Bathroom Remodeling in Chicago
Plan your Chicago bathroom remodel with real cost ranges and the City’s permit rules, then get matched with independent, licensed local remodelers to compare written quotes. Free, with no obligation.
- Free and no obligation
- City of Chicago only
- Cost ranges with published sources
- Permit rules from chicago.gov
How it works
- Tell us about your bathroom. Your ZIP code, the type of project, and whether it is a house or a condo. It takes about two minutes.
- Get matched. We pass your request to independent remodelers who serve your part of Chicago. You can check any contractor’s City license yourself before hiring.
- Compare written quotes. Meet the remodelers, compare scope and price, and choose one or none. You decide; we never sign a contract on your behalf.
We match Chicago homeowners with independent, licensed remodelers. The remodeler you choose does the work and signs the written contract with you. See how it works.
Remodeling a bathroom in Chicago: what is different here
A bathroom remodel in Chicago is not the same project as one in a suburb built in the 1990s. Three things shape almost every job in the city.
The buildings are old. In many neighborhoods, half or more of the homes were built before 1940. In Portage Park, 51.5% of homes predate 1940, and the median home in Logan Square dates from 1932, according to CMAP’s community data. Bungalows, greystones, two-flats and vintage courtyard buildings often hide galvanized supply lines and cast iron drains behind the tile. A good remodeler plans for what may be found when the walls come down.
The City regulates the work. Chicago requires a licensed general contractor for most remodeling, a licensed plumbing contractor for most plumbing, and a licensed electrical contractor for electrical work. Most bathroom remodels that change plumbing or wiring need a permit, and non-structural interior work in a single unit usually goes through the City’s Express Permit Program.
Many bathrooms are in condos. In Lincoln Park and Lake View, most housing units are in buildings with five or more units. A condo remodel adds an association approval letter, building rules on work hours and elevators, and extra care to protect the unit below.
Our guides cover each of these, with links to the City and State sources so you can check them yourself.
Bathroom remodeling services in Chicago
Start with the project closest to yours. Each page explains what the job involves in a Chicago home and links to its cost guide.
What a Chicago bathroom remodel costs
Most full bathroom remodels in Chicago cost about $16,000 to $30,000. Published figures vary because they measure different scopes, so check what each one includes.
| Project | Chicago planning range | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Powder room (half bath) | $5,000 to $15,000 | Block Renovation |
| Full bathroom, basic to mid-grade | $16,000 to $30,000 | Block Renovation |
| Midrange remodel of a 5×7 ft bath | $24,072 | Cost vs. Value 2025, Chicago |
| Accessible (universal design) remodel | $38,963 | Cost vs. Value 2025, Chicago |
| Primary bathroom | $36,000 to $60,000+ | Block Renovation |
| Upscale remodel | $76,524 | Cost vs. Value 2025, Chicago |
The biggest cost drivers are moving plumbing, the finish level you choose, and what is hiding in the walls of an older home. Labor is often 40% to 60% of the total. Read how much a bathroom remodel costs in Chicago for the full breakdown.
Chicago home types and their bathrooms
The kind of building you live in shapes what your remodel involves.
Chicago bungalow
The city has about 80,000 brick bungalows, built mostly from 1910 to 1940, according to the Chicago Bungalow Association. Bathrooms are usually small and original, often with a cast iron tub, and the full basement makes running new drain lines easier than in many buildings.
Greystone
Limestone-fronted homes and flats from the late 1800s and early 1900s. Expect plaster walls, older supply lines and floors that may need leveling before new tile.
Two-flat and three-flat
One bathroom stacked above another. Work in one unit can affect the other, and owners who rent out a unit should know that lead-safe rules apply to rental housing built before 1978.
Vintage courtyard and high-rise condos
Association approval, work-hour limits, elevator booking and insurance certificates come before demolition. Waterproofing matters, because a leak reaches the neighbor below.
Read bathrooms in Chicago bungalows, greystones and two-flats.
Permit basics for a Chicago bathroom
Most bathroom remodels that change plumbing or electrical need a City of Chicago permit. Non-structural interior work in one dwelling unit usually qualifies for the Express Permit Program, which allows plumbing work that adds up to 5 water supply fixture units; adding a private bathroom counts as 4. The stand-alone fee is $250 up to 500 sq ft or $500 up to 2,000 sq ft.
