Bathroom Remodel Permit in Lompoc, CA (2026)

Research by DoINeedAPermit Research Team · Updated May 2026

The Short Answer

A full bathroom remodel in Lompoc requires a permit if you move any plumbing fixture, add electrical circuits, install a new exhaust fan, change tub-to-shower (or vice versa), or move walls. Surface-only work — tile, vanity swap in place, faucet replacement — is exempt.

Lompoc, a coastal city in Santa Barbara County, follows California Title 24 and the 2022 California Building Code (CBC), which the city has adopted. What makes Lompoc unique is its dual climate and permitting jurisdiction: the coastal zone (where most of Lompoc sits) is governed by Coastal Commission review for any work within the Local Coastal Program area, which can add 2-4 weeks to permitting if your property is coastal-adjacent. The City of Lompoc Building Department does NOT issue its own separate electrical or plumbing permits — those are bundled into the single building permit, which differs from some California coastal cities that require separate trades licenses filed simultaneously. Owner-builders can pull permits under California Business & Professions Code § 7044, but electrical and plumbing work must be done by licensed contractors or the owner-builder must hold a valid license; Lompoc's Department of Building and Safety will flag any electrical or plumbing scope to verify contractor licensing before approval. Plan review typically takes 2-3 weeks for standard bathroom remodels (less if you submit complete plans with waterproofing details specified); expedited review is available but uncommon for bathroom work. The permit fee for a full bathroom remodel ranges from $300–$700 depending on declared valuation, plus a potential Coastal Commission application fee ($500–$1,500) if your property is within the coastal zone.

What happens if you skip the permit (and you needed one)

Stop-work order issued by City of Lompoc will halt construction immediately; re-pulling the permit requires payment of double the original permit fee ($600–$1,400 for a typical bathroom remodel) plus reinspection costs.
Property sale disclosure: California Real Estate Transfer Disclosure Statement (TDS) requires you to disclose unpermitted work; buyers' lenders will often refuse to finance a property with known unpermitted bathroom plumbing or electrical, killing the deal or forcing a cash sale at a 10-20% discount.
Insurance claim denial: If a plumbing leak or electrical fire occurs in an unpermitted bathroom, your homeowner's insurance will likely deny the claim and may cancel your policy outright.
Coastal Commission enforcement: If your home is in the coastal zone and you did unpermitted work, the Commission can issue a Cease & Desist order and require removal of non-compliant work at your cost, typically $5,000–$15,000 for bathroom demolition and redo.

Lompoc bathroom remodel permits — the key details

The threshold for permit requirements in Lompoc is crystal clear for bathrooms: any change to plumbing or electrical scope requires a permit. California Title 24 § 100.1 and the CBC require permits for 'any addition, alteration, or repair' of plumbing or electrical systems; Lompoc enforces this strictly. If you are moving a toilet, sink, or shower valve to a new location, you need a permit — no exception. If you are adding a new exhaust fan duct (even if rewiring to an existing switch), you need a permit. If you are converting a bathtub to a shower or vice versa, you need a permit because the waterproofing assembly changes and must comply with CBC § 1404.2 and IRC R702.4.2, which specify cement board + liquid membrane or equivalent for shower enclosures. If you are simply replacing a toilet in place, swapping out a faucet without moving the supply lines, or re-tiling a wall without waterproofing changes, those are exempt. The gray area: if you are running new electrical circuits to add a heated towel rack, ventilation fan, or in-wall lighting, you need a permit. Lompoc's Building Department will ask you to provide a simple electrical one-line diagram showing the new circuit breaker, wire gauge, and GFCI/AFCI protection; this is non-negotiable for plan approval.

