Walk-In Showers and Bath Remodels in Richardson, TX: Costs (2026)

Walk-in shower cost in Richardson

Richardson is in the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington labor market, so our Dallas-area estimates apply. No published source prices Richardson bathrooms by themselves.

Richardson project (2026)	Estimate	Method and detail
Walk-in shower	$4,300 to $14,300, typical about $9,100	Dallas walk-in shower cost
Converting a tub to a shower	$1,900 to $11,500	Dallas conversion cost
Remodeling the whole bathroom	$5,700 to $17,200, typical about $11,500	Dallas remodel cost
Walk-in tub, set in place	$3,500 to $9,900	Dallas walk-in tub cost

The walk-in shower estimate starts from Modernize's national range of $4,500 to $15,000, where prefab kits run $2,000 to $5,000 and custom tile $7,000 to $15,000^[3]. We then lowered the labor half using May 2025 BLS wages: metro plumbers earn a median $29.45 an hour and tile setters $23.04, compared with $30.67 and $26.77 across the country^[1][2].

In an older Richardson bathroom, expect to land in the upper half. Demolition and repairs behind old tile take more hours than a swap in a newer house.

Permits in Richardson

Richardson's rule is simple. A building permit is required for all alterations, including moving or adding walls and modifying plumbing, electrical or mechanical systems^[4]. Texas law also requires cities over 5,000 people to permit plumbing work beyond leak repairs and a few swaps such as faucets and toilets^[7]. A walk-in shower with a new valve or drain needs a permit.

What Richardson asks for^[4]:

• A completed residential building permit application.
• Two sets of dimensioned before and after floor plans, with nearby rooms labeled and a written scope of work.
• A framing plan if walls or structure change, meeting the 2021 International Residential Code.
• The approved permit posted at the house before any work begins.

Submit by email to [email protected] or at Building Inspection, 2360 Campbell Creek Blvd., Suite 550^[4]. Questions go to 972-744-4164, weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.^[4].

Richardson's fee schedule, effective October 1, 2025^[5]:

Richardson fee item	Amount
Residential remodeling, 0 to 500 sq. ft.	$200 minimum
Residential remodeling, 501 sq. ft. and up	$200 plus $0.10 per sq. ft.
Reinspection	$50
Contractor registration	$100

Two rules on the same schedule matter^[5]. First, if work that needs a permit starts before the permit is issued, the fees may be doubled. Second, refunds are limited; if a permit is issued and no work starts, the city keeps $50.

All contractors must be registered with Richardson^[4]. State law says a plumber who must pull a permit does not have to pay a plumbing registration fee^[7], so the $100 fee mainly affects general remodelers. Ask the city if you are unsure.

Richardson homes and what they mean for the job

Richardson's housing is older than that of its northern neighbors. The median home was built in 1986, but 43.9% of homes predate 1980, and 36.7% were built in the 1960s and 1970s alone^[6]. Just over half (50.7%) of occupied homes are owner occupied, and 30.9% of owner households are headed by someone 65 or older^[6].

A bathroom in a 1960s or 1970s house often brings:

• Tile set in a thick mortar bed. Many contractors price extra demolition time for it.
• Original metal supply and drain lines. Ask the plumber to check the pipe you can see once the wall is open, and to price any replacement before tile goes up.
• A slab floor. Almost all new homes in this region sit on slabs (97.9% of 2024 starts)^[9], and a slab under the bathroom is common in older ones too. Keeping the drain where the tub drain is avoids cutting concrete.

With nearly a third of owners 65 or older, many Richardson projects are about safety. A curbless entry, a bench, and blocking for grab bars are easiest to add while the walls are open.

Choosing a company in Richardson

Plumbing licenses in Texas are issued by the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (TSBPE), and its license search is free^[8]. A homeowner may do plumbing on their own homestead without a license^[7]. Anyone you pay must be licensed.

Ask before you sign:

• Who prepares the before and after floor plans for the Richardson permit?
• Is your company registered with Richardson, and what is the plumber's TSBPE number?
• Will the permit be posted before demolition starts?
• How will you handle a mortar bed or old pipe found behind the tile?
• Can you build in a curbless entry or grab bar blocking?

When to call a pro

• Any plumbing change, from a new valve to a moved drain: a licensed plumber and a posted Richardson permit.
• Thick mortar-set tile or old metal pipe behind the wall: get the repair priced before tile work begins.
• Removing or moving a wall: a framing plan with the permit, and a check for load bearing.
• Planning for aging in place: ask for a curbless design and grab bar blocking in the written scope.