Cost guide · updated October 2026
Whole-Home Remodel Cost in Los Angeles
Published cost per square foot by remodel level, 2025 Los Angeles kitchen and bath data, and the permits, fixture rules and timelines that apply to a whole-home remodel in LA.
Short answer
How much does a whole-home remodel cost in Los Angeles?
HomeGuide's 2026 guide puts a complete home renovation in Los Angeles at $20 to $95 per square foot, and a full gut to the studs at $60 to $150 per square foot nationally. Kitchens and bathrooms run $100 to $250 per square foot. In the 2025 Cost vs. Value Report for Los Angeles, a major midrange kitchen averages $86,214 and a midrange bath $27,143. HomeAdvisor notes that rooms with plumbing cost the most to redo.
- Complete renovation, LA
- $20 to $95 per sq ft (HomeGuide)
- Gut to the studs
- $60 to $150 per sq ft (HomeGuide, national)
- Kitchens and baths
- $100 to $250 per sq ft (HomeGuide, national)
- Major midrange kitchen, LA
- $86,214 (Cost vs. Value 2025)
- Midrange bath, LA
- $27,143 (Cost vs. Value 2025)
- Typical length
- 2 to 8 months for a 3-bedroom house (HomeGuide)
By level
Whole-home remodel cost by level and per square foot.
| Level | What it usually includes | Published figure |
|---|---|---|
| Low-end (cosmetic) | Paint, trim, molding, flooring, stock cabinets, basic appliances and counters. | $15,000 to $40,000 total (HomeGuide, national). |
| Mid-range | The above plus better materials, a full kitchen and bathroom remodel, new lighting and hardwood floors. | $40,000 to $75,000 total (HomeGuide, national). |
| High-end | Custom cabinetry and built-ins, layout changes, structural and foundation repair, new HVAC and roof. | $75,000 to $200,000 total (HomeGuide, national). HomeAdvisor: $150 per sq ft or more with high-end materials. |
| Whole-house remodel, per sq ft | Across the levels above, without gutting the house. | $15 to $60 per sq ft (HomeGuide and HomeAdvisor, national). |
| Gut to the studs | Demolition, structural work, new electrical and plumbing, roof, HVAC, appliances and finishes. | $60 to $150 per sq ft (HomeGuide, national). |
| Complete renovation, Los Angeles | HomeGuide's range for Los Angeles. | $20 to $95 per sq ft. |
| Kitchens and bathrooms | Per square foot of those rooms. | $100 to $250 per sq ft (HomeGuide, national). |
Sources: HomeGuide (December 2025), HomeAdvisor (June 2026, Los Angeles average renovation $47,200) and Angi (May 2026, $15 to $150 per sq ft). These are national averages, some adjusted for cities, and they cover everything from cosmetic updates to full remodels. HomeGuide notes that costs rise significantly in high-cost cities and in homes over 100 years old. Kasimov Construction doesn't publish a price list. You get a written fixed price for your project after a free estimate visit.
Los Angeles data
What the biggest rooms cost in Los Angeles (2025).
| Project (as defined by the report) | Average job cost · Los Angeles | What it typically means |
|---|---|---|
| Minor kitchen remodel (midrange) | $29,765 | An update that keeps the existing layout: new cabinet fronts, counters, sink and faucet, appliances, flooring and paint. |
| Major kitchen remodel (midrange) | $86,214 | A full remodel of an outdated kitchen with new semi-custom cabinets and an island. |
| Major kitchen remodel (upscale) | $171,369 | A full remodel with custom cabinets, stone counters, built-in appliances and upgraded lighting. |
| Bath remodel (midrange) | $27,143 | An update of an existing small bathroom: new fixtures, tile, vanity, lighting and finishes. |
| Bath remodel (universal design) | $44,580 | Accessible upgrades: curbless shower, grab bars, comfort-height fixtures, wider clearances. |
| Bath remodel (upscale) | $85,055 | A larger primary bath with high-end tile, a double vanity with a stone top, a separate shower and premium fixtures. |
Source: Cost vs. Value Report 2025, Los Angeles (Zonda / Journal of Light Construction). Averages for standardized projects.
A worked example from these averages: one major midrange kitchen ($86,214) and two midrange baths (2 × $27,143) add up to $140,500. That's before floors, paint, lighting, electrical, plumbing upgrades or any change to the layout. This adds up the report's averages. It isn't a price for your home.
Scope
What does a whole-home remodel include?
- Kitchen and bathrooms. Cabinets, counters, tile, fixtures, waterproofing and ventilation.
- Floors, walls and paint. Flooring throughout, drywall or plaster repair, trim and doors.