Waterproofing is the single most-rejected item in Lompoc bathroom permits. California Title 24 and CBC § 1404.2 mandate a continuous water-resistant barrier behind all tile in tubs and showers. Lompoc inspectors will require you to specify your waterproofing system on the permit application: either cement board + liquid membrane (e.g., Hydroban, RedGard), or a pre-formed waterproofing system (e.g., Schluter), or acrylic-based shower pan liner. The city's plan-review staff often sends a first revision request asking 'Which waterproofing product?' — if you don't specify, your plan is incomplete and the review clock stops. Bring product data sheets to the permit counter or submit them with your application. Tub-and-shower mixing-valve requirements are equally strict: CBC § 2403.2 requires pressure-balance or thermostatic mixing valves to prevent scalding; you must specify the valve brand and model on your permit (e.g., Moen 1255, Delta MultiChoice). Old manual diverters do not meet code and will be rejected.

Exhaust fan and ventilation rules in Lompoc are governed by CBC § 1203.2 (formerly IRC M1505), which requires 50-100 CFM minimum exhaust capacity depending on bathroom square footage. The duct must run to daylight — either directly through an exterior wall or through the roof — with a damper. Lompoc inspectors will flag any duct that terminates in the attic or soffit as non-compliant. If your bathroom shares a wall with an unconditioned space (garage, unconditioned attic), the duct must be insulated. The city requires the exhaust fan schedule on your application: the manufacturer, model, CFM rating, and duct diameter (typically 4 or 6 inches). Lompoc also checks that the fan switch is controlled separately from the light switch; combining them on a single timer is acceptable per code but the application must state this.

Electrical requirements are strict and frequently missed in Lompoc bathroom permit applications. CBC § 2703.2 and NEC 210.8(A) require GFCI protection on all bathroom outlets — not just the one above the sink. If you are adding any outlet in the bathroom, it must be GFCI or on a GFCI circuit breaker. If your bathroom has old two-prong outlets, the new permit is a good time to upgrade to GFCI, though not mandatory if you are not touching those circuits. However, any new wiring you run must comply with current code: all new circuits must include arc-fault circuit interrupter (AFCI) protection on bedroom outlets and shared bathrooms; Lompoc's inspectors will ask for the electrical plan to confirm. The permit requires you to show the panelboard, breaker size, and wire gauge. A common mistake: pulling a 15-amp breaker for a 20-amp circuit or undersizing wire; Lompoc's plan review will catch this and send a revision.

Lompoc's permitting process has one quirk that saves time: the city does NOT require separate electrical and plumbing permits — both trades are bundled into one building permit. This is faster than some California jurisdictions (e.g., Los Angeles County) that require parallel permits. However, the single permit means your plan must show ALL trades: framing changes (if any), plumbing layout with trap arms and vent stacks, electrical one-line diagram, and waterproofing detail. The plan-review timeline is 10-15 business days for a complete submission; most bathrooms are reviewed in one cycle if you include product sheets and specifications. Inspections are typically four: rough plumbing (before walls close), rough electrical (before drywall), framing inspection (if walls move), and final. Lompoc allows you to request an over-the-counter permit for bathrooms under $5,000 valuation, which skips formal plan review and can be approved same-day if you bring a simple sketch and a contractor's estimate. Finally, if your home was built before 1978, lead-paint rules apply: you must hire an EPA-certified lead-abatement contractor for any work that disturbs paint, or file a lead-hazard disclosure. Lompoc enforces this through the permit; your contractor's license verification will include a lead-compliance check.

Three Lompoc bathroom remodel (full) scenarios

Scenario A

Single-wall cosmetic bathroom refresh in downtown Lompoc (non-coastal) — tile, vanity, faucet swap, no fixture relocation

You are replacing bathroom tile on one wall, removing an old builder-grade vanity, installing a new single-sink vanity in the exact same footprint, and swapping the faucet. The toilet and shower remain untouched. This is permit-exempt under California Title 24 because no plumbing or electrical work is being performed — the supply and drain lines are not being relocated. Your contractor does not need to pull a permit or file a notice to owner. However, if the tile work disturbs more than 10 square feet of pre-1978 paint, or if your property is in Lompoc's coastal zone and the work is visible from the street, you may need a Coastal Compliance Review from the City (not a building permit per se, but a 1-2 week review). The City of Lompoc Building Department's website recommends calling ahead (verify phone number) to confirm whether cosmetic work is visible from public right-of-way; if not, no review is needed. Cost: $0 permit fees, $2,000–$6,000 labor and materials for tile, vanity, faucet.

