A full-scale bathroom remodel in Colorado Springs typically runs $30,000 to $50,000 for a primary bath, with secondary bathrooms starting near $15,000 and full gut projects reaching $75,000 or more. Active construction takes three to eight weeks. Any work that moves plumbing, adds electrical circuits, or changes framing needs a permit from Pikes Peak Regional Building Department before demolition starts.
Most people look into this because something finally broke, or because they walked into their 1994 master bath one morning and decided they were done with the cultured marble. They start researching, and things get confusing. National calculators spit out numbers that do not match local bids, contractors say “call for a quote,” and nobody explains what a permit costs or who pulls it.
We have been remodeling kitchens and bathrooms in Colorado Springs since 2010. Here is what we tell homeowners who are interested in a bathroom renovation.
*Important to note: Aspen Kitchens does all-in, full-scale bathroom remodels, which include: tile, vanity and countertop, shower or tub, glass, fixtures and lighting, flooring, demo and labor, permits and inspections, project management, and a professional designer walking with you throughout the process. The pricing in this article reflects that level of service.
How much does a bathroom remodel cost in Colorado Springs?
Plan on $30,000 to $50,000 for a primary bathroom and $50,000 or more if you are gutting the space and changing the layout. Bathroom projects here fall into three tiers, and knowing which one you are in gets you closer to a real number.
| Project type | Typical cost | What it usually includes |
| Secondary or guest bath | $15,000 to $30,000 | Same layout. New tub or shower, tile, vanity, flooring, fixtures, lighting. |
| Primary bath, mid-range | $30,000 to $50,000 | Same footprint. Larger tiled shower, glass enclosure, double vanity, upgraded fixtures and lighting. |
| Full gut or layout change | $50,000 to $75,000+ | Walls or plumbing moved, custom tile, curbless shower, freestanding tub, upgraded ventilation. |
Moving plumbing is the most expensive decision, because relocating a toilet or shower drain means opening the floor and rerouting waste lines. Tile is the next lever: a large-format porcelain floor goes down in a day, and a 2-inch mosaic shower surround can take most of a week.
How long does a bathroom remodel take?
Active construction typically runs three to eight weeks. A guest bath that keeps its layout finishes near the low end. A gutted primary bath with relocated plumbing and custom tile takes the full eight, sometimes longer.
In general, you can plan on two to four months from first conversation to final walkthrough. Design, material orders, and permit review all happen before anyone swings a hammer.
Material lead times disrupt schedules more often than work crews do. Semi-custom vanities often run four to ten weeks, and specialty tile can take six to twelve. Frameless shower glass has to be templated after the tile is set, then fabricated, adding three to four weeks.
That is why we do not start demolition until the materials are in the building, and why the design plans get finalized before anything is ordered.
Do you need a permit to remodel a bathroom in Colorado Springs?
Yes, if you are changing anything behind the walls. Pikes Peak Regional Building Department is the authority for Colorado Springs, unincorporated El Paso County, Fountain, Manitou Springs, and Monument. The process is the same inside or outside city limits.
| Needs a permit | Does not need a permit |
| Moving or adding plumbing fixtures | Replacing a vanity in the same spot |
| Relocating drain or supply lines | New tile, flooring, or paint |
| Adding or moving electrical circuits | Swapping a faucet or toilet like for like |
| Adding or relocating an exhaust fan | Replacing a mirror or light fixture |
| Moving or framing walls | Cosmetic work generally |
PPRBD’s guidance is that cosmetic improvements do not require a permit. The moment you alter what is behind the drywall, you need one.
Fees are lower than most people expect. PPRBD charges $50 for each attached trade permit (plumbing, electrical, gas, heating) on a residential alteration, with the building permit starting at $50 and calculated on project valuation. The full fee schedule is published online. Skipping the permit is the expensive path: PPRBD assesses an investigation fee equal to twice the permit fee for unpermitted work.
You can pull your own permit only if you own and live in the home and you are doing the work yourself. If you hire a contractor, that contractor must be licensed and registered with PPRBD, and it is illegal for you to pull the permit on their behalf. If a bidder asks you to pull the permit, that is your answer about the bidder.
Inspections come in two rounds: plumbing top-out, electrical rough, and rough frame before the walls close, then plumbing, electrical, and building finals at the end.
