Short answer
A walk-in shower in Carrollton usually costs $4,300 to $14,300 in 2026, around $9,100 on average, based on Dallas-Fort Worth wages. Carrollton requires a permit any time plumbing is installed, altered or replaced. Its fee page lists a $125 residential remodel fee and plumbing permits at $4 per $1,000 of value, $75 minimum.
Key facts
- Carrollton's fee page lists a residential remodel permit at $125 and single-trade plumbing permits at $4 per $1,000 of value with a $75 minimum.[4]
- Carrollton requires a plumbing permit for under-slab repairs, and the plumber must provide a letter of excavation and backfill.[5]
- 46.3% of Carrollton homes were built from 1970 to 1989, and the median home was built in 1988 (Census ACS 2020 to 2024).[6]
Walk-in shower cost in Carrollton
There is no Carrollton-only price data. Carrollton is part of the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington labor market, so the estimates on our Dallas cost pages are the right yardstick.
| Carrollton bathroom job (2026) | Range | See the math |
|---|---|---|
| Walk-in shower | $4,300 to $14,300 (about $9,100 on average) | Dallas walk-in shower cost |
| Tub to shower conversion | $1,900 to $11,500 | Dallas conversion cost |
| Bathroom remodel | $5,700 to $17,200 (about $11,500 on average) | Dallas remodel cost |
| Walk-in tub, installed | $3,500 to $9,900 | Dallas walk-in tub cost |
Take the walk-in tub row. Fixr prices installation at $3,500 to $10,000 nationally, with labor alone at $1,000 to $3,500[3]. Local plumbers earn a median $29.45 an hour against $30.67 nationally, per May 2025 BLS data[1][2]. Because the tub itself is most of the bill, the local discount is small. Shower jobs use more tile labor, and metro tile setters earn $23.04 against $26.77 nationally[1][2], so showers come out a bit further under national prices.
Permits in Carrollton
Carrollton's plumbing rule is broad. A permit is required when any plumbing system is erected, installed, enlarged, altered, repaired, removed, converted or replaced[5]. That covers a new shower valve, drain or pan. It matches state law, which tells cities over 5,000 people to permit all plumbing except leak repairs and a few swaps such as faucets and toilets[8].
Carrollton adds a rule worth knowing in a slab house: under-slab plumbing repairs need a permit, and the plumber must provide a letter of excavation and backfill[5]. If your walk-in shower moves the drain through the slab, expect that paperwork.
Fees from the city's Building Inspection fee page[4]:
| Carrollton fee item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Residential remodel | $125 |
| Single-trade permit (plumbing, electrical, mechanical) | $4 per $1,000 of value, $75 minimum |
| Re-inspection | $50 |
| Work started before the permit is issued | Investigation fee equal to the permit fee |
| Plumbing or general contractor registration | $0 |
The application processing fee is paid when you apply, and the balance before the permit is issued[4]. Fees are waived inside the city's Neighborhood Empowerment Zones[4], so ask the city whether your street is in one. Applications go through the CityServe portal, and the city takes questions at 972-466-3225[5]. Once the work is finished, an inspection must be scheduled[5].
Carrollton homes and what they mean for the job
Carrollton grew fast in the 1970s and 1980s. The median home was built in 1988, and 46.3% of homes date from 1970 to 1989[6]. About 26% were built before 1980[6]. About 59% of occupied homes are owner occupied, and 26.4% of owner households are headed by someone 65 or older[6].
What that age range can mean behind a bathroom wall:
- Polybutylene supply lines. This gray plastic pipe was made from 1978 to mid-1995 and installed in up to 10 million U.S. homes[7]. It is usually stamped "PB2110"[7]. If you see it when the wall is open, ask for a price to replace that section.
- Original fiberglass or tiled tubs. A 35 to 50 year old tub may hide water damage at the floor or wall. A good bid explains what happens if the subfloor or wall is soft.
- Under-slab drains. Moving the drain means opening the slab and, in Carrollton, a permit with the excavation letter[5].
Choosing a company in Carrollton
Carrollton says anyone doing plumbing, other than a homeowner on their own homestead, must be a licensed plumber registered as a contractor with the city[5]. Licenses come from the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (TSBPE), which has a public license search[9].
Good questions to ask:
- Is your plumber registered with Carrollton, and what is the TSBPE license number?
- Who files in CityServe, and are the remodel and plumbing permit fees in the quote?
- If the drain moves, who writes the excavation and backfill letter?
- What will you do if you find polybutylene or water damage?
- When will you schedule the final inspection?
When to call a pro
- Any change to a valve, drain or supply line: a licensed plumber registered with Carrollton and a permit.
- Opening the slab to move or repair a drain: a permit and the plumber's excavation and backfill letter.
- Gray plastic pipe marked PB2110 in the wall: get a replacement price while the wall is open.
- Soft floor or stains around the old tub: check for a leak before the new shower is built.
More questions
Do I need a permit to replace a shower in Carrollton?
Yes, if plumbing is involved. Carrollton requires a permit whenever any plumbing system is installed, altered, repaired, removed, converted or replaced, and an inspection once the work is done.
What happens if work starts before the Carrollton permit is issued?
Carrollton's fee page lists an investigation fee, equal to the permit fee, for work started before a permit is issued. In effect, starting early can double what you pay the city.
Does my Carrollton plumber need to register with the city?
Yes. Carrollton says anyone other than a homeowner working on their own homestead must be a licensed plumber registered as a contractor with the city. The city lists the registration fee for plumbing contractors as $0.
Sources
- OEWS May 2025, Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX metropolitan area: median hourly wage, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (47-2152) and Tile and Stone Setters (47-2044), series OEUM001910000000047215208 and OEUM001910000000047204408, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Accessed 2026-10-15.
- OEWS May 2025, national: median hourly wage, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (47-2152) and Tile and Stone Setters (47-2044), series OEUN000000000000047215208 and OEUN000000000000047204408, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Accessed 2026-10-15.
- How much does it cost to install a walk-in tub? (2026 data, updated Jan 28, 2026), Fixr. Accessed 2026-10-15.
- Building Inspection fees, City of Carrollton. Accessed 2026-10-15.
- Plumbing work, City of Carrollton, Building Inspection. Accessed 2026-10-15.
- American Community Survey 2024 5-year estimates, tables B25003, B25007, B25034 and B25035, Carrollton city, via Census Reporter, U.S. Census Bureau. Accessed 2026-10-15.
- Polybutylene for inspectors, InterNACHI. Accessed 2026-10-15.
- Texas Occupations Code Chapter 1301, Plumbers (sections 1301.051 and 1301.551), Texas Legislature. Accessed 2026-10-15.
- Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (license search), Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners. Accessed 2026-10-15.
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