Scenario B

Guest bathroom in Lompoc foothills — relocate toilet and sink 4 feet, install new exhaust fan duct through roof, add GFCI outlet

You are moving the toilet from the corner to the opposite wall (new drain line and supply line, requires trap-arm calculation to ensure it does not exceed 1-foot trap-arm length per CBC § 422.1). You are moving the sink 4 feet along the same wall (new supply and drain). You are installing a new exhaust fan with a 4-inch duct that runs vertically through the roof and exits above the roofline with a damper. You are adding one new GFCI-protected outlet above the sink. This is a full permit with plan review. You must submit: a simple plumbing layout (old and new drain/supply locations, trap-arm length noted), a roof-penetration detail (duct diameter, damper specification, flashing detail), and an electrical one-line diagram showing the new GFCI outlet and fan circuit. Lompoc's Building Department will review for code compliance (plan review: 10-15 days). Your contractor must be licensed in plumbing and electrical, or you hold licenses. Inspections: rough plumbing (after new lines are run but before drywall), rough electrical (before final), roof penetration (before shingles/flashing finalized), final. Timeline: 4-6 weeks total. Permit cost: $450–$600 (based on ~$8,000 valuation). If your property is in the coastal zone, add 2-4 weeks for Coastal Commission review and $500–$800 fee. Note: Lompoc's foothills are outside the coastal zone, so standard permitting applies. No lead-paint concern if post-1978.

Scenario C

Master bath in coastal Lompoc — tub-to-shower conversion, new waterproofing, add heated towel rack circuit, convert tub drain to shower pan drain

You are removing a built-in bathtub and replacing it with a walk-in shower, which requires removing old tile and the tub substrate, installing a new waterproofing system (cement board + RedGard liquid membrane per CBC § 1404.2), new shower pan liner, and reconnecting the drain to a new p-trap and drain line (old tub drain cannot be reused because slope and configuration differ for showers). You are also adding a heated towel rack that requires a new 20-amp circuit with GFCI protection. This is a major permit scope. Your submission must include: detailed waterproofing plan with product specs (e.g., 'Schluter prefab pan with liquid membrane backup' or 'cement board + RedGard'); plumbing layout showing old tub drain capped, new shower drain with p-trap and vent stack (verify trap-arm length per CBC § 422.1); electrical one-line showing new 20-amp GFCI circuit to the towel rack; framing plan if any studs are being moved to accommodate the shower enclosure. Lompoc's plan review will flag missing details and likely send one revision request. Your contractor must be licensed in plumbing and electrical. Inspections: framing (if walls move), rough plumbing (new drain and p-trap before concrete pour), rough electrical (towel rack circuit), waterproofing inspection (critical — inspector will verify membrane is installed per spec before tile), final. Timeline: 5-7 weeks, longer if you are in the coastal zone (add 2-4 weeks for Coastal Commission review). Permit cost: $550–$750. Coastal review fee: $750–$1,200. Lead-paint disclosure required if pre-1978. Total project cost: $12,000–$20,000 depending on tile and finishes.

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Coastal Commission permitting for Lompoc bathroom work

Lompoc's most distinctive permitting feature is its split jurisdiction: the southern and western portions of the city are within California's Coastal Zone, governed by the Coastal Commission and Lompoc's Local Coastal Program (LCP). If your property is in the coastal zone, any visible work (even a full bathroom remodel inside the home) may trigger a Coastal Consistency Determination or a minor/major Coastal Development Permit. The City's website has a searchable parcel map showing coastal-zone boundaries; check this first. Interior-only work on the ground floor or upper floors with no exterior visibility (roof penetration for an exhaust duct, new siding, etc.) may be exempt, but the Building Department will make the call during intake.

