Bathroom permits through City of Simi Valley Building and Safety
Simi Valley bathroom permits come from the City's Building and Safety Division. Review times by scope, FY 2024-25 fees, and who pulls the permit for you.
Yes, most bathroom remodels in Simi Valley need a building permit. If the work changes plumbing, wiring, ventilation, waterproofing or framing, the City expects to review it and inspect it before the walls close. Paint, a new mirror or swapping a towel bar does not.
The permit comes from the City of Simi Valley's Building and Safety Division, not from Ventura County, and it is applied for online. On a job with Aguila, we submit and manage it as part of the contract.
Which bathroom work needs a permit
The line is whether the work goes inside the wall or floor. When in doubt, ask Building and Safety at (805) 583-6723 before starting, not after.
- Tub or shower replacement, including a tub-to-shower conversion
- Moving or adding a toilet, sink or shower drain
- New circuits, lighting or an exhaust fan
- Removing or adding walls, widening a door, enlarging the room
- Replacing the subfloor or drain line under the bathroom
How the City's review clock works
Simi Valley publishes its review times on the online permit submittal page. The difference between a one-week review and a month of plan check is whether your project has a structural component.
| Project | Posted review time |
|---|---|
| Residential bathroom or kitchen remodel with no structural component | Up to one week |
| Projects that need plan review: initial counter review | Up to 5 to 10 business days |
| Projects that need plan review: plan check | 20 to 25 working days, each resubmittal the same |
| Permit issuance after approval and payment | Up to 3 business days |
| Certain plumbing repairs or alterations | Residential Plumbing Express Permit, auto-issued online |
What the permit costs in FY 2024-25
The City's schedule effective July 1, 2024 lists a $68.78 permit issuance charge, $171.24 for interior, non-structural single-family renovation with plumbing, mechanical and electrical work, and $75.78 for each inspection. Projects that need plan check add plan review fees. The City has adjusted fees for inflation every year, so current amounts may be a little higher than these.
Who pulls the permit
Every submittal needs one of two forms. A contractor pulling the permit fills out the City's Construction Permit Declaration. A homeowner pulling it as owner-builder fills out the Property Owner's Package and takes on responsibility for the work and the people doing it.
Applications go through the City's Customer Self Service online portal, and the City sends updates, invoices and plan check comments by email. With Aguila as your contractor, the permit is in the company's name and those emails come to us.
Questions homeowners ask
Do I need a permit for a bathroom remodel in Simi Valley?
If the work changes plumbing, electrical, ventilation, waterproofing or framing, yes. Cosmetic work such as painting or a new mirror does not. A non-structural bathroom remodel is reviewed by the City in up to one week.
The last owner remodeled the bathroom without a permit. What now?
Unpermitted work can be brought into the record, but the inspector has to see what is inside the walls, which may mean opening some of them. If you are planning a remodel anyway, folding that into a new permitted job is usually the cleanest route.
Can a handyman do my bathroom if it costs under $1,000?
Not if the work needs a permit. Since January 1, 2025, AB 2622 lets unlicensed people take jobs under $1,000, but only when no permit is required and they hire no one to help. CSLB's bulletin #24-07 says a license is required for permitted work even below $1,000.
Does the permit add much time?
For a non-structural bathroom, the City posts a review of up to one week, which usually overlaps with ordering tile and fixtures. Structural changes add the plan check timeline shown above.
Sources
Facts on this page last verified: .
- City of Simi Valley Building and Safety, Online Permit Submittal Instructions: https://www.simivalley.org/departments/environmental-services/building-safety-division/online-permit-submittal-instructions (2026-10-05)
- City of Simi Valley Summary of Service Charges, effective July 1, 2024 (Building and Safety appendices): https://simivalleylibrary.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/CityofSimiValley_FeeSchedule2025.pdf (2026-10-05)
- CSLB Industry Bulletin #24-07, December 31, 2024: minor work limit rises to $1,000 (AB 2622): https://www.cslb.ca.gov/Resources/IndustryBulletins/2024/AB%202622%20Implementation.FINAL.pdf (2026-10-05)
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