- Electrical and lighting. New circuits and lighting, and the panel if it can't carry the new load.
- Plumbing. Supply and drain lines in the rooms that are opened up, and old galvanized pipe where it's found.
- HVAC, roof, windows and doors. Included when the scope calls for them. HomeGuide's gut-remodel figure includes a new roof and HVAC.
- Design, engineering and permits. Drawings, structural calculations when walls move, the energy report and city fees.
Ask every contractor whether appliances, permit fees, temporary housing and repairs found behind the walls are in the price. HomeAdvisor tells homeowners to budget for temporary housing when a renovation makes the home unlivable.
Permits
Permits for a whole-home remodel in Los Angeles.
City of Los Angeles (LADBS)
- No structural changes: kitchen and bathroom remodels without structural changes, fixture replacement and rewiring on existing circuits are on the LADBS Express Permit list, with no plan check.
- Walls, openings or additions: these go through plan check with existing and proposed floor plans (PermitLA).
- Trade permits: plumbing, electrical and heating work that isn't part of the building permit gets its own permits (LADBS homeowners guide).
- Inspections: work is inspected before it's covered and again at final.
- Time limits: a permit expires if work doesn't start within six months, and two years after it's issued if the work isn't finished.
- Fees: LADBS calculates plan check and permit fees from the project valuation. The LADBS fee estimator gives a first number.
- Fire sprinklers: if alterations within one year cost more than 50% of the home's replacement cost, the City's residential code can require sprinklers in the house (LADBS bulletin P/BC 2026-150, citing LAMC 91.5.309.2).
Other cities
Burbank, Glendale, Pasadena, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Culver City and Calabasas issue their own permits. Look up your permit office.
Fixture rules
The SB 407 fixture rule for older homes.
If your house was built in 1994 or earlier, SB 407 (Civil Code §1101.1 et seq.) requires non-compliant plumbing fixtures to be replaced as a condition of final approval on a permitted remodel. That covers:
- toilets that use more than 1.6 gallons per flush;
- showerheads over 2.5 gallons per minute;
- faucets over 2.2 gallons per minute.
In a single-family home the rule applies to every fixture in the house, including rooms you aren't remodeling. Repairs and maintenance don't trigger it. New fixtures have to meet CALGreen maximums: 1.28 gallons per flush for toilets, 1.8 gpm for showerheads, 1.2 gpm for bathroom faucets and 1.8 gpm for kitchen faucets.
Timeline
How long does a whole-home remodel take?
| Scope | Typical length | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Cosmetic refresh | 1 week to 2 months | HomeGuide |
| Complete renovation of a 3-bedroom house | 2 to 8 months, plus about a month for planning, permits and custom orders | HomeGuide |
| Whole-home refresh | 3 to 5 months of construction | Our typical schedule |
| Full gut to the studs | 6 to 9 months of construction | Our typical schedule |
Sources: HomeGuide and our typical schedules. Planning, design and permits come before construction. An LADBS permit expires if work doesn't start within six months of issue.
Price drivers
What moves the number up or down.
- How much layout changes. Moving walls, kitchens and bathrooms adds structural, plumbing and electrical work. Keeping the kitchen and baths where they are saves the most.
- Systems age. Old electrical panels, galvanized pipe and old HVAC either get reused or replaced. We check them during planning, before demo starts.
- Cabinetry scope. A kitchen and two baths take fewer shop hours than a house full of built-ins. Our shop is in-house, so there's no dealer markup.
- Finish level. Porcelain or natural stone, standard or designer fixtures. We plan to the level you pick and keep it consistent across rooms.
- Occupied or empty. Living in the house during a remodel means phasing, protection and daily cleanup, which adds time. Sometimes moving out for the heavy phase costs less overall, and we'll tell you when that's the case.
- Age of the house. HomeGuide notes higher costs in homes over 100 years old.
- Fixture rule. In a home built in 1994 or earlier, SB 407 adds every non-compliant toilet, showerhead and faucet to the job.
- Size of the alteration. In the City of LA, work over 50% of the home's replacement cost in a year can trigger fire sprinklers.
How much does a whole-home remodel cost per square foot in Los Angeles?
Do I need a permit for a whole-home remodel in LA?
Do I have to replace all my toilets and faucets?
How long does a whole-home remodel take?
Can we live in the house during the remodel?
What if you find problems inside the walls?
Free estimate
Get a real number for your home.
Per-square-foot averages are a starting point. We price your remodel room by room after the estimate visit and fix the total in the contract.
- Free estimate visit: we measure and listen
- Written estimate with a clear scope
- One project manager from start to finish
- CSLB #1148319, licensed, bonded & insured
- 2-year written warranty on workmanship