If your bathroom remodel requires a roof penetration (exhaust duct) or any exterior work visible from public right-of-way, Lompoc will flag it for Coastal Review. This adds 10-15 business days to your permitting timeline and a $500–$1,500 application fee. The Coastal Commission reviews for consistency with the LCP, which prioritizes preservation of coastal views, habitat, and public access. A bathroom exhaust duct terminating on a ocean-view roofline will likely be required to be painted or screened to minimize visual impact. Deferring roof work to the non-coastal portion of the home (if possible) eliminates Coastal Review.

Owner-builders can submit coastal applications themselves, but the City of Lompoc recommends hiring a Coastal Consultant (cost: $800–$2,000) to prepare the application. Most contractors familiar with Lompoc have done this before and can guide you. Do not skip the Coastal Check; fines for unpermitted coastal work run $1,000–$10,000 per day of violation.

Waterproofing and inspection sequencing in Lompoc bathroom permits

Waterproofing is the single most-critical inspection in a Lompoc bathroom permit, especially for tub-to-shower conversions or any new tile wall. CBC § 1404.2 mandates a continuous water-resistant barrier; Lompoc inspectors will require a separate waterproofing inspection before tile is installed. This means your permit includes an additional inspection checkpoint that many homeowners do not anticipate. You cannot tile over the membrane — the inspector must see the bare membrane and verify it covers all shower walls from floor to ceiling plus the ceiling (if enclosed), with 6-inch overlap on all seams.

The most common rejection: submitting a plan that says 'standard waterproofing' or 'per code.' Lompoc requires a specific product and installation method. Approved systems include: Schluter prefab shower systems (pan + trim), cement board + RedGard or Hydroban liquid membrane, or acrylic shower liner. Each has different installation sequencing. Cement board + liquid membrane is the most common and least expensive ($100–$200 in materials); the membrane is applied after cement board is fastened but before drywall or framing inspection is signed off, so timing matters. If you get the waterproofing sequence wrong (e.g., applying membrane after drywall is up), the inspector will require you to cut away drywall to verify the membrane is continuous — costly rework.

Lompoc's inspectors are thorough because coastal climate (marine layer, salt spray in some areas) means water intrusion is a real risk. Build in time for the waterproofing inspection; do not schedule tile installation until the inspector signs off. Most bathroom remodels include 4-5 inspection visits total; waterproofing is the second or third, and it cannot be skipped or combined with another inspection.

City of Lompoc Building Department
City Hall, Lompoc, CA (exact address: verify at lompoc.com or call)
Phone: Search 'Lompoc Building Permit' or call City Hall main number and ask for Building Division | https://www.lompoc.com (check for online permit portal or ePermitting system)
Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM (typical city hall hours; verify holidays)

Common questions

Can I do a bathroom remodel myself without a contractor if I hold a plumbing or electrical license?

Yes, under California Business & Professions Code § 7044, owner-builders can pull permits and perform work if they hold the required trade license (plumbing or electrical, depending on scope). Lompoc will verify your license number during permit intake. However, if you are performing electrical work, you must pull a permit and schedule inspections — no owner-builder exemption for electrical. For plumbing, the same applies. If you hold both licenses, you can do both trades; if you hold neither, you must hire licensed contractors for both.

How much does a bathroom remodel permit cost in Lompoc?

Permit fees in Lompoc are based on project valuation, typically 1.5–2% of the estimated construction cost. A full bathroom remodel (valuation $8,000–$15,000) costs $300–$750 in permit fees. The City will ask you to provide a contractor's estimate or a detailed bid to calculate valuation. If you are in the coastal zone and need a Coastal Consistency review, add $500–$1,500 for that application. Plan on $300–$750 for a standard inland bathroom, or $800–$2,250 for a coastal-zone project.

