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Kitchen and Bath Remodelers in Houston, TX
Kitchen and bath remodelers in Houston work on a housing stock with a median build year of 1982. the 2025 Cost vs. Value Report prices a midrange bathroom remodel here at $23,503 and a minor midrange kitchen remodel at $28,300. Work that moves plumbing or wiring needs a permit from the Houston Permitting Center.
Remodelers Serving Houston
We are checking licenses and insurance for the first Houston remodelers before any listing goes live. We do not list a company we have not checked.
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What Remodels Cost in Houston
The 2025 Cost vs. Value Report prices each project from a fixed specification, so the local and national figures compare like for like. In Houston it puts a midrange bathroom remodel at $23,503 (national: $26,138), a minor midrange kitchen remodel at $28,300 (national: $28,458) and a major midrange kitchen remodel at $81,521 (national: $82,793). At resale, the report estimates those projects recoup 75.2%, 106.1% and 46.8% of their cost in Houston.
Source: 2025 Cost vs. Value Report. ©2025 Zonda Media, a Delaware corporation. Complete data from the 2025 Cost vs. Value Report can be downloaded free at www.costvsvalue.com.
Use these as a reference point, then use the calculator for national ranges by size and finish level.
Local Factors
Half the homes in Houston were built before 1982, and 47.0% were built before 1980 (ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (tables B25035 and B25034)). Older homes are more likely to hide outdated wiring, galvanized pipe and subfloor damage, so plan a larger contingency.
Houston's normal relative humidity is 75% over the year at Bush Intercontinental Airport, and about 90% at 6 a.m. on average. In July and August the 6 a.m. normal is 93% to 94%, and the normal dew point is about 74 to 75 F (NOAA, 1991 to 2020 normals).
Water hardness: 136 mg/L (ppm) as CaCO3, 2022 system average (City of Houston, Houston Public Works (Houston Water)).
With humidity near 90% most mornings and very high summer dew points, a Houston bathroom needs an exhaust fan vented to the outside and sized for the room, plus moisture-resistant backer board and mold-resistant paint. Moderately hard water leaves scale on glass, faucets and shower heads, so easy-clean glass coatings and fixtures that are simple to descale are worth the money, and some homeowners add a softener.
How to Check a Contractor in TX
Texas has no state license for general contractors or remodelers. The Texas Residential Construction Commission, which registered builders and residential construction projects, was abolished when its law expired on September 1, 2009. The City of Houston also says there is no general contractor license, and a general contractor does not need one to pull a building permit. The trades are different: a master plumber must hold a TSBPE license and an electrician a TDLR license, and both must also register with the City of Houston before working there.
Houston requires trade contractors (electrical, plumbing and mechanical) to register their state license with the city. Master plumbers register with the Plumbing Inspections Section (no fee; first registration in person at the Houston Permitting Center). Electrical contractors register with the Electrical Inspections section using Form CE-1189, valid for 1 year. Air conditioning and refrigeration contractors also register their state license. There is no city general contractor license or registration.
- Plumbing: Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (TSBPE)
- Electrical: Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR)
Before you sign, also ask for:
- A certificate of general liability insurance sent to you by the insurer, not a photocopy.
- A written contract with scope, materials, payment schedule and who pulls the permit.
- At least three written quotes for the same scope, so the numbers compare.
- Proof that licensed trades do any plumbing and electrical work.
Houston Remodeling Questions
How much does a bathroom remodel cost in Houston?
The 2025 Cost vs. Value Report prices a midrange bathroom remodel in Houston at $23,503, against $26,138 nationally. Your scope and finishes move it most.
How much does a kitchen remodel cost in Houston?
The same report prices a minor midrange kitchen remodel at $28,300 and a major midrange kitchen remodel at $81,521 in Houston.
Do I need a permit to remodel a kitchen or bathroom in Houston?
Usually yes when plumbing, electrical or structural work is involved; cosmetic work such as painting, tarping, wallpapering usually does not. Houston's own guidance says cabinets and countertops can be swapped without a permit, but replacing plumbing or electrical fixtures in the same kitchen or bath still needs permits. So a kitchen refresh that keeps every fixture and outlet where it is can be permit-free, while moving a sink, adding a circuit or opening a wall is not. Exempt work must still meet code. Houston Permitting Center pages and PDFs returned HTTP 403 to direct fetch, so these items come from Houston Permitting Center search snippets, not full-page reads.
Does TX license remodeling contractors?
