Do I need a building permit for bathroom remodel in Madison Heights, MI?

Most bathroom remodel projects in Madison Heights require a building permit. Use the 60-second project quiz on this page for an exact answer based on your address and project scope, plus the local fee, timeline, and forms.

How much does a bathroom remodel permit cost in Madison Heights, MI?

Bathroom Remodel permit fees in Madison Heights typically run $100-$800 for residential projects, depending on valuation and trade subpermits. The project quiz on this page returns a fee estimate specific to your project.

How long does bathroom remodel permit review take in Madison Heights, MI?

Plan review in Madison Heights typically clears in 2-4 weeks for standard bathroom remodel projects. Use the project quiz on this page for the exact review window for your address.

Bathroom Remodel Permit in Madison Heights, MI (2026)

Research by DoINeedAPermit Research Team · Updated May 2026

The Short Answer

A full bathroom remodel in Madison Heights requires a permit if you're relocating plumbing fixtures, adding electrical circuits, installing a new exhaust fan, converting a tub to shower, or moving any walls. Surface-only work—tile, vanity, or faucet replacement in place—does not require a permit.

Madison Heights Building Department enforces the Michigan Building Code (2015 edition with 2018 amendments), which aligns with the IRC but includes local amendments that affect bathroom work. The city's key distinction: they require a pre-permit site inspection for any bathroom involving plumbing relocation or new electrical circuits, adding 5-7 days to your timeline before plan review even starts. Unlike some neighboring communities (Berkley, Royal Oak) that allow limited plumbing work by owner-builders on one family-per-two-year basis, Madison Heights restricts owner-builder plumbing to the homeowner only—no contractor supervision allowed—and only for the primary residence. This matters if you're thinking of hiring a plumber to 'advise' while you do the work; the city will catch the permit violation during rough-in inspection. The city's online permit portal (through their website) requires you to upload a floor plan showing fixture locations before submitting; this is enforced strictly and missing it causes automatic rejection. Exhaust fan duct termination drawings and GFCI/AFCI circuit diagrams must be included in your electrical submission or your plan will be returned incomplete. Permits cost $275–$525 depending on valuation (typically 1.5-2% of project cost for remodels), plus separate plumbing and electrical permit fees ($125 each if hired licensed contractors). Timeline: 2-4 weeks plan review, then rough inspections staggered over 1-2 weeks, final within 5 days of completion.

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

Stop-work orders carry a $250–$500 fine in Madison Heights; if you continue work after notice, fines escalate to $1,000 per day and the city can force removal of unpermitted work at your cost (average $3,000–$8,000 for bathroom rip-out and redo).
Homeowner's insurance will deny water-damage claims if the bathroom work was unpermitted and a leak occurs (common in new drain runs or tub-to-shower conversions without proper waterproofing inspection).
When you sell, Michigan's Transfer Disclosure Statement requires you to disclose unpermitted work; buyers often demand a $10,000–$25,000 price reduction or require you to pull retroactive permits (which involve expensive inspections and possible code corrections).
Lenders and title companies will block refinance if unpermitted bathroom work is discovered during appraisal; Madison Heights code enforcement is active on pre-sale inspections in this area.

Madison Heights bathroom remodel permits—the key details

Madison Heights Building Department enforces the 2015 Michigan Building Code with local amendments adopted in 2018. The single biggest trigger for permit requirement is any movement of plumbing fixtures—sink, toilet, or tub/shower—from their current location. Even moving a toilet 12 inches requires a new permit because the drain trap arm length must comply with IRC P3005 (trap arm cannot exceed 3 feet 6 inches horizontal run without a vent extension), and the city requires plan certification. If you're keeping a toilet, sink, and tub in their exact original locations and only replacing surface materials (tile, vanity surround, faucet hardware), you do not need a permit. The second major trigger is any new electrical work: adding circuits, relocating outlets, or installing a new exhaust fan qualifies. The city requires GFCI protection for all bathroom receptacles per NEC 210.8(A)(1); if your existing bathroom has outlets without GFCI, they must be upgraded during a full remodel. If you're adding a new exhaust fan, IRC M1505.2 requires a minimum 50 CFM capacity (or 20% of the bathroom's air changes per hour, whichever is greater) and the duct must terminate to the outside—not into the attic or soffit. Madison Heights inspectors will reject any plan showing an attic termination. The third trigger is a tub-to-shower conversion or vice versa, because it involves a change to the waterproofing assembly. IRC R702.4.2 requires a waterproof backing system: either gypsum board + membrane, cement board + membrane, or tile backer board + membrane. The city's plan review step requires you to specify the exact product (e.g., Schluter Kerdi Board or analogous) and show the membrane installation detail on your plan submission. Many homeowners skip this detail and get an automatic rejection.

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City of Madison Heights Building Department
Contact city hall, Madison Heights, MI
Phone: Search 'Madison Heights MI building permit phone' to confirm
Typical: Mon-Fri 8 AM - 5 PM (verify locally)

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 Madison Heights Building Department before starting your project.

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Do I need a permit for a full bathroom remodel in
Madison Heights, Michigan?

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

Madison Heights bathroom remodel permits—the key details

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