Quick Answer
Yes — if your bathroom remodel relocates plumbing, adds electrical circuits, changes structure, or converts a bathtub to a shower. No — if you're replacing fixtures like for like in the same location, or doing cosmetic work. Permits in Seattle are issued by SDCI, typically cost $500–$1,500, and add 1–3 weeks to the schedule.
Permit required or not: the quick table
| Project | Permit needed? | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Replacing a faucet, showerhead, or toilet in the same spot | No | — |
| Replacing a vanity without moving the plumbing | No | — |
| Paint, mirrors, accessories, towel bars | No | — |
| Replacing a bathtub like for like in the same location | No | — |
| Converting a bathtub to a shower | Yes | Plumbing |
| Relocating a toilet, sink, or shower drain | Yes | Plumbing |
| Adding a fixture that didn't exist (second sink, bidet) | Yes | Plumbing |
| Adding or moving electrical circuits, outlets, or heated floors | Yes | Electrical |
| Installing an exhaust fan where none existed | Yes | Electrical / mechanical |
| Removing or moving a wall — even a non-load-bearing one | Yes | Building |
| Adding a bathroom to an unpermitted space | Yes | Building + trades |
Why a tub-to-shower conversion needs a permit
This surprises most homeowners, because nothing appears to move.
The drain rule
Bathtubs drain through a 1.5-inch line. Showers require a 2-inch line. Water leaves a shower faster than it leaves a tub, and Seattle's plumbing code reflects that. So converting means opening the floor, upsizing the drain, and re-establishing the trap and vent correctly.
That's a fixture alteration, not a like-for-like replacement — which puts it squarely in permit territory. Any contractor who quotes a conversion without mentioning the drain is either leaving the old 1.5-inch line in place or hasn't thought the job through. Full conversion guide here.
Who issues the permit
In Seattle: the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections (SDCI), through the Seattle Services Portal. Simple bathroom permits are often approved over the counter or within one to three weeks.
Outside Seattle: each city runs its own department — Bellevue, Kirkland, Redmond, Bothell, Shoreline, Edmonds, Lynnwood and Everett all issue their own. The underlying rules are consistent, because they all work from the Washington State Building and Plumbing Codes.
Your contractor should pull it. A licensed contractor applying under their own license carries the responsibility for the work meeting code. If a contractor suggests you pull it as the homeowner, or suggests skipping it, treat that as a red flag.
What permits cost and how long they take
| Typical | |
|---|---|
| Cost, simple bathroom scope | $500 – $1,500 |
| Approval time, simple scope | Over the counter to 3 weeks |
| Approval time, structural work | Longer — engineering drawings may be required |
| Inspections | Usually 1–2 during the project |
Washington State allows homeowners to do plumbing work on their own single-family residence — but the permit and inspections are still required, and the work must meet the same code standard as professional work.
What happens if you skip the permit
Two problems, one immediate and one delayed.
Immediate
SDCI can issue a stop-work order and require unpermitted work to be exposed for inspection. That can mean opening walls you've already finished and tiled.
Delayed
Unpermitted bathroom work appears in your seller disclosure. Buyers use it as leverage, lenders occasionally flag it, and correcting it retroactively costs far more than permitting it correctly the first time. Insurance claims for water damage traced to unpermitted work can also be contested.
The math almost never favors skipping. A $500–$1,500 permit against opening a finished wall is not a close call.
Frequently Asked Questions
We handle permits as part of every project
Book a free in-home consultation or call (425) 345-5194 — we'll tell you exactly what your project needs before you commit to anything.