occupies and has homesteaded the property may pull a homeowner's plumbing permit for work they do themselves, at $86.39 plus the admin fee. There is no equivalent for electrical work.
Inspections and Plans
Plumbing inspections are scheduled through the Plumbing Section at least a day ahead, and construction inspections are completed the next business day after the request; keep tile off the walls until the rough plumbing has passed. A remodel permit is filed in iPermits with a floor plan showing the affected area, wall sections identifying bearing walls, materials and energy compliance, plus the Declaration in Support signed by the owner and checked against HCAD records. Permits are valid for six months.
How to Get a Bathroom Remodel Permit in Houston
Split finish work from trade work
Tile, paint, vanity, floors: no permit. Fixtures, water heater, wiring, wall changes: permits.
Building permit first if the layout changes
Residential remodel permit in iPermits with floor plan and wall sections; owner, agent or contractor may apply; trade permits follow it.
Plumbing
Registered master plumber pulls the fixture permit ($97.56 minimum + $33.56 admin), or the homeowner homestead permit ($116.11) for DIY work.
Electrical
Master electrician pulls the electrical permit ($91.06 minimum + admin) for GFCI circuits, fans and lighting.
Rough inspection before tile
Schedule plumbing inspections a day ahead; construction inspections are completed the next business day; close walls only after passing.