Moving or adding walls or doors takes the project out of the Express Permit and requires drawings by an Illinois-licensed architect or structural engineer. Condo owners need a signed association approval letter.
Read the full Chicago bathroom permit guide.
How to check a Chicago remodeler before you hire
- Look up the general contractor license in the City’s licensed contractor database. Chicago GC license numbers start with “TGC”.
- Ask who will do the plumbing and electrical. Those trades need their own licenses in Chicago.
- Ask who pulls the permit. A contractor who suggests skipping the permit on plumbing work is a red flag.
- Get a written contract. In Illinois, remodeling jobs over $1,000 need a written contract, and the contractor must give you the brochure “Home Repair: Know Your Consumer Rights” first.
- Compare at least three quotes for the same scope, with materials, labor, permits and an allowance for hidden conditions listed.
Step-by-step: how to verify a Chicago contractor license and how to choose a bathroom remodeler in Chicago.
How long a Chicago bathroom remodel takes
The construction itself is often a matter of weeks; the waiting around it can take as long. Plan for design and quotes, the permit, ordering materials, and, in a condo, the association’s approval before anyone picks up a hammer. One Chicago remodeler publishes three to five weeks of work for a typical bathroom, plus three to six weeks for condo approval. Hidden conditions and special-order tile or glass are the usual causes of delay. Read how long a bathroom remodel takes in Chicago.
Chicago bathroom remodeling guides
Plain-English guides to the rules and decisions behind a Chicago bathroom, each with its official sources.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bathroom remodel cost in Chicago?
Most full bathroom remodels in Chicago cost about $16,000 to $30,000. The 2025 Cost vs. Value report puts a midrange Chicago bath remodel at $24,072. Powder rooms often cost $5,000 to $15,000, and large primary baths can pass $60,000.
Do I need a permit to remodel a bathroom in Chicago?
Usually, yes, if the work changes plumbing or electrical. Non-structural interior work in a single unit typically goes through the City's Express Permit Program, with a stand-alone fee of $250 up to 500 sq ft or $500 up to 2,000 sq ft.
Who pulls the permit, me or the contractor?
In most cases the licensed general contractor applies for it. Homeowners can act as their own contractor only in limited cases, using the City's owner-as-contractor form. Ask every bidder whether the permit is included in their price.
How do I check if a Chicago contractor is licensed?
Search the City of Chicago's licensed general contractor database by name or license number. Chicago GC license numbers start with TGC. Plumbing and electrical work need their own licensed contractors.
What is different about remodeling a condo bathroom?
You need a signed approval letter from the condo association for the permit, and the building usually sets rules on work hours, elevator use and insurance. Waterproofing matters more because a leak reaches the unit below.
How long does a bathroom remodel take in Chicago?
Construction is often a few weeks, but design, quotes, the permit and materials add time before it starts. One Chicago remodeler publishes three to five weeks of work, plus three to six weeks for condo approval.
Can I convert my bathtub into a walk-in shower?
Yes. Tub-to-shower conversions are among the most common Chicago bathroom projects, especially in bungalows with a single bathroom. If it is your only tub, think about resale and family needs first.
What should a written remodeling contract include?
Under Illinois law, jobs over $1,000 need a written contract with the total cost and the contractor's business name and address, and you should receive the brochure Home Repair: Know Your Consumer Rights before signing.
My home was built before 1978. Does that change anything?
Yes. Contractors who disturb painted surfaces beyond small areas in pre-1978 homes must be EPA lead-safe (RRP) certified and follow lead-safe work practices.
Are you a contractor?
No. Chicago Bathroom Remodeling Experts is a free referral service. We do not perform remodeling, plumbing or electrical work. We connect you with independent remodelers; you choose whether to hire any of them.
Sources for figures on this page: Cost vs. Value 2025, Chicago; Block Renovation; CMAP Community Data Snapshots; Chicago Bungalow Association; Chicago Construction Codes 14A-12-1204.2; 815 ILCS 513. Accessed October 2026.
Get matched with licensed Chicago remodelers
Tell us about your bathroom and we will connect you with independent, licensed Chicago remodelers. Free, with no obligation.