Los Angeles does not care that you bought nice tile. It cares if you moved the shower, opened the pan, or relocated a drain. Those are plumbing and waterproofing. Those get a permit.
A like-for-like fixture swap in the same rough-in is a different conversation than a primary bath that grows a linear drain and a niche.
Why we permit the ones that should be
Unpermitted wet work is a gift to the next buyer’s inspector and a problem for your insurance. We would rather walk the job with the city than explain a pan failure in year six.
If the layout stays and the trap stays, we will say so. If it does not, we will write it into the scope before anyone orders stone.
Written for homeowners in San Fernando Valley. CSLB #1120118.
