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Grab Bars & Towel Bars: Studs, Tile, Block Wall Anchors

Updated 2026-10-31 · Sources verified 2026-07-20

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A grab bar is only as good as what it is screwed to. Permit in Orange County: no permit needed. Exempt finish work under FBC 105.2 and Orange County's published list — but exempt work must still comply with the Florida Building Code. The full rule and its official source are below, with the code requirements and mistakes that trip up Orlando homeowners.

Key facts before you start

A grab bar is only as good as what it is screwed to. Moen: 'screws must be mounted into a wood stud for secure installation' and 'BOTH ends of the grab bar must be positioned over a wood stud'; Delta: 'at least one end of Grab Bar MUST be positioned over a wall stud' and 'Two (2) of three (3) screws MUST be mounted into stud'; Kohler: the wall plates 'must be mounted to a brace between two wall studs'. 'Studs are usually 16 in apart; locate the center of each stud' (Moen). The ratings assume that: Moen's bars are 'Tested to 500 lbs. pull' and Delta's 'up to 500 pounds' into studs. 'NEVER use Assist Bars if any looseness is noted' (Delta).
Fitting a bar to 16-inch studs: a 16 in or 32 in bar lands on two studs horizontally; 'Diagonal/angled installation is possible only with grab bars 24 in or longer' (Moen), and Delta allows 'Diagonal, horizontal, and vertical'. The ADA reference most installers use: horizontal bars '33 inches minimum and 36 inches maximum above the finish floor measured to the top of the gripping surface', '1-1/2 inches' off the wall ('an absolute dimension to prevent entrapment', U.S. Access Board), and able to take 'a vertical or horizontal force of 250 pounds ... at any point'. By the toilet: a side bar '42 inches long minimum ... extending 54 inches minimum from the rear wall', a rear bar '36 inches long minimum' (ADA 604.5).
No stud where you need one: use the bar maker's hollow-wall anchor, not a plastic plug. Moen SecureMount: a '1-1/4 in Hole Saw (carbide tipped hole saw for tile)', 'Requires a 3-1/2 in space behind the wall', works in '1/2 in or 5/8 in Dry Wall with Tile' and tub surrounds, 'UP indicator must always point up', and the bar is then 'FOR USE ONLY BY PERSONS WEIGHING NO MORE THAN 300 POUNDS'. Delta's anchor: a 1 in hole, and 'DO NOT install supplied wall anchors into wallboard less than 1/2 in or greater than 2-1/2 in thick', 'into wallboard that has been subjected to water damage or decay', or 'into a wood stud'. A generic toggle 'may cause weight limit not to be in compliance with ADA recommendations' (Arista). Wood blocking 'is preferable behind all wall surfaces' (Moen, Delta).
Drilling tile: tape the spot, 'try to locate screw hole(s) on grout line' where you can (Arista), then 'Drill pilot holes through the tiles by using a 1/4-inch carbide tip drill bit. Once a hole has been drilled through the ceramic tiles, use the 7/64-inch drill bit to drill a pilot hole in the wood wall stud itself' (Delta; Moen uses a 1/8 in pilot). Rotary mode only, slow, let the bit do the work. Then seal: 'apply a bead of silicone sealant on back of mounting flange before inserting and tightening screws, to help prevent water damage' (Delta), or fill gaps on an uneven wall with silicone (Moen).
Orlando block walls: the bathroom's exterior wall is concrete block behind furring and drywall, so there is no stud there. Into block, use Tapcon-type masonry screws: '3/16 in anchors require 5/32 in diameter bits, and 1/4 in anchors require 3/16 in diameter bits', 'Drill hole minimum 1/4 in deeper than Tapcon Anchor to be embedded. Minimum anchor embedment: 1 in', 'Clean hole with pressurized air or vacuum', and 'Using the wrong size drill bit will affect performance values and may cause failure' (ITW Red Head). Rated pullout in hollow block is '340 lbs' for 3/16 in and '500 lbs' for 1/4 in at 1 in embedment, with a '4:1' safety factor for the working load. A furring gap over 1-1/2 in needs a longer anchor or blocking.
Hollow drywall for a towel bar or paper holder: the kit anchors are drywall-only ('Directions below are for installation into drywall. If installing product into a stud, use the wood screws only', Moen), set with a template and a level, '5/16 in' holes, 'Lightly tap anchors until flush with the wall', then the post 'over the mounting plates with setscrew facing down'. For a bar that will be pulled on, step up to a SNAPTOGGLE: it 'supports up to 238 lbs. in 1/2 in drywall', needs 'only 1-7/8 in' behind the wall, and 'Industry safety standards recommend 1/4 of that ultimate load' (TOGGLER). Masonry kits (Moen Zarina) use '1/4 in' pilot holes and concrete anchors.
Layout numbers that keep things from looking wrong: Delta's concealed-screw posts mount at '17-3/4 in c-c' for an 18 in bar, '23-3/4 in' for 24 in, '29-3/4 in' for 30 in and '5-3/4 in' for the paper holder; the ADA paper-dispenser reference is '7 inches minimum and 9 inches maximum in front of the water closet' with the outlet '15 inches minimum and 48 inches maximum above the finish floor' and 'not ... behind grab bars'. A hand grip by the tub: 'To support 250 lbs, you need a minimum of 2 screws per post to be in a stud' and 'CHECK HAND GRIP PERIODICALLY ... TO BE SURE ALL SCREWS ARE SECURELY FASTENED' (Moen).
A towel bar that pulled out took the drywall anchor's cone of paper with it. Fill the hole (see the drywall repair guide), then move the mount to a stud or a toggle; re-using the same crumbled hole with a bigger plastic anchor fails again. 'NEVER INSTALL ANY FASTENER INTO WET OR DETERIORATING WALLS!' (WingIts). A bar with 'Integrated accessories' like a built-in paper holder is 'not designed to support weight leverage' (Moen).
Permit: none. Bath accessories are finish work in the same class as Orange County's no-permit list (paint, flooring, same-location cabinets); nothing touches plumbing, wiring or framing. Adding blocking inside an open wall during a remodel is the time to plan grab bars, and the ADA's residential rule says as much: bars are not required 'provided that reinforcement has been installed in walls'.

