Do I need a permit to remodel a bathroom in Florida?

The rule in the Florida Building Code

The Florida Building Code, section 105.1 says anyone who intends to alter a building, or to install or alter its plumbing or electrical system, must first get a permit from the building official. A bathroom remodel that moves a drain, adds a circuit, opens a wall or rebuilds a shower falls under that.

Florida's list of work exempt from permits (section 105.2) only covers a few gas, mechanical and plumbing items, such as stopping a leak or clearing a stoppage. Section 105.2.2 lets the building official approve ordinary minor repairs without a permit, but not repairs that cut away a wall, touch a load-bearing support, or add, replace or move piping or wiring. So painting or new towel bars is one thing; a new shower valve or a moved toilet is another.

What Manatee County publishes

In Florida the building department that covers your address decides, so there is no single yes or no for every bathroom. Swapping a faucet is not the same as moving a toilet drain. A new tile floor is not the same as a new shower with new wiring.

We can say what Manatee County publishes. The county issues separate permit types for Plumbing, Electrical, Mechanical and Residential work, and it has express permits for Residential Plumbing and Residential Electrical. Those are the kinds of permits a bathroom job can fall under.

What Manatee County says, and what it leaves out

The county's Building Division page links to a document called "What work does and does not require a permit?" That is the list you want. We could not open its contents, so we do not copy it here. Do not trust a blog, including this one, over that document.

The state building code also has a list of work that is exempt from permit, in Chapter 1, Section 105.2 of the Florida Building Code (2023, 8th Edition). We did not read the text of that list, so we do not quote it.

A 2026 state law, House Bill 803, changed some permit rules. Reports of a small-job exemption in that law could not be confirmed from official text, so ask the office whether any exemption applies to your job and your lot.

Jobs that make a permit more likely

Counties vary, so treat this as a list of things to ask about, not a rule:

• Moving or adding a drain, supply line, toilet, tub or shower.
• Adding or moving outlets, lights or a fan, or adding a circuit.
• Changing walls, or changing the footprint of the room.
• Any work in a flood zone. The county says any alteration to a building in the floodplain requires a permit.

Cosmetic work, such as paint, is the kind of job people usually expect to be exempt. Still confirm it with the office if your plan includes anything else.

Who handles the plumbing and electrical

A homeowner does not have to know which permit covers which line item. On our jobs, the plumbing and electrical are done by licensed trade partners that Hildebrand manages and coordinates. We pull every required permit and meet the Florida Building Code inspections as part of the job.

If another contractor says no permit is needed, ask for that in writing, with the reason. Our page on questions to ask a remodeling contractor lists more.

How to get a firm answer from the county

Call the Permitting Section at 941-748-4501 ext. 3800 or email permitting@mymanatee.org. Have these ready:

1. Your street address.
2. A one-line description, such as "replace tub with walk-in shower, move drain".
3. Whether any walls change.
4. Whether your home is in a flood zone. You can check this with the county's lookup tools on its flood page.

If you live in Bradenton or Palmetto, call that city instead. Our guides for Bradenton and Palmetto list the numbers.

After the permit: inspections and the HOA

Our jobs meet the Florida Building Code inspections. If you are in an HOA, you file the HOA application yourself. We give you the specs and drawings for it.

Questions to ask any contractor about permits

Whoever you hire, get these answers in writing before you sign:

• Which permits does this job need, and who is pulling each one?
• Who schedules the inspections?
• What happens to the schedule if an inspection does not pass?
• Is the permit cost in the estimate, or listed apart?

A contractor who is unwilling to answer in writing is a warning sign. You can also check any Florida contractor's license at myfloridalicense.com before you sign.

How Hildebrand handles bathroom remodels

Hildebrand Construction & Remodeling does full bathroom remodels, tub-to-shower conversions and walk-in showers. Every job is quoted after an on-site visit, so the estimate reflects your actual room. See our bathroom remodels and what a bathroom remodel costs. Call or text (941) 284-2218, Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM.

Questions homeowners ask