Not if you are swapping a vanity in place and reconnecting to the existing supply and drain — St. Petersburg exempts cabinetry, countertops, tiling and painting. You do need one if the plumbing moves, if electrical work is involved, or if you touch a load-bearing wall.
What is exempt
The City of St. Petersburg treats finish work as exempt. That covers cabinetry and vanities, countertops, tiling, painting, and replacing existing plumbing fixtures in their current location. Swapping a tired vanity for a new one of similar size, reconnecting to the same stops and the same drain, does not need a permit.
What is not
- Moving the plumbing — relocating or rearranging supply lines, valves, or drain
- Most electrical work, including adding an outlet or a new light circuit
- Water heater replacement
- Anything that touches a load-bearing wall
- Structural changes, window or door openings
The one that catches people out is electrical. A vanity swap that turns into "while we are here, let us add a proper outlet and a light above the mirror" has crossed the line, and that is a permitted job.
Why it is worth caring even on a small job
Unpermitted work does not usually cause a problem the day it is done. It causes a problem when you sell, when the buyer's inspector finds a bathroom that does not match the permit history, and the closing stalls while it gets sorted retroactively. Retroactive permitting is slower, more expensive, and sometimes involves opening finished walls.
It can also affect an insurance claim. If a water loss traces back to unpermitted plumbing work, the carrier has a clean reason to argue.
Rules vary by jurisdiction
This is St. Petersburg specifically. Clearwater, Largo, Pinellas Park and unincorporated Pinellas County each have their own building department and their own read on the exemptions. Before you start anything more than a like-for-like swap, call the building department for the city the property is actually in — not the mailing address, which is not always the same thing.
When we do a job that needs a permit, we pull it. It is in the quote, not a surprise line later.
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