What a plumber does when a toilet won't flush or keeps running
A toilet that won't flush is blocked or short of water. The plumber clears the trap with an auger made for toilets, which won't scratch the porcelain, or finds out why the tank isn't refilling.
Constant running points to the flapper, the fill valve or the float inside the tank. Water at the base means the wax ring or the flange, and the toilet has to come up to reach them.
Does the tub or a floor drain fill when the toilet flushes? Then the stoppage is past the toilet, in the line covered on the drain cleaning page.
What a toilet repair costs in California
A toilet repair comes to $120 to $335 per repair on our model. It's an estimate, not a quote, from 2 national published ranges scaled for California pay. A new toilet isn't in it. The permit row is there for a city that charges one on a fixture swap.
| Item | Figure | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Estimated range, not a quote | $120 to $335 per repair | Built from 2 national published ranges, adjusted by the California plumber wage ratio (1.14). California company prices are shown separately. Basis: no state company sample (no counted California company price for this job), national estimate only. |
| Plumber wage, California mean | $39.58 an hour | Mean wage paid to California plumbers per hour (BLS, May 2025), which is a different number from what a repair visit is billed at. |
| Plumbing permit, California middle of published fees | $190 | The midpoint of plumbing permit totals printed by California cities. Check your own city's schedule. |
Estimated range. Built from national published ranges (2 sources), adjusted by California's plumber wage ratio to the US (1.14, BLS May 2025), plus the local permit fee where the city publishes one. Not a quote. California plumbing companies that publish a price get their own rows, apart from the estimate. We have no counted California company price for this job, so the range is our national estimate alone. Full method. Prices as of Oct 23, 2026.
Does the toilet need parts, or replacing?
A crack in the bowl or tank can't be repaired. Most other faults can.
- One part inside the tank has worn out.
- Nothing is cracked, and the problem is a clog or a seal that's worn.
- There's a crack in the bowl or the tank.
- Repair bills on the same toilet keep coming.
What California says about toilet work and permits
Under CSLB's permit rule, a repair or alteration to a structure needs the building official's permit, and code requirements change from city to city. CSLB's pages don't list toilet work on its own, so ask your city whether a like-for-like swap is treated differently from moving the toilet.
The license law doesn't reach a job under $1,000 in total that needs no building permit (B&P 7048). Past that, or with a permit, the company must hold a CSLB license, which you can look up by number.
Toilet trouble that can't wait
- The bowl is overflowing and turning the valve at the wall doesn't stop it.
- Sewage comes up in several drains together, which points to the main line.
- A leak is soaking the ceiling below or getting near anything electrical.
- Constant running between flushes, with the floor staying dry.
- A weak flush that a plunger sorts out.
- A seat or base that rocks, with no water on the floor.
What to try before you call a plumber
- Turn the small valve at the wall clockwise to shut the supply, or lift the float in the tank.
- Work a flange plunger slowly, and don't flush again until it's cleared.
- Listen for a gurgle from the tub or a floor drain; if you hear one, stop and call.
- Photograph the base and the floor around it for the plumber.
Does toilet work need a permit?
A new or moved fixture is the work to ask the building official about. Bring the address and say whether the toilet stays in the same spot.
Fees vary by city. The middle of the published plumbing permit totals is $190, so use your own city's schedule for the budget.
Ask for the license number before any work starts and look it up on CSLB's Check a License page, which shows whether the license is active and any complaint disclosure.
Questions people ask
How much is a toilet repair in California?
Our model gives $120 to $335 per repair, as an estimate and not a quote. A new toilet is priced on its own, so ask the plumber whether a permit fee would be added.
Can I clear a clogged toilet myself?
Plunge slowly with a flange plunger. A gurgle from the tub or a floor drain means the blockage is past the toilet, where a plunger won't reach.
Do I need a permit to put in a new toilet in California?
CSLB says code requirements vary by city and county, so the building official for your address is the one who can answer for a swap or a move.
Where do I look up a plumber's license number?
Search it by license number, business name or personnel name on CSLB's Check a License page, and the result shows status and complaint disclosure. B&P 7030.5 puts the number on contracts, bids and advertising, so ask for it when you phone.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025: Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (SOC 47-2152), California, mean hourly wage Read Oct 23, 2026.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025: Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (SOC 47-2152), United States, mean hourly wage Read Oct 23, 2026.
- PlumberMatch: how we estimate costs, California (editorial policy) Read Oct 23, 2026.
- CSLB: Do I need a building permit for my project? Read Oct 20, 2026.
- Business and Professions Code 7048 Read Oct 20, 2026.
- CSLB: Check A License Read Oct 20, 2026.
- Business and Professions Code 7030.5 Read Oct 20, 2026.