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

The Quick Answer: It Depends on What You’re Changing

A bathroom remodel can range from a simple cosmetic refresh to a full gut-and-rebuild. The permit requirements in Indiana depend entirely on the scope of work — specifically whether you’re touching plumbing, electrical, or structural elements.

What Requires a Permit

Plumbing Work

If your bathroom remodel involves moving, adding, or modifying plumbing fixtures or supply/drain lines, you need a plumbing permit. This includes:

Moving a toilet, sink, or shower/tub to a new location
Adding a new fixture (second sink, bidet, etc.)
Replacing supply lines or drain/vent pipes
Installing a new water heater for a bathroom addition

Plumbing permit fees vary:

Evansville / Vanderburgh County: $6 per fixture, minimum $30
City of Hammond: $50 minimum (first 3 fixtures)
Floyd County: Contact office for schedule
Most other jurisdictions: Contact your local building department

Important: In many Indiana jurisdictions, plumbers must hold a state license. The City of Elkhart, for example, requires plumbing contractors to carry a state license. Check your local requirements.

Electrical Work

If your remodel includes new circuits, moving outlets, adding lighting, or installing exhaust fans, you need an electrical permit. Common electrical work in bathroom remodels:

Adding or relocating GFCI outlets (code requires GFCI protection in bathrooms)
Installing new vanity lighting or recessed lights
Adding a bathroom exhaust fan
Running a dedicated circuit for a heated floor system

Electrical permit fees:

Evansville / Vanderburgh County: $30 (under 400 amps)
City of Hammond: $80 for new service
Floyd County: $60
Most others: Contact your local office

Structural Changes

If your remodel involves removing or modifying walls, changing the floor plan, or altering structural framing, you need a building permit. This includes:

Removing a wall between a bathroom and an adjacent room
Expanding the bathroom footprint
Modifying floor joists to accommodate new plumbing routes
Adding a bathroom where one didn’t exist before

What Does NOT Require a Permit

Cosmetic updates generally don’t need a permit:

Replacing fixtures in the same location — Swapping a toilet, faucet, or showerhead for a new one in the same spot (no pipe rerouting)
Replacing tile — New floor tile, wall tile, or tub surround
Painting and wallpaper — Cosmetic finishes
Replacing vanity/cabinets — As long as plumbing connections don’t change
New mirrors and accessories — Towel bars, medicine cabinets, shelving
Replacing a bathtub or shower pan — If it goes in the same location with existing drain connections

The key principle: If the plumbing connections, electrical wiring, and structural framing stay exactly where they are, you probably don’t need a permit. Once you start moving pipes, wires, or walls, you do.

The Permit Process for a Bathroom Remodel

Determine what permits you need — Most bathroom remodels that need permits will need a plumbing permit, an electrical permit, or both. Major remodels may also need a building permit.
Submit applications — You can often submit plumbing and electrical permits separately from (or alongside) a building permit. Some jurisdictions let contractors pull trade permits directly.
Schedule rough-in inspections — Before you close up walls, an inspector needs to verify:
- Plumbing rough-in: drain lines, vent pipes, and supply lines
- Electrical rough-in: wiring, boxes, and GFCI protection
Complete the work — After passing rough-in inspections, you can close walls, install fixtures, and finish surfaces.
Schedule final inspection — The inspector checks the completed work: fixtures properly installed, GFCI outlets working, proper ventilation, no leaks.

Common Code Requirements for Indiana Bathrooms

Whether or not you need a permit, your bathroom should meet these code requirements:

GFCI protection — All bathroom outlets must be GFCI protected
Ventilation — Bathrooms need either an operable window or a mechanical exhaust fan (50 CFM minimum for intermittent use)
Minimum clearances — 15 inches from toilet centerline to sidewall, 21 inches clear in front of toilet
Water-resistant materials — Cement board or equivalent behind tile in wet areas (not regular drywall)
Accessible drain cleanouts — Required for new plumbing installations

Cost Considerations

Beyond the permit fees themselves, factor in:

Contractor markup — If your contractor pulls permits, they’ll typically add the fee plus their time to your bill
Inspection delays — Each inspection requires scheduling and potentially waiting 1-3 days. Build this into your project timeline.
Correction costs — If an inspector finds issues, you’ll need to fix them before passing. This is actually a good thing — better to catch a plumbing problem before you tile over it.

Find Your Local Permit Office

Bathroom remodel permit requirements and fees vary across Indiana’s 92 counties. Find the specific requirements for your jurisdiction on our county and city directory.