Bathroom remodel in St. George: costs, permits and one licensed remodeler

What a bathroom remodel in St. George usually includes

Most bathroom jobs here fall into one of four sizes. The size sets the budget, the schedule and whether you'll need a permit.

Bathroom remodel cost in St. George

Plan on roughly $18,000 to $45,000 for a full bathroom remodel in St. George and about $5,000 to $15,000 for a refresh. Houzz's 2026 study put the national median at $25,000 for a major bath remodel and $9,000 for a minor one¹.

The Cost vs Value report from the Journal of Light Construction doesn't publish St. George figures. In 2025 its midrange bath, a 5 by 7 foot room with every fixture replaced⁴, averaged $23,733 in Las Vegas and $27,526 in Salt Lake City²⁵. The Mountain region figure falls between them.

Why so many St. George bathrooms are due for an update

Homes here are young, but many original bathrooms are now 20 years old or more. Washington County's median home was built in 2003, and 56.9% of its homes date from 2000 or later⁶. Bathrooms from that era may still have their first vanity, faucets, fan and tub.

Nationally, a tub comes out in 26% of bathroom projects, and 79% of those owners use the space for a bigger shower¹. If your soaking tub rarely gets used, a walk in shower is one option to price.

Hard water

Most Southern Utah water is hard. St. George suggests softener settings of 13 to 24 grains per gallon⁷, and Ivins suggests 22⁸. Hard water isn't a health concern, but it leaves mineral scale⁹. Ask the remodeler which glass, faucet and tile finishes are easiest to keep clean.

Second homes and rentals

About 1 in 10 Washington County homes is a seasonal or part time home⁶. If yours is a winter home, plan the work for months you're in town or agree on photo updates. St. George allows nightly rentals only in approved areas, not in single family zones, so check before you remodel for a rental¹⁰.

Walk in showers and aging in place

A walk in shower is one of the most practical changes for anyone planning to stay put. More than 1 in 5 Washington County residents is 65 or older (22.3%), close to double Utah's 11.9%¹¹, and AARP found 75% of adults 50 and older want to stay in their current home as long as possible¹².

Popular add ons are a low or no curb entry, grab bars, a bench and slip resistant tile. If it's your only tub, think about resale first, since most buyers look for at least one¹³. Costs and curb choices are on the walk in showers page.

Do you need a permit for a bathroom renovation?

Usually not for finish work, often yes for plumbing, wiring or gas. Utah's statewide residential code exempts painting, tiling, cabinets, countertops and similar finish work, but not replacing or rearranging pipes, valves or fixtures¹⁴. New circuits, gas lines and water heaters usually need a permit too.

• Cedar City and Iron County both say remodeling a house needs a building permit¹⁵¹⁶.
• Washington City treats a water heater replacement as a Simple Permit¹⁷.
• St. George and most nearby cities take applications through the CityInspect portal¹⁸.

The remodeler should confirm the rules with your city and pull any permit in their own name. In homes built before 1978, remodelers must follow Utah's lead safe rules¹⁹, and you can't tell whether an older material contains asbestos just by looking²⁰.

How to compare bathroom remodel contractors in St. George

Before you sign, check three things: an active Utah contractor license, a written contract and permits in the remodeler's name. A search for bath remodel near me or bath renovation near me mixes ads, map pins and referral services like this one, so the checks matter whoever you call.

• License. Look up the name on DOPL's free lookup²¹. Utah generally requires a contractor license for remodeling jobs of $7,000 or more, labor and materials included, and a licensed plumbing or electrical contractor for that work even on small jobs²². Bathroom renovation contractors may hold a general license such as B100 or R100²³.
• Insurance. Utah contractor licenses call for general liability coverage of at least $1,000,000 per incident²⁴. Ask for a current certificate.
• Written contract. Utah law can shield you from liens by unpaid subcontractors if you hire a licensed contractor under a written contract and pay in full²⁵, and the home is a house or duplex you live in, which can include a second home²⁶.
• Same scope. When you compare bids from bathroom remodel companies, check that each prices the same tile, glass, fixtures and plan for hidden water damage.

Where we fit: we aren't one of those companies. We're a referral service. We check that the remodeler's Utah license is active and pass your request to that one remodeler, who prices and does the work under their own contract. See how it works.

How long a bathroom remodel takes

Most bathroom projects take 2 to 12 weeks of work, and many finish in 2 to 4 weeks²⁷. A prefab tub to shower swap can take as little as 2 days, while custom tile takes 1 to 2 weeks or more¹³.

Inspections add time too. Cedar City wants requests by 5 PM the business day before¹⁵, and Hurricane doesn't do same day inspections²⁸. Planning a kitchen remodel as well? One request can cover both rooms.