The region enforces the 2021 International Residential Code and the 2023 National Electrical Code, per PPRBD’s adopted codes. Three requirements shape real design decisions here:
- Every bathroom receptacle must be GFCI protected.
- Exhaust fans must move at least 50 CFM and vent outdoors, not into the attic.
- A shower needs at least 900 square inches of interior area with no dimension under 30 inches (which is why some 1980s shower footprints cannot simply be tiled in place).
Can you stay in your house during a bathroom renovation?
Yes, if you have another working bathroom. If the bathroom being remodeled is your only one, plan on losing it for the entire construction window, because the plumbing stays disconnected until fixtures go back in near the end.
Whole-house water is only shut off briefly, usually a few hours during tie-ins. The bathroom itself is out of service the whole time.
Dust is the other fair question. We seal the work zone with zippered plastic barriers, cover the HVAC returns in that area so dust does not travel through the house, protect the path from the door to the bathroom, and clean up daily. Homes built before 1978 fall under the EPA’s lead-safe renovation rules, which add containment requirements. Plenty of older Colorado Springs homes qualify, including much of the Old North End.
Families with one bathroom usually manage with a gym membership, a nearby relative, or a staged schedule that keeps the toilet usable as long as possible. Ask any contractor you interview how they handle that. If you’re thinking about starting a project, make sure to check out our article on questions worth asking before you hire anyone.
What keeps a bathroom remodel project on track
Three things:
- Finished design plans before demolition
- Materials on site before demolition
- One team accountable for the whole job.
That last one is why we keep our core trades in-house. Our designers, carpenters, installers, and project managers work under one roof, so the people tiling your shower have done it together before. Some remodeling companies are closer to brokers: they sell the job, then hire whoever is available that week.
Plumbing and electrical are separate state-licensed trades, and PPRBD requires those licenses to pull the permits. Your project manager coordinates that work, pulls the permits, and schedules the inspections, so you are not the one calling an electrician to find out why nobody showed up on Tuesday. One project manager owns your schedule start to finish.
Ready to start?
If you want a real number for your bathroom, come see us. Schedule a free consultation at our showroom on North Nevada, bring photos of your bathroom and anything you have saved, and we’ll talk through scope and budget. From there, a designer visits your home for a site consultation and measure ($200, credited toward your final payment).
We’ll help you make your design decisions up front, like whether or not you’re switching the layout. Making these decisions ordering materials at the beginning helps the project run smoothly.
Frequently asked questions
Can I pull my own permit as a homeowner? Only if you own and live in the home and you are doing the work yourself. PPRBD does not allow a homeowner to pull a permit for a contractor they have hired. Any contractor doing permitted work in the Pikes Peak region must be licensed and registered with PPRBD directly.
How much does moving plumbing add to the cost? Relocating a toilet or shower drain is the most expensive change in a bathroom remodel, because it means opening the floor and rerouting waste lines that must maintain proper slope. If your budget is tight, keeping fixtures in their existing locations is the single largest savings available to you.
How long will the water be shut off? Only a few hours, typically during the plumbing tie-in. The rest of the house keeps running water throughout. The bathroom under construction stays unusable for the full three to eight weeks.
Does hard water matter when choosing fixtures? It does here. Much of the Pikes Peak region has hard water, which shortens cartridge life and leaves mineral deposits on glass and chrome. Solid brass valve bodies, replaceable cartridges, and treated shower glass hold up noticeably better in Colorado Springs homes.
Do I need design plans for a small bathroom? Usually not for the permit itself. PPRBD issues plumbing and electrical permits per trade and does not plan-review those trades on residential work. Drawings get submitted when you are moving walls or doing structural work, which requires a building permit first. Plans are still worth having, because seeing the room before you commit is what prevents change orders.
Further reading
- PPRBD Homeowner Permits: who can pull a permit and how the process works in the Pikes Peak region.
- PPRBD Fee Schedule: how permit fees are calculated, including trade permits and plan review.
- 2025 Cost vs. Value Report: national cost and resale data for mid-range and upscale bathroom remodels, by region.
- 2025 Houzz Bathroom Trends Study: median spend by bathroom size and what homeowners are choosing.
