Walk-In Showers and Bath Remodels in Arlington Heights, IL: Costs (2026)

Walk-in shower cost in Arlington Heights

Arlington Heights sits inside the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin metro area, the region federal wage surveys use for its trades. Median pay there is $49.70 an hour for plumbers and $35.90 for tile setters, compared with $30.67 and $26.77 nationwide^[1]. Those wages are built into our Chicago-area estimates, which fit Arlington Heights as well:

What you are planning	Chicago-area estimate, 2026	Full breakdown
Walk-in shower	$5,600 to $18,600	Walk-in shower cost in Chicago
Walk-in tub, installed	$4,100 to $12,200	Walk-in tub cost in Chicago
Tub to shower conversion	$2,500 to $14,900	Tub to shower cost in Chicago
Bathroom remodel	$7,400 to $22,300	Bathroom remodel cost in Chicago

We found no published price set only for Arlington Heights. Use these as a guide, then compare quotes.

Permits in Arlington Heights

The Building and Life Safety Department, at 847-368-5560, handles remodel permits through the online Civic Access Portal^[2]. For a residential alteration, remodel or repair, the application lists these contacts: applicant, owner, carpentry contractor, electrical contractor and general contractor^[2]. Each contractor needs a portal account and a valid village contractor license before they can be added^[2].

Required attachments^[2]:

• Contractor's proposal describing the work and its cost
• Construction plans, dimensioned and drawn to scale, as one combined file
• Tax Assessor Supplemental Information form, which records the number of bathrooms and the area being altered

The village also lists a plumber's letter of intent, sealed or notarized, among items you may need to add^[2]. Initial review or a revision typically takes up to 5 business days, and invoicing happens after the documents are approved^[2]. The village does not post a fee figure in that packet, so ask for the fee when the invoice is issued.

Inspections are requested through the portal at least 24 hours ahead, and requests for the next business day must be in by 4:00 pm^[5]. A hard copy of the approved, stamped plans must be on site for every inspection^[5].

Licensing and homeowners

Contractors register with the village online, and all except electrical, plumbing and alarm contractors pay a $130 registration fee^[3]. All registrations expire December 31^[3]. A homeowner may act as general contractor, but signs a form accepting responsibility for code compliance and for hiring only licensed contractors^[4].

Arlington Heights homes and what they mean for the job

Only about 5% of Arlington Heights homes predate 1940. The median home was built in 1974, about 44% of homes date from 1960 to 1979, and about 64% were built before 1980^[6]. About 54% are single-family detached houses, and about 74% of occupied homes are owner-occupied^[6].

That housing age shapes a bathroom job:

• Lead paint. Most homes here predate 1978, so a firm paid to disturb painted walls or trim must be EPA lead-safe certified^[7].
• Original tile. If your bathroom still has its first tile, ask whether it sits on a thick mortar bed and whether the demolition price allows for that. It is slower to remove than tile on board.
• Steel supply pipe. If the home still has galvanized supply lines, many plumbers recommend replacing them back to a shutoff while the wall is open, since corroded pipe can limit water pressure to a new shower.
• Planning to stay. A low or no-step entry and blocking for grab bars are easier to add during the remodel than afterward.

Choosing a company in Arlington Heights

The Illinois Department of Public Health licenses plumbers and registers plumbing contractors each year. Plumbing ads must include a license number, and IDPH has an online license check^[8].

Questions to ask:

• Are you licensed with the Village of Arlington Heights, and will you set up the portal application?
• Will your plumber provide a sealed or notarized letter of intent?
• Who will be on site for each inspection, with the stamped plans?
• Does your proposal list the full cost, so it matches what goes on the permit?

Illinois law requires contractors in this business to carry liability insurance of at least $100,000 per person and $300,000 per occurrence for bodily injury, and $50,000 for property damage, unless they meet a net worth test^[9]. Ask for proof. For jobs over $1,000, you are also entitled to a written contract that states the total cost^[9].

When to call a pro

• Any plumbing change: an Illinois-licensed plumber who can supply the letter of intent^[2][8].
• Walls coming out in a home built before 1978: a lead-safe certified firm^[7].
• Removing a wall or widening a doorway: scaled plans for the village review^[2].
• Getting a fair price: at least three written proposals, checked against the ranges above.