Do I need a permit for bathroom remodel in Cincinnati?

It depends. Whether bathroom remodel needs a permit in Cincinnati comes down to the details of your project.

Section 102.10 of the Residential Code of Ohio exempts painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, countertops, and similar finish work from approval. The plumbing exemption covers clearing stoppages, repairing leaks, and removing and reinstalling a toilet, as long as no more than one fixture is replaced and no valves, pipes, or fixtures are rearranged. Moving a fixture or rearranging piping needs approval. Under Section 102.10.2, minor repairs do not include cutting away a wall or partition, or adding, altering, or relocating piping or electric wiring, and those need approval. Ohio's residential code is enforced only by residential building departments certified by the Board of Building Standards, at the city, township, or county level. Confirm which department covers your address. Where none is certified, the owner must still build to the RCO. This remodel moves plumbing, adds a tub or shower, or changes wiring, exhaust venting or walls. Like-for-like fixture swaps are the part of a bathroom remodel most often exempt; moving pipes and new wiring are not. Plumbing and electrical work each normally need their own permit and rough-in inspection before the walls are closed, so schedule inspections before drywall or tile backer goes up. Bathrooms have specific electrical safety rules, such as ground-fault protection on outlets, which the electrical inspection checks.