Kitchen or bathroom remodel in Washington, Utah: beyond builder grade

Washington City: newer homes and fast growth

Washington City is its own city, right next to St. George. It isn't Washington County or Washington State. Its median home was built in 2008, newer than the 2003 median for the county as a whole.¹² Of the city's 13,751 homes, 72.2% went up in 2000 or later, and 1,982 were built in 2020 or later.¹

Census estimates put Washington at 28,000 people in 2020 and 37,107 by July 2025, a gain of about a third in five years.³ The city's history page says it has exploded with growth and draws both retired and young residents.⁴ Its subdivision map includes Green Spring Cove Estates, Washington Fields PUD and The Villas at Sienna Hills.⁵

Washington was the first town in the Virgin basin settled to grow cotton. Ten families arrived on April 15, 1857, and the Cotton Factory went up starting in 1865.⁴ Yet the Census estimates no homes left from before 1950.¹ So most remodels here upgrade a fairly young house instead of rescuing an old one.

Beyond builder grade: a kitchen remodel in Washington, UT

Expect roughly $10,000 to $30,000 to refresh a Washington kitchen and $35,000 to $80,000 to replace the cabinets and appliances on the same layout.⁶⁷ With so many homes built since 2000, the layout may already work, so more of the money can go to finishes.

Popular upgrades include semi custom or custom kitchen cabinets, quartz countertops, a tile backsplash and a larger island. Nationally, 58% of kitchen renovators add or update an island, and quartz is the most chosen counter material at 32%.⁶

Moving the sink, the range or a wall puts a job in this site's $60,000 to $120,000 planning range, which leans on Houzz spending data for larger and higher end kitchens.⁶ The kitchen remodel cost guide breaks it down.

Bathroom remodel in Washington City: tubs, showers and water

Budget about $5,000 to $15,000 to freshen a Washington City bathroom with a vanity, toilet, faucets and paint, and $18,000 to $45,000 for a full remodel that tears out and rebuilds the shower.⁸⁷

Swapping a tub for a walk in shower is a popular change. Nationally, a tub comes out in 26% of bath projects, and 79% of those owners use the space to make the shower bigger.⁸ Planning the whole room? Start with bathroom remodeling and the bath cost guide.

Washington's tap water comes from eleven city wells plus a link to the county water district's Quail Lake and Sand Hollow supply.⁹ The city's 2025 water report gives no hardness figure, but total dissolved solids range from 210 to 656 parts per million.⁹ If you use a softener, have the remodeler make sure it's working before new glass and fixtures go in.

Permits in Washington City: Simple Permits and next day inspections

Washington City's Building Department, at 111 North 100 East, (435) 656-6326, takes permits through City Inspect, and inspection requests sent by 5 pm on a business day are typically handled the next business day.¹⁰

Some jobs that come with a remodel are Simple Permits: replacing a water heater, upgrading HVAC equipment or an electric meter, and adding a gas line, such as one for a new gas range.¹¹ The city's pages don't say which other kitchen or bath work needs a permit, so ask the remodeler to confirm the rest with the city before work starts.

Need a bigger electric panel for new appliances? Washington City Power serves homes north of the Virgin River, and Dixie Power serves other parts of the city.¹² Before you sign anything, you can check a contractor's license on the state's DOPL lookup.¹³ We only send requests to a remodeler whose Utah license we've confirmed is active; see how that works.

Rentals and part time homes in Washington City

About 9.5% of Washington's homes, 1,306 of them, are seasonal or part time homes, and owners live in 74.6% of occupied homes.¹

Short term rentals are allowed only in subdivisions the city has approved, shown on its RRST map overlay. They include Casitas, Escondido, Ladera and Paseos at Sienna Hills, The Eighth and Town Center at Coral Canyon, Cottages at Stucki Farms, Coral Ridge Townhomes, Freedom Village, Vida Sol and Skyline at Long Valley.¹⁴

Every rental unit needs a business license and a yearly fire inspection, and units with an occupancy of 11 or more need a fire sprinkler system.¹⁴ Adding sleeping space to a rental? Tell the remodeler the guest count.

Washington City neighborhoods we get requests from

• Old town Washington
• Green Springs
• Coral Canyon
• Sienna Hills
• Washington Fields
• Stucki Farms
• Buena Vista
• Long Valley
• Cotton Mill