The permit answer

No permit needed. Exempt finish work under FBC 105.2 and Orange County's published list — but exempt work must still comply with the Florida Building Code.
Source: https://codes.iccsafe.org/s/FLBC2023P1/chapter-1-scope-and-administration/FLBC2023P1-Ch01-SubCh02-Sec105.2

Orange County and the City of Orlando run separate permit offices with separate portals — and your mailing address alone doesn't tell you which one covers your home. Check which permit office covers your address →

Manufacturer instructions

The manufacturers' own instructions this guide is built from. Follow the manual for your exact model; they open on the manufacturer's site.

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Frequently asked questions

Do I need a permit for a grab bars, towel bars & TP holders repair in Orange County, FL?

No permit needed. Exempt finish work under FBC 105.2 and Orange County's published list — but exempt work must still comply with the Florida Building Code.

Are there specific building-code requirements for a grab bars, towel bars & TP holders repair?

Permit: none. Bath accessories are finish work in the same class as Orange County's no-permit list (paint, flooring, same-location cabinets); nothing touches plumbing, wiring or framing.

What tools or parts do I need to get right for a grab bars, towel bars & TP holders repair?

Drilling tile: tape the spot, 'try to locate screw hole(s) on grout line' where you can (Arista), then 'Drill pilot holes through the tiles by using a 1/4-inch carbide tip drill bit. (Moen)

Looking for a different repair?

Sources

https://www.access-board.gov/files/ada/ADA-Standards.pdf
https://www.access-board.gov/ada/guides/chapter-6-toilet-rooms/
https://assets.moen.com/shared/docs/instruction-sheets/ins10349.pdf
https://images.homedepot-static.com/catalog/pdfImages/8d/8d06e072-6494-426a-84cd-b950a2c87e3b.pdf
https://assets.moen.com/shared/docs/instruction-sheets/ins2270.pdf
https://assets.moen.com/shared/docs/instruction-sheets/ins10306a.pdf
https://pdf.lowes.com/productdocuments/98ef8d26-2096-4137-b9db-3e763485791d/44331352.pdf
https://res.cloudinary.com/wholesale-plumbing/image/upload/Documents1/DELTA_40124-SS_Installation_Manual.pdf
https://media.deltafaucet.com/MandI/CP11627.pdf
https://resources.kohler.com/webassets/kpna/catalog/pdf/en/K-10547_spec_US-CA_Kohler_en.pdf
https://images.homedepot-static.com/catalog/pdfImages/0f/0f8b8882-3945-45f7-8864-5535cbac784f.pdf
https://images.thdstatic.com/catalog/pdfImages/45/45ffdc52-c47b-4fd9-95ec-90fb438802f7.pdf
https://toggler.com/snaptoggle-heavy-duty-toggle-bolt-carbon-steel/
https://toggler.com/frequently-asked-questions/
https://www.buildsite.com/pdf/itwredhead/Tapcon-Anchors-Product-Data-1532033.pdf
https://pdf.lowes.com/useandcareguides/092097243354_use.pdf
https://www.buildsite.com/pdf/itwredhead/Tapcon-Anchors-Installation-Instructions-2088905.pdf
https://assets.moen.com/shared/docs/instruction-sheets/ins10913.pdf
https://assets.moen.com/shared/docs/instruction-sheets/ins10575.pdf
https://images.homedepot-static.com/catalog/pdfImages/ce/cec9798b-049e-4544-8a60-0e883fe7d753.pdf
https://engageorange.ocfl.net/fast-track-permitting-services/faqs

This guide is general informational content, not professional or legal advice. Codes and county rules change — confirm permit requirements with your local building department, and use a licensed professional for electrical, gas, structural, or main-line plumbing work.