Chicago Bathroom Remodel Permit Checklist

Use this checklist before a Chicago bathroom remodel to see whether your project fits the City’s Express Permit path, what goes in the application, and what a condo owner needs from the association. Every item comes from a City of Chicago or Chicago Construction Codes page linked at the end. Tick the boxes as you go, or print the page and bring it to your remodeler.

Updated October 2026. Built from chicago.gov and Chicago Construction Codes sources. This is general information, not legal advice; the Department of Buildings has the final word on your project.

The short version

If a pipe, valve, fixture or wire is replaced or moved, plan on a permit. Tile, paint and cabinets alone do not need one.
Express Permit covers non-structural work in one dwelling unit, up to 2,000 sq ft and up to 5 water supply fixture units (WSFU). A new private bathroom counts as 4 WSFU.
Moving walls or doors (other than closets) takes the project out of Express Permit and needs drawings by an Illinois-licensed architect or structural engineer.
Condo owners need a signed association approval letter, or the application is incomplete.

Step 1: Does the work need a permit?

I listed every item that is replaced (toilet, vanity sink, faucet, tub, shower valve, pipes).
I listed every item that moves to a new spot (toilet, shower, tub, drain).
I noted any new wiring: lighting circuits, outlets or an exhaust fan.
I checked whether the job is only cosmetic: paint, floor or wall tile, cabinets or countertops with no plumbing or electrical connections. That work does not need a building permit.

Replacing a fixture or valve, replacing pipes, a tub-to-shower conversion and new wiring all need a permit. Removing and reinstalling the same toilet, for example to tile under it, does not. The full table is in our guide on whether you need a permit to remodel a bathroom in Chicago.

Step 2: Does it fit the Express Permit Program?

The work is inside one dwelling unit and covers no more than 2,000 sq ft.
The work is non-structural: no new stairs, no structural changes, no exterior work such as new windows or exterior doors.
No walls or doors are added, removed or reconfigured, other than closets.
Plumbing adds no more than 5 water supply fixture units (WSFU). Adding a private bathroom counts as 4 WSFU, per the City’s example.
Any new electrical service is under 400 amps.
The space is not changing occupancy and was legally occupied before.

If any box stays empty, the project likely needs a standard permit with plan review instead. Ask a licensed general contractor which path applies.

Step 3: Gather what the application needs

At least one photo of the existing condition.
An energy and water efficiency compliance form.
A floor plan to scale showing the existing and proposed layout. Your contractor can usually prepare it.
Condo owners: the association approval letter (Step 4).
Owners acting as their own general contractor: the City’s owner-as-contractor form (Form 401) and a government ID showing you live at the address.

Step 4: Condo owners, get the association letter

The letter briefly describes the work, for example “interior renovations in unit 9A”.
It is signed by an authorized representative, such as the board president or the property manager.
I asked the building about its own rules: insurance certificates, work hours and elevator reservations.

Without the signed letter the Express Permit application is incomplete. For approval timing and building rules, see our condo bathroom remodel guide for Chicago.

Step 5: Confirm who does the work

The general contractor holds a City of Chicago license, and I checked it on the City’s lookup.
A licensed and bonded plumbing contractor is listed for the plumbing. Only an owner-occupant of a single-family detached home may do their own plumbing.
A licensed electrical contractor is listed for any wiring.
The written contract says who applies for the permit and that the City fee is itemized.

Our step-by-step guide shows how to verify a Chicago contractor license in a few minutes.

Step 6: Special cases to rule out

Built before 1978? Contractors who disturb painted surfaces beyond small areas must be EPA RRP certified, and the City notes a lead-based paint form may need to be filed with the Chicago Department of Public Health. See lead-safe remodeling in pre-1978 Chicago homes.
Chicago Landmark? Permit exemptions may not apply to a proposed or designated Chicago Landmark or a property in a Landmark district. Check with the Historic Preservation Division first.
Adding a basement bathroom? It needs a permit, and drainage below the sewer line changes the plan. See basement bathroom remodeling in Chicago.

Step 7: Fees, timing and inspections

I know the stand-alone interior alteration fee: $250 up to 500 sq ft and $500 up to 2,000 sq ft in a single dwelling unit (Chicago Construction Codes 14A-12-1204.2). Other fees can apply; the City’s fee calculator gives the total.
The permit will not be pulled long before work starts: Express Permits that list required inspections must begin work and pass an initial inspection within 365 days of issuance.
The permit holder will request inspections online, giving at least 4 business days of notice for a specific date, and the rough inspection comes before the walls close.
The permit stays posted on site until the final inspection.

To see how inspections fit into the schedule, read the Chicago bathroom remodel timeline. To budget the job itself, try the Chicago bathroom remodel cost estimator, then compare written quotes for bathroom remodeling in Chicago.

Frequently asked questions

Does a new bathroom fit the Express Permit's fixture limit?

Usually. Express Permit allows plumbing work that adds up to 5 water supply fixture units (WSFU), and the City's example says adding a private bathroom counts as 4 WSFU. The work must also be non-structural and inside one dwelling unit.

What does the condo association letter need to say?

It briefly describes the work, for example "interior renovations in unit 9A", and is signed by an authorized representative such as the board president or property manager. Without it the Express Permit application is incomplete.

What takes a bathroom remodel out of Express Permit?

Adding, removing or reconfiguring walls or doors (other than closets), structural work, exterior work, a change of occupancy or a space that was never legally occupied. Wall and door changes need drawings by an Illinois-licensed architect or structural engineer.

How long is an Express Permit good for?

Express Permits that list required inspections must begin work and pass an initial inspection within 365 days of issuance, so pull the permit close to the start date.

Sources

City of Chicago, Department of Buildings, “Work that does not require a building permit”: chicago.gov. Accessed October 2026.
City of Chicago, Express Permit Program, interior alteration instructions (scope limits, WSFU, application items, condo letter, Form 401): chicago.gov. Accessed October 2026.
City of Chicago, Express Permit Program: chicago.gov; Express Permit time limit notice: chicago.gov. Accessed October 2026.
City of Chicago, Permit-Related Building Inspections: chicago.gov. Accessed October 2026.
Chicago Construction Codes 14A-12-1204.2, stand-alone permit fees: amlegal.com; City permit fee calculator: chicago.gov.
City of Chicago, general contractor license FAQ: chicago.gov; plumbing license FAQ: chicago.gov; licensed contractor lookup: chicago.gov.
U.S. EPA, Renovation, Repair and Painting Program: epa.gov.

Get a free written quote for your bathroom

Checklist done? Tell us about your bathroom and a local remodeling pro will call you about the permit and a free written quote.

Read the permit guide