Kitchen or bathroom remodel in St. George, Utah

St. George remodeling in a fast growing city

St. George is the hub of a fast growing region. Its metro area, which is all of Washington County, had the fastest percent growth of any U.S. metro from 2020 to 2021 and ranked eighth from 2024 to 2025.¹² Census estimates put the city at 95,348 people in 2020 and 108,713 in July 2025.³

The median St. George home was built in 2001, and 53.8% of the city's 43,039 homes went up in 2000 or later.⁴ The 2000s alone added 11,612 homes, now about 17 to 26 years old, and many may still have their original builder grade cabinets, counters and showers.

There are older homes too: about 6,756 from the 1980s and 2,860 from the 1970s.⁴ In a house that age, the remodeler may find old plumbing or wiring behind the walls, so leave room in the budget. Live next door? See Washington City.

What a kitchen remodel in St. George costs

For planning, a kitchen remodel in St. George runs about $10,000 to $30,000 for a refresh and $35,000 to $80,000 for a full remodel on the same layout.⁵⁶ No national survey publishes St. George prices, so these ranges lean on the Cost vs Value report's Mountain region, with Las Vegas and Salt Lake City as bookends.

Every number here is a planning range, not a quote. The bath rows lean on Houzz's 2026 bath study and Fixr's walk in shower costs.⁷⁸ The kitchen remodel cost guide shows where the money goes.

Bathroom remodel in St. George: hard water and walk in showers

St. George's 2024 water report says most Southern Utah water is hard, with high amounts of calcium or magnesium, and suggests softener settings of 13 to 24 grains per gallon for homes that use one.⁹

Before picking fixtures, ask the remodeler if your softener is working and which faucet finishes and shower glass clean up easiest here.

St. George is also a retirement town. About 21.8% of residents are 65 or older,¹⁰ and SunRiver is a 55+ community.¹¹ For many owners, the bathroom remodel to plan is a walk in shower with a low curb or none, grab bars and a bench. Nationally, 55% of people remodeling to age in place chose a low curb shower and 32% went curbless.⁷

Downtown's new historic district and the 20% state credit

Downtown St. George joined the National Register of Historic Places on April 6, 2026, as the St. George Central City Historic District.¹² It covers roughly Bluff Street to 300 East and Diagonal Street to 500 South, plus some areas north of Diagonal and east of 300 East.¹²

The city says listing brings no restrictions: no public access rules, no effect on property taxes, and owners keep all their property rights.¹² Its Historic Preservation Commission makes design review recommendations for the St. George Arts District overlay and advises on Landmark requests.¹²

Utah also offers a state tax credit of 20% of rehab costs for homes listed on the National Register, if the owner spends at least $10,000 and the work meets the Secretary of the Interior's Standards.¹³ The federal credit doesn't cover owner occupied homes.¹³ Utah's State Historic Preservation Office runs the credit, and not every project qualifies, so ask that office before you count on it.¹³

About 10.6% of St. George homes were built before 1980.⁴ Utah's environmental quality department says homes built before 1978 likely contain lead based paint, and paid contractors in them must follow the state's lead paint rules.¹⁴

Second homes and short term rentals in St. George

About 10.5% of St. George homes, 4,526 in all, are seasonal or part time homes, and owners live in only 66.7% of occupied homes.⁴ Washington County's tourism office calls St. George a popular retirement destination and second home spot.¹⁵

Short term rentals are allowed only at properties on the city's approved list, which names projects in Green Valley, Entrada and The Ledges, plus Bloomington Country Club, the Villas at Sun River, Redhawk, approved historic landmarks and the Desert Color resort.¹⁶ If you're away part of the year, say so on the form.

Permits, power and licenses in St. George

Permits come from the St. George Building Department at 61 S Main St, (435) 627-4100, through the city's CityInspect portal.¹⁷ The city's pages don't list which kitchen or bath work needs a permit, so the remodeler confirms your plan with the department and pulls what the job needs. Owners doing their own work file a form with a Remodel or Addition by Owner box.¹⁸

Fees follow project value: the city's posted fee sheet shows a $643.75 building permit fee for a $50,000 job and $993.75 for a $100,000 job.¹⁹ The sheet is undated, so confirm the current figure.

Need a bigger panel for new kitchen circuits? Bloomington, Bloomington Hills and Little Valley, south of the Virgin River, get electric service from Dixie Power.²⁰ We pass each request to one remodeler whose Utah contractor license we've checked is active, and you can look up any license on DOPL's site.²¹ Here's how the referral works.

St. George neighborhoods we get requests from

• Downtown
• Bloomington
• Little Valley
• Green Valley
• Entrada
• SunRiver
• Desert Color
• The Ledges
• Dixie Downs
• Sunbrook