Bathroom Remodel Denver: $5,563 to $16,872 + Permits (2026)

Denver rows are Angi's local figures; national rows are labeled. Permit fees are extra.

Do you need a permit for a bathroom remodel in Denver?

Most Denver bathroom remodels that touch plumbing, wiring or walls need a permit from Community Planning and Development (CPD). Owners of a single-family home can pull the permit themselves, but Denver requires them to pass an exam before doing their own electrical, plumbing or mechanical work; a state license can stand in for the electrical or plumbing exam. No exam is needed for general construction such as framing or drywall. The owner must be the legal owner, live in the home, and stay at least one year after the work is done.

That homeowner route is closed for condos, townhomes, duplexes and accessory dwelling units, even the unit you live in, and for homes held by a trust or LLC. In those cases a Denver-licensed contractor pulls the permit. If the house is a landmark or sits in a historic district, CPD needs a Certificate of Appropriateness unless the project is a minor interior remodel with no exterior changes, so a new bathroom window on a historic house goes through review.

Contractor licenses in Denver

Denver licenses contractors on top of Colorado's state licenses, so a remodeler who pulls permits in the city needs a Denver contractor license. Ask for the license number and confirm it with CPD Contractor Licensing at 720-865-2770. Plumbers and electricians also hold Colorado licenses. Ask for proof of insurance too; a license record does not show it. Typical rates for the trades: plumber in Denver and electrician in Denver.

Older Denver homes: lead paint and old pipes

The median Denver home was built in 1975, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 survey, so many bathrooms predate 1978. Under EPA's lead rule, a company paid to disturb painted surfaces in a pre-1978 home must be EPA- or state-certified for lead-safe work. Ask to see the firm's certification before demolition starts. Older bathrooms also hide surprises behind the tile, and HomeGuide advises holding 10% to 20% of the budget in reserve.

Denver Water toilet rebate

Denver Water offers up to a $100 rebate on a WaterSense-labeled toilet for customers who get a water bill from Denver Water or one of its qualifying providers. The rebate page does not list a deadline, so call Customer Care at 303-893-2444 or check the toilet rebate page before you buy. Pick the WaterSense model before the plumber orders fixtures, since the label is what qualifies.

Permit, license, rebate and housing facts for Denver, from official city, state, utility and Census pages.

Kitchen remodel in Denver: what to budget

A kitchen remodel costs $14,591 to $41,617 in HomeAdvisor's 2026 national data, with an average of $26,990; we found no Denver kitchen figure. The Denver permit and exam rules above apply the same way to a kitchen. Angi puts the return on a Denver bathroom remodel at 34% to 60% of its cost at resale, so a bathroom is usually the smaller and safer of the two projects. National breakdowns: bathroom remodel cost and kitchen remodel cost.

Questions to ask a Denver remodeler before you sign

1. What is your Denver contractor license number, and who pulls the CPD permit?
2. Is the price fixed or time and materials? Angi lists Denver pros at $50 to $150 an hour.
3. Is your firm EPA lead-safe certified if my house was built before 1978?
4. Which fixtures are included, and is the toilet WaterSense-labeled for the Denver Water rebate?
5. How long will the bathroom be out of service, and what is the payment schedule?

More Denver home repair guides

Plumbing and water heaters: plumber in Denver and water heater repair in Denver. Leaks and mold behind old tile: water damage restoration in Denver and mold removal in Denver. Other cities: bathroom remodel in Salt Lake City and bathroom remodel in Portland. National: bathroom remodel cost. Calls go to an independent company that serves your area and takes this kind of job (how calls work).