Updated July 12, 2026 · 6 min read
Camas sits in Clark County, but as an incorporated city it runs its own permitting through the City of Camas Community Development Building Division rather than through the county. Whether your bathroom remodel needs a permit depends less on the size of the job and more on exactly what you're changing behind the walls.
Below is what the City of Camas's own Building Division publishes, so you know what to expect before your remodel starts.
Key takeaways
- Cosmetic bathroom updates (paint, flooring, like-for-like fixture swaps) generally do not need a permit in Camas.
- Moving plumbing, adding or rewiring electrical, mechanical/ventilation work, or altering structural walls does require a permit from the City of Camas Building Division.
- Camas administers permits under the Washington State Building Code (2021 International Building/Residential Code family, effective March 15, 2024) through its own online permitting system — separate from Clark County.
- Construction work is only allowed Monday–Saturday within city-set hours; no construction is permitted on Sundays.
- Camas Bath pulls and manages the required permits and inspections as part of the project.
When does a Camas bathroom remodel need a permit?
The City of Camas Building Division reviews and permits work that affects a structure or its plumbing, electrical, and mechanical systems. Purely cosmetic interior work — painting, new flooring, swapping cabinet fronts, a like-for-like fixture replacement — generally falls outside that scope. What consistently requires a permit is anything that touches the systems behind the walls: relocating or adding plumbing fixtures, adding or rewiring electrical circuits, mechanical or ventilation changes, and any alteration to a structural wall.
All construction work in Camas has to conform to the Washington State Building Code — the state-adopted 2021 International Building Code and Uniform Plumbing Code family, in effect since March 15, 2024 — which the city administers locally through its own review and inspection process.
The practical rule of thumb
A like-for-like bathroom refresh — new tile, a new vanity in the same footprint, a new toilet in the same spot — tends to sit on the cosmetic side of that line. Moving a shower, relocating a sink or toilet, or adding new circuits for a heated floor or upgraded lighting is the side that needs a permit.
How the application and inspection process works
Camas accepts permit applications through its online system — homeowners and contractors apply, track review status, request inspections, and manage resubmittals through the same portal. The Building Division functions as a single point of contact for construction questions, from initial submission through final sign-off.
Anyone performing plumbing, electrical, or general contracting work other than the homeowner on their own primary residence must be registered with Washington's Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) — the state's contractor registration system, which requires a surety bond and liability insurance. Confirm any contractor's registration status through L&I's public license lookup before work begins.
Fees, timeline, and construction hours
Camas prices most permits on the value of the work, and the city publishes a fee schedule alongside its Impact & System Development Charge (SDC) schedule for larger projects. A straightforward bathroom remodel permit is a modest line item compared to the fees for new construction or additions; plan review adds time on top of the permit fee itself.
The city also regulates when construction noise is allowed: Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturday 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., with no construction work permitted on Sundays. That schedule is worth knowing if you're planning around a remodel timeline.
Clark County note
Camas is located in Clark County, but because it's an incorporated city, it administers its own permits through the City of Camas Building Division rather than through the county directly. If your project is inside Camas city limits, the city — not Clark County — is the correct point of contact.
How Camas Bath handles this
Bathroom remodels that move plumbing or electrical typically require permits, and as part of a Camas Bath project we pull and manage the required permits and inspections with the City of Camas — so you don't have to navigate the city's permitting portal or track down inspection windows mid-project.
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need a permit to remodel my bathroom in Camas, WA?
- It depends on the scope. Cosmetic work like new tile, paint, or a like-for-like vanity swap generally doesn't require a permit in Camas. Relocating plumbing fixtures, adding or rewiring electrical, mechanical/ventilation changes, or altering structural walls does require a permit from the City of Camas Building Division.
- Who applies for the permit — me or my contractor?
- Either can apply through the city's online permitting portal, but the work itself must be done by whoever is legally allowed to perform it — anyone other than the homeowner working on their own primary residence must be a Washington L&I-registered contractor. Camas Bath pulls and manages the required permits and inspections as part of the project.
- Does Clark County or the City of Camas issue bathroom remodel permits?
- Camas is in Clark County, but because it's an incorporated city, the City of Camas Community Development Building Division issues and manages permits for work inside city limits — not Clark County directly.
Sources
- City of Camas — Building Division
- City of Camas — Community Development Forms
- City of Camas — Permits and Licensing
- Washington State Building Code Council — Residential Code Amendments
- Washington L&I — Register as a Contractor
Claims and figures are drawn from the sources above and provided for general guidance; your project may vary. Photography is illustrative of design concepts. For a fixed price on your specific bathroom, request a free estimate.