Texas has no state license for general contractors or remodelers. The Texas Residential Construction Commission, which registered builders and residential construction projects, was abolished when its law expired on September 1, 2009. The City of Houston also says there is no general contractor license, and a general contractor does not need one to pull a building permit. The trades are different: a master plumber must hold a TSBPE license and an electrician a TDLR license, and both must also register with the City of Houston before working there.
Does a kitchen remodel pay back in Houston?
The 2025 Cost vs. Value Report estimates a minor midrange kitchen remodel in Houston recoups 106.1% of its cost at resale, and a major one 46.8%.
Do I need city approval to change the outside of a house in a Houston historic district?
Yes. Houston's historic preservation ordinance says no one may alter any exterior feature of a building in a historic district without a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Houston Archaeological and Historical Commission. The building official will not issue a building permit for that work until you show the certificate or a 90-day waiver, so plan for this if your kitchen or bath job adds a window, door or addition.
My Houston home is in a floodplain. Does a big kitchen or bath remodel trigger extra rules?
It can. Under Chapter 19 of the city code, a substantial improvement is any work whose cost equals or exceeds 50% of the structure's market value before construction starts. If your project crosses that line, the whole house, not just the remodeled rooms, must be brought into compliance with the floodplain rules, and you must provide a FEMA elevation certificate showing the first floor meets the required height.
Houston has no zoning. Can my neighborhood still stop my remodel?
Possibly. Because Houston is not zoned, the state and City Council let the city help enforce recorded deed restrictions, and the City Legal Department can enforce restrictions on residential use, setbacks, and lot size and number of structures. Restrictions differ by subdivision and can also be enforced by neighbors or a homeowners association or civic club, so check yours before adding on or building toward a property line.
Nearby Cities
We also cover Pasadena, Pearland, Sugar Land, Baytown, League City, Missouri City as listings are added.
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Sources
- City of Houston, Houston Public Works, Houston Permitting Center, Residential Remodel Permit (HPWCODE1135) (accessed 2026-10-19)
- City of Houston, Houston Permitting Center, Residential Remodel Permit (printable) (accessed 2026-10-19)
- City of Houston, Houston Permitting Center, Plan Review (accessed 2026-10-19)
- City of Houston, Houston Permitting Center, Houston Permitting Center document (media/10131) (accessed 2026-10-19)
- City of Houston, Houston Permitting Center, Building Code Enforcement Residential Repairs Permit Guidelines (accessed 2026-10-19)
- City of Houston, Houston Permitting Center, Residential Plan Review (accessed 2026-10-19)
- Texas Sunset Advisory Commission, Texas Residential Construction Commission (accessed 2026-10-19)
- Wikipedia, Texas Residential Construction Commission (accessed 2026-10-19)
- City of Houston, Office of Business Opportunity, New Business Guide (accessed 2026-10-19)
- City of Houston, Houston Permitting Center, Residential Permitting 101 / Top 10 Things to Know About Permitting (accessed 2026-10-19)
- Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners, Consumer Information (accessed 2026-10-19)
- Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, Electricians (accessed 2026-10-19)
- City of Houston, Houston Permitting Center, Master Plumber Registration (HPWCODE1165) (accessed 2026-10-19)
- City of Houston, Houston Permitting Center, Electrical Contractor Registration (HPWCODE1051) (accessed 2026-10-19)
- NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, 2023 Local Climatological Data Annual Summary with Comparative Data, Houston, Texas (KIAH) (2023 annual summary; normals 1991-2020; accessed 2026-10-19)
- City of Houston, Houston Public Works, Water Quality Report 2022 (2022 reporting year; accessed 2026-10-19)
- Wikipedia, Greater Houston (accessed 2026-10-19)
- City of Houston, Planning and Development Department, Historic Preservation Ordinance (HAHC consideration draft) and Historic Preservation Manual: Certificate of Appropriateness (accessed 2026-10-19)
- City of Houston, Floodplain Management Office (Houston Public Works), City of Houston Floodplain Management Office guidance and Chapter 19 Update (accessed 2026-10-19)
- City of Houston, Legal Department, Deed Restrictions FAQ (accessed 2026-10-19)
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (via Census Reporter API mirror), ACS 2024 5-year, B25035 Median Year Structure Built and B25034 Year Structure Built, 16000US4835000 (accessed 2026-10-19)
- Journal of Light Construction (JLC) / Zonda, Cost vs. Value 2025: houston-tx (accessed 2026-10-19)