Bathroom Remodeling in Erie, CO

Bathroom remodeling in Erie depends on one early question: are the fixtures staying where they are, or moving? The Town of Erie has written that distinction into its own version of the residential code, and it decides whether a bathroom project needs a permit at all. Our crew plans Erie bathrooms around that line, along with the Town’s plumbing test rules, its submittal requirements for specialty fixtures, and its licensing system.

Same-Location Swaps Versus Permit Work

Erie’s local amendments to the International Residential Code exempt the reinstallation or replacement of sinks, faucets, and water closets in the same location. The Town’s permit guide says the same thing in broader terms: plumbing fixture replacement in the same location, light fixture replacement in the same location, floor coverings, paint, and wallpaper do not need a permit.

The picture changes once anything moves. Erie lists plumbing work, electrical work, mechanical modifications, structural changes, window additions or modifications, and remodeling in general as permit work. Relocating a toilet, converting a tub to a walk-in shower with a new drain, adding a second sink, or adding a new fan circuit all fall on that side of the line.

We decide early which side of the line a bathroom sits on. Some owners are happy with a fixture-for-fixture update that keeps the layout. Others want a new layout, and that means a permit application with current and proposed floor plans drawn to scale.

How Erie Tests Bathroom Plumbing

Erie has tightened several plumbing rules in its code amendments. Drain, waste, and vent systems must be tested when rough piping is complete, by water or by air without evidence of leakage. An accessible cleanout must be provided near the base of each vertical waste or soil stack. Where the water service enters the home, a pressure-reducing valve must hold the domestic supply to 80 psi static or less.

These rules show up during a bathroom remodel in practical ways. When we open a wall and re-route drains for a new shower location, the new piping is tested before anything is closed in. If the stack serving the bathroom lacks an accessible cleanout, we plan for one. And when a new shower valve or body sprays are part of the plan, the supply pressure matters for the fixtures and for code.

We build the test into the schedule so the rough plumbing is ready for inspection at the same time as the other rough-ins, which is how Erie runs its inspections.

Steam Showers and Specialty Fixtures

Erie’s Residential Remodel submittal specifically calls out steam shower generators. The Town asks for the installation manual for fireplaces or appliances like steam generators, showing the required clearances. That document goes in with the application, not at inspection time.

A steam shower also changes the rest of the bathroom plan. The enclosure, the ceiling, the door, the generator location, and the electrical supply all have to follow the manufacturer’s instructions, and the inspector will compare the installation to that manual. Heated floors, towel warmers, and other powered fixtures add circuits that fall under the Town’s electrical rules.

We collect manuals for every specialty fixture during selection, before the permit application is filed. That keeps plan review from stalling while someone searches for a spec sheet.

Walls, Windows, and Structure

Bathroom remodels often grow into the space next door, such as a linen closet or part of a bedroom. If that means removing a wall, Erie asks for an engineer-stamped drawing or letter confirming the wall is not load-bearing, or acceptable photographic evidence. Removing interior walls or relocating supports that do carry load requires engineering.

Windows are another common change. Adding or modifying a window is permit work in Erie, and new exterior openings require engineering and may require a site or plot plan. A larger window over a tub or a new window in a windowless bath is possible, but it moves the project into structural review.

We look at framing and window placement during the first walk-through, so any engineering request is made before the drawings are complete rather than after plan review comments come back.

Fans, Circuits, and the 2026 Electrical Code

Erie adopted the 2026 National Electrical Code effective April 24, 2026. Bathroom receptacle protection, fan circuits, and similar details follow that adopted code and the 2021 International Residential Code, since Erie does not publish a separate bathroom wiring guide. Erie’s own amendments still apply on top: general-purpose outlets are limited to 8 on a 15-amp circuit and 10 on a 20-amp circuit, and every junction box cover must be labeled with its panel and circuit number.

Exhaust fan sizing and ducting follow the adopted mechanical provisions. Because Erie’s code editions changed in 2026, we confirm current requirements with the Building Division rather than relying on an older handout or a prior project.

When laundry is folded into a bathroom remodel, one more Erie amendment applies. The Town changed a clothes dryer exhaust provision in the code from 12 feet to 8 feet, so dryer venting gets checked as part of the layout.

Licensing, Homeowner Affidavits, and Review

Erie requires a contractor license for anyone doing construction, alteration, remodeling, or repair work on buildings in town. Plumbing and electrical contractors must provide current State of Colorado master and contractor licenses, and general contractors in Classes A, B, and C have had to show proof of a passed ICC exam since January 1, 2025. Homeowners working on the home they own and occupy as their primary residence are exempt from licensing but must complete a homeowner affidavit.

Erie estimates 3 to 4 weeks for basic residential plan review, which includes remodels. Inspections cover underground plumbing where needed, rough electric, rough plumbing, rough mechanical, rough framing, insulation, the matching finals, and a final building inspection. All roughs are done together and all finals are done together, scheduled in sequence.

The code also requires work to stay accessible and exposed until it is approved, and the Town is not responsible for the cost of removing material to allow inspection. Tile does not go over a wall that has not passed.

How We Sequence an Erie Bathroom Remodel

We begin by deciding whether fixtures stay in place or move, since that decides the permit question in Erie. For permitted work, we draw current and proposed floor plans, confirm any wall or window changes with engineering, collect manuals for steam generators and other specialty fixtures, and plan circuits against Erie’s limits.

Once the permit is issued, we demolish, frame, and rough in plumbing, electrical, and ventilation, then run the drain test and call for the combined rough inspection. Insulation, backer board, and waterproofing follow approval. Tile, fixtures, glass, and trim come next, and the job closes with the combined final inspections.

Common Questions

Do I need a permit to replace a toilet or vanity in Erie?
Not if it stays in the same location. Erie’s code amendments exempt reinstalling or replacing sinks, faucets, and water closets in the same location. Moving fixtures or adding plumbing is permit work.

Does Erie need anything special for a steam shower?
Yes. The Residential Remodel submittal asks for the installation manual for appliances like steam shower generators, showing the required clearances.

How is new bathroom drain piping tested in Erie?
Erie’s amendment requires drain, waste, and vent systems to be tested when rough piping is complete, by water or by air, without evidence of leakage.

Can I do my own bathroom remodel in Erie?
Homeowners working on the home they own and occupy as a primary residence are exempt from contractor licensing, but they must complete a homeowner affidavit with the permit application.

Talk to Us About Your Project

Tell us what you want to change in your bathroom, especially fixture locations, walls, windows, showers, and fans. We sort out whether the project needs an Erie permit, prepare the drawings and manuals, coordinate licensed trades, and schedule the inspections through closeout.