What if I am moving a toilet or sink just a few feet — do I still need a permit?

Yes. Any relocation of a plumbing fixture (toilet, sink, shower) requires a permit in Lompoc because new drain and supply lines must be run, and they must comply with CBC drain slope, trap-arm length, and vent-stack requirements. Moving a fixture 2 feet or 20 feet makes no difference — both require a permit. The only exception is swapping fixtures (e.g., replacing one toilet with another in the exact same location); that is exempt if no lines are moved.

Do I need a permit to add a new exhaust fan to my bathroom?

Yes, if you are installing a new duct. If you are replacing an existing fan with a new one in the same location and reusing the existing duct, it may be exempt if no electrical work is involved. However, Lompoc recommends verifying this with the Building Department before starting; most new fans require a permit because either the duct is being rerouted (per current code, it must terminate to daylight, not the attic) or new electrical wiring is needed.

What is the lead-paint rule for bathroom remodels in Lompoc?

If your home was built before 1978, California requires an EPA-certified lead-abatement contractor to supervise any renovation work that disturbs paint or creates dust. Lompoc enforces this through the permit: your contractor must provide proof of lead training or hire an abatement specialist. The cost is typically $500–$1,000 for a bathroom remodel (less than a full-house renovation). If you fail to disclose or follow lead rules, you face fines and liability if lead poisoning is discovered later.

How long does plan review take for a bathroom remodel in Lompoc?

Standard plan review takes 10–15 business days for a complete submission (plumbing layout, electrical diagram, waterproofing detail). If your application is missing information, the review clock stops and a revision request is sent; adding and resubmitting typically takes another 5–10 days. If you are in the coastal zone, add 10–15 days for Coastal Commission review. Total timeline from permit application to approval: 2–5 weeks inland, 3–8 weeks coastal.

Can I pull an over-the-counter permit for a bathroom remodel in Lompoc?

Yes, for simple projects under $5,000 valuation (typically cosmetic work only, no plumbing or electrical changes). Over-the-counter permits can be approved same-day or next-day without formal plan review. However, most full bathroom remodels exceed $5,000 and require a standard permit with plan review. Ask the Building Department intake staff if your scope qualifies for over-the-counter approval; if you are moving fixtures or adding circuits, the answer will be no.

What inspections do I need for a bathroom remodel permit in Lompoc?

Most bathroom remodels require 4–5 inspections: rough plumbing (new lines before walls close), rough electrical (new circuits before drywall), framing (if any walls are moved), waterproofing (critical for showers — before tile), and final. If you are only adding fixtures or tile, inspections may be fewer. Call Lompoc Building to confirm the inspection schedule once your permit is approved; do not tile or close walls before the inspector signs off on rough plumbing and waterproofing.

Are there any special requirements for bathroom GFCI outlets in Lompoc?

Yes. CBC § 2703.2 requires GFCI protection on all bathroom outlets (not just the one above the sink). Any new outlet you install must be GFCI-protected, and any new circuits must include GFCI at the breaker or at the first outlet. If you are remodeling a bathroom, the permit is a good time to upgrade old two-prong outlets to GFCI; Lompoc inspectors will verify GFCI protection on the electrical inspection.

What happens if I discover unpermitted bathroom work after buying a house in Lompoc?

You must disclose the work on any future sale via California's Real Estate Transfer Disclosure Statement (TDS). You can either obtain a retroactive permit (the City will review and inspect the existing work for code compliance, typically costing $300–$1,000 plus rework if code violations are found) or hire a licensed contractor to bring the work up to code and then pull a permit. Lenders often require a retroactive permit before refinancing. The Coastal Commission will investigate if the work is in the coastal zone. Address unpermitted work promptly — waiting makes resale and refinancing harder.

Disclaimer: This guide is based on research conducted in May 2026 using publicly available sources. Always verify current bathroom remodel (full) permit requirements with the City of Lompoc Building Department before starting your project.

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