What needs no permit in DC
From DOB's How to Get a Permit page (read 24 October 2026), these need no building permit "unless in a historic district":
| No permit (outside historic districts) | Needs a permit |
|---|---|
| "Painting other than fire-retardant paint" | Removing or moving walls, structural work |
| "Papering, tiling, carpeting, floor covering, cabinets, countertops, and similar finish work" | "New plumbing fixtures" |
| Caulking, patching and plaster repair of non-rated assemblies | "New electric appliances", "Electric car charging equipment" |
| In-kind roofing, siding, gutters, patios, private sidewalks and driveways | "New and replacement HVAC equipment" |
| Up to 160 square feet of gypsum board, in kind | "New and replacement gas appliances" |
| Storm windows and window screens; brick pointing | More than in-kind exterior changes |
In a historic district, even the no-permit items can need review: DOB tells owners to check the property's status on PIVS and Scout. The Office of Planning's exempt-work list says interior alterations need no preservation review "except to specifically designated historic interiors", though they still need the building permit.
Instant permits an owner can get
DOB's instant permits are issued online, and the building ones "can be obtained by the property owner":
| Building instant permit | Limit |
|---|---|
| Interior demolition of non-structural elements | Up to 1,000 sq ft |
| Replacement of gypsum board, not in a rated assembly | Up to 800 sq ft |
| Windows and exterior doors replaced in kind | Up to 15 windows and 5 doors |
| Bathroom or kitchen exhaust fan replaced in kind | One |
| HVAC ductwork repaired or replaced | One system |
Fees "average $36.30". Beyond these, "a standard building permit is required", with plan review. The trade work in a remodel comes separately: the electrician, plumber and HVAC contractor each pull their own trade permit, because DOB says "Only licensed DC contractors for the specific trade may apply for these permits." The rules for each are in DC electrical, DC plumbing and DC HVAC permits.
How to apply
- Check historic status on PIVS and Scout.
- For one- and two-family projects, DOB points applicants to its Permit Wizard to find the permit type; instant permits are applied for, paid and issued online.
- A standard permit goes through plan review; trade permits are added as supplements by the licensed contractors.
- Schedule DOB inspections as the work reaches each stage, and the final once it is done.
What 9,349 DC remodel permits show
From Washington, DC remodel permits, October 2024 to September 2026:
| Measure | DC remodel and repair permits |
|---|---|
| Issued | 9,349 (10% of all DC permits) |
| Last 12 months / 12 months before | 4,895 / 4,454 (+10%) |
| Filed as Alteration and Repair / Building | 5,132 / 3,963 |
| Busiest / quietest month (index) | July (116) / January and February (77) |
| ZIPs with the most | 20011 (1,411), 20002 (1,336), 20019 (786) |
Filing runs above average from April to October and drops by about a quarter from November to February, so the winter months are when a permit counter, and a contractor's calendar, have the most room. 20011 and 20002 together hold 29% of the District's remodel permits. Additions are counted separately on DC addition permits; every kind of work is on DC permit statistics and the rows on browse DC permits.
Before you hire
Look up the house's permit history in Scout and eRecords with the Washington, DC building permit search guide. National rules: home remodel, kitchen remodel, bathroom remodel. Costs elsewhere: home remodel cost.
What this does not tell you
The District's file names no contractor and carries no declared job value, so there are no firm lists or costs. DOB seldom closes a permit's status and the file has no final dates, so we cannot say how long remodels take. A remodel's trade work is counted under electrical, plumbing and HVAC, not here.
How we know this
Rules are quoted from DOB's How to Get a Permit and Instant Permits pages and the Office of Planning's Work Exempt from Preservation Review page, read 24 October 2026. Our counts are DOB's building permit file on DC GIS, read 19 October 2026: alteration, repair and building permits grouped as remodels and repairs, issued October 2024 to September 2026.
Numbers come from public permit records in 57 cities, data through October 19, 2026. Nobody paid to be on this page and nobody can.
Questions
- Do I need a permit to redo a kitchen in Washington, DC?
New cabinets, countertops, tile and flooring need no permit outside a historic district. Moving plumbing, adding circuits or appliances, or taking out walls does. Non-structural interior demolition up to 1,000 square feet fits an owner instant permit.
- What can I do without a permit in DC?
DOB's list includes painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets and countertops, plaster repair, storm windows, and in-kind replacement of roofing, siding, gutters and up to 160 square feet of drywall, all only outside historic districts.
- Can a homeowner pull a remodel permit in DC?
Yes for building instant permits, which DOB says can be obtained by the property owner. The electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits that go with a remodel must be pulled by DC licensed trade contractors.
- Does a historic district change the rules in DC?
Yes. DOB's no-permit list applies only outside historic districts. The Office of Planning says interior alterations generally need no preservation review, except in specifically designated historic interiors, but they still need a building permit.
- When are DC remodel permits busiest?
July, at 116 against an average month of 100; January and February are the quietest at 77. DOB issued 9,349 remodel and repair permits from October 2024 to September 2026.
Build your own list
Pick your city and the kind of work. Every firm with a permit on record, sorted by what you value.
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