Do I need a permit to replace a toilet?

Not in the same spot. Moving it to a new location does, because the drain moves.

Do I need a permit to retile a shower?

Not for the tile itself. If the job also moves the valve or the drain, the plumbing needs a permit.

What happens if a past remodel was done without a permit?

It can come up when you sell the house, and the city can require the work to be opened up for inspection. In Phoenix, the online permit search shows whether a permit was ever pulled.

Do You Need a Permit for a Bathroom Remodel in Phoenix?

What needs a permit, what doesn't, and each Valley city's rules.

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Replacing things where they already are usually doesn't need a permit. That includes tile, a vanity, a toilet or a faucet swapped in the same spot. Moving plumbing, adding electrical or changing a wall does, in every Valley city. When a remodel moves plumbing, we pull the permit and schedule the inspections.

Where the line falls

The line is whether the work changes what's hidden inside the walls and floor. Tile, paint, a new vanity and a new toilet on the old drain are finishes and fixtures. New pipes, moved drains, new circuits and framing get closed up behind the walls, so an inspector checks them first.

The City of Phoenix's owner's guide to residential permits draws the line this way. It lists tile, drywall repair and replacing existing plumbing fixtures as no-permit work. It lists adding or moving plumbing fixtures, electrical work and wall changes as work that needs one.

Common bathroom jobs

New tile, paint or vanity in the same spot: no permit.
New toilet on the same drain: usually no permit.
Moving the toilet, the shower drain or the sink: permit.
Turning a tub into a shower when the drain moves: permit.
New outlets, a new circuit or a new exhaust fan circuit: permit.
Removing or moving a wall: permit.
Making a window bigger or smaller: permit.

City by city

The rule above holds in most cities. The details differ.

Phoenix. The owner's guide above has the lists. Anyone can look up a home's permit history online, back to 1995, through the city's permit search. Planning and Development answers questions at (602) 262-7811.

Chandler. Chandler's homeowner permit manual lists tiling, cabinets, countertops and similar finish work as no-permit work. Ordinary repairs are exempt too, but not if they replace or move piping or wiring. Two rules matter for bathrooms. Shower tile has to go over tile backer board, with no greenboard. And when you do interior work that needs a permit, the house needs smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms, except when the work is only plumbing or air conditioning. The plan reviewer of the day answers questions at (480) 782-3078.

Glendale. Glendale's permit Q&A says replacing the drain pipes under sinks and toilets needs a permit. So does extending a circuit or adding outlets. Replacing a loose outlet doesn't.

Mesa. Mesa's residential construction FAQ says painting, tiling and carpeting need no permit. Permit Services answers questions at (480) 644-4273.

Scottsdale. Scottsdale handles most single-family electrical, mechanical and plumbing work as minimum permits, which can be obtained online without a plan review. Work done without a required permit is charged double the permit fee. The One Stop Shop answers questions at (480) 312-2500.

Tempe. Tempe requires plan approval before it issues a permit for a residential remodel. Applications go through its online Citizen Access portal. Building Safety answers questions at (480) 350-4311.

Surprise. We couldn't find a published homeowner list for Surprise. Call the city's Building Safety Division before starting.

The HOA is a separate approval

A city permit and an HOA approval are two different things. Interior bathroom work usually doesn't need the HOA. Anything that shows from outside, like a new exhaust vent through the roof or a changed window, often does. Chandler's permit manual says it plainly: the city doesn't enforce HOA rules, and following them is the homeowner's job.

Who pulls the permit

On our remodels, we do. A licensed contractor pulls the permit under their own license and schedules the inspections. You can check that any contractor's license is active with the Registrar of Contractors' contractor search.

Questions

Do I need a permit to replace a toilet?: Not in the same spot. Moving it to a new location does, because the drain moves.
Do I need a permit to retile a shower?: Not for the tile itself. If the job also moves the valve or the drain, the plumbing needs a permit.
What happens if a past remodel was done without a permit?: It can come up when you sell the house, and the city can require the work to be opened up for inspection. In Phoenix, the online permit search shows whether a permit was ever pulled.

Thinking about a bathroom?

Send a few photos and tell us what's bothering you. We usually reply within minutes, and always within 24 hours.