Bathroom remodel permits in Plano vs Dallas: where the line falls

The short version

If you are replacing things where they already are, such as a vanity on the same drain, a toilet on the same flange, a light on the same box or tile on a sound floor, you generally do not need a permit in either city. If you are moving a fixture, adding a circuit, changing a wall or adding a bathroom, you do.

The details are worded differently, so it is worth knowing what each city says, especially if you are comparing quotes from contractors who work on both sides of the line.

What Plano says

Plano's Building Inspection Department guidance says permits are required when building, remodeling or enlarging a building. Cosmetic projects such as painting, wallpapering, carpeting, cabinets and trim work do not require permits, and neither does replacing fixtures on existing wiring or plumbing.

That means a Plano vanity swap, a new faucet, a replacement toilet or a new light on the existing box is usually permit-free, while a master bath remodel that rebuilds the shower, moves the tub or adds circuits for a heated floor is remodeling work that needs permits. The city's guidance is a few years old, so we confirm the current requirements for each job when we file.

What Dallas says

Dallas follows the 2021 residential code. Cosmetic bathroom work with no plumbing or electrical changes is exempt; moving or adding fixtures needs plumbing and building permits; adding a bathroom or removing walls needs a building permit, with engineered plans for a load-bearing wall; and electrical changes need an electrical permit. Bathroom permit fees in Dallas typically run from about fifty to seven hundred dollars depending on scope.