Bathroom Remodel Houston: $6,899 to $18,688 + Permits (2026)

Houston rows are Angi's local figures and the City's permit fee; the kitchen row is national.

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

Houston requires a plumbing permit when a remodel adds, moves or replaces piping, and the Permitting Center's Plumbing Inspections Section runs the rough and final inspections that go with it. A contractor's permit is pulled by a master plumber registered with the City of Houston; holding a Texas license is not enough on its own, because the City keeps its own registration. Call Plumbing Inspections at 832-394-8870 with questions about your job.

Doing the plumbing yourself in Houston

Texas lets an owner do plumbing in his or her own homestead without a state license (Occupations Code 1301.051), and Houston has a homeowner plumbing permit to match. Form CE-1284, revised January 2026, requires the applicant to live in the single-family home as a homestead; the City checks ID and property records against the Harris Central Appraisal District. There is no exam. The minimum fee is $97.56 plus a $33.56 admin fee, $131.12 in all, and a failed inspection costs $94.00 to re-inspect. A rental or a house you have not homesteaded does not qualify.

Licenses to check before you hire

Look up the plumber on the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (TSBPE) public license search, which shows status, expiration and any disciplinary action, and ask which master plumber's City registration the permit will go under. Ask for proof of insurance too. Rates and permit details: plumber in Houston and electrician in Houston.

Houston homes and older bathrooms

The median Houston home was built in 1982, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 survey, so the city has a large stock of homes on either side of the 1978 cutoff in EPA's lead rule. If your house is older than 1978, a firm paid to disturb paint must be EPA- or state-certified for lead-safe work. Angi describes Houston as one of the more affordable large metros for remodeling, with a housing mix that runs from modern builds to historic homes.

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

Kitchen remodel in Houston

We found no Houston kitchen figure; HomeAdvisor's 2026 national range is $14,591 to $41,617, with an average of $26,990. The same City rules apply: a moved sink or new gas line for a range needs a permit and a registered plumber or a homestead owner's permit. National detail: kitchen remodel cost and bathroom remodel cost.

Questions to ask a Houston remodeler

1. Which master plumber's City of Houston registration will the permit use?
2. What is the plumber's TSBPE license number?
3. Is the quote fixed, or billed by the hour? Angi lists Houston remodelers at $50 to $150 an hour.
4. Is your firm lead-safe certified if the house was built before 1978?
5. Who schedules the rough and final inspections?

More Houston home repair guides

Plumbing and water heaters: plumber in Houston and water heater repair in Houston. Water and mold behind old tile: water damage restoration in Houston and mold removal in Houston. Other cities: bathroom remodel in Dallas and bathroom remodel in San Antonio. Calls go to an independent company that serves your area and takes this kind of job (how calls work).