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Bathroom Remodeling in Massachusetts and New Hampshire
A tub nobody uses that should be a walk-in shower, tile that has been letting water into the floor for years, a single bathroom for a family of five, or a basement that needs a half bath: bathrooms pack plumbing, wiring, ventilation and wet-area tile work into a small room. Call (978) 951-4644 or send the form. A person reads every request and replies with what happens next.
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Update or gut
Surfaces, fixtures or a whole new room
Surfaces. New tile, a new vanity top and paint are finish work. Massachusetts exempts painting, tiling, cabinets, countertops and similar finish work from a building permit, but notes that plumbing and electrical work may still need permits (780 CMR R105.2).
Fixtures and layout. Converting a tub to a shower, moving a toilet or vanity, or adding a fan circuit puts the job into licensed plumbing and electrical work. In Massachusetts, the only plumbing work allowed before a permit is issued is narrow, such as repairing a leak in a fixture or clearing a stoppage (248 CMR 3.05).
A new bathroom. Adding a bath where there wasn't one usually means new drain and vent lines, framing and sometimes cutting floor joists. Cutting or notching building elements for plumbing and wiring can bring in a building permit and a construction supervisor in Massachusetts (HIC contractor resources). A basement bathroom can have a ceiling as low as 6 feet 8 inches there (780 CMR R305.1).
Older bathrooms. In a pre-1978 home, paid work that disturbs paint follows lead-safe rules, and demolition of painted surfaces is always covered regardless of size (EPA RRP for contractors).
Massachusetts
A Massachusetts bathroom remodel
Who does what. The remodeling contractor on an existing owner-occupied home of one to four units generally must hold a Home Improvement Contractor registration (OCABR homeowner resources). The plumbing is done by a licensed plumber: the plumbing law requires a license or registration to work as a plumber, and plumbing permits are issued only to properly licensed individuals, never to apprentices (M.G.L. c.142 §3, 248 CMR 3.05). Wiring for lights, fans and heated floors is done by a licensed electrician (M.G.L. c.141 §1A). You can check plumbers and electricians on eLIPSE.
Your protections. Contracts over $1,000 must be written, deposits are capped at one-third unless special-order materials cost more, and a contract signed at home can be cancelled until midnight of the third business day (M.G.L. c.142A §2). Let the registered contractor pull the building permit: homeowners who pull their own are excluded from the Guaranty Fund (OCABR).
Pre-1978 homes. A licensed lead-safe renovation contractor must be used for renovation in a home built before 1978 (Department of Labor Standards).
New Hampshire
A New Hampshire bathroom remodel
Licensed plumbing. No person or business may work as a plumber in New Hampshire without a state license (Mec 300). An owner working on plumbing in their own single-family detached home or townhouse is exempt from licensing, but the work must still conform to the state plumbing code (RSA 153:36). To check a plumber's license, call OPLC at 603-271-2152 (OPLC license lookup).
The general contractor. The remodeler itself doesn't need a state license; the Attorney General says "contractors do not need to be licensed" and recommends asking for references, suppliers and proof of insurance, and getting a written contract before any work or payment (NH Attorney General).
Permits. Your town issues building permits and may keep stricter codes than the state (RSA 155-A:2). From January 1, 2027, permit requests follow the 2024 codes, after a concurrence period that runs through December 31, 2026 (Town of Merrimack code page).
Pre-1978 homes. Firms paid to disturb paint in a home built before 1978 must be EPA-certified (EPA RRP).
New Hampshire remodeling rules and the towns we cover.
Last verified November 2026. Fees, restrictions and deadlines on this page are due for re-checking by January 2027. New England Remodeling Pros is a referral service. We don't design, build or pull permits.
FAQ
Bathroom remodeling questions
Does retiling a bathroom need a permit?
Tiling on its own is listed as exempt from a building permit in the Massachusetts residential code. Replacing or moving fixtures is different: plumbing work in Massachusetts can't start until a plumbing permit is issued, and permits go to licensed individuals. In New Hampshire, your town building department sets what needs a permit.
Can a tub be converted to a shower?
Yes, it is one of the most common bathroom projects. The drain, valve and supply changes are plumbing work, done by a licensed plumber under a permit in Massachusetts, and by a licensed plumber in New Hampshire unless an exemption for owners applies.
How high does the ceiling need to be for a basement bathroom?
In Massachusetts, bathrooms and toilet rooms may have a ceiling height of not less than 6 feet 8 inches, while habitable rooms above the basement need 7 feet. In New Hampshire, ask your town building department.
What should be in the contract?
In Massachusetts, any job over $1,000 needs a written contract with the contractor's registration number, start and completion dates, the work and materials, the price and a payment schedule, and the deposit is limited to one-third. In New Hampshire, the Attorney General advises a written contract with the scope, materials, total price and payment schedule before any work or payment.
What does it cost me to use New England Remodeling Pros?
Nothing. The request and the referral are free; the contractor prices the work.
Town guides
Local rules for bathroom remodeling by town
Each town page covers that town's building permits, local review boards and the homes you'll find there. Towns with a local guide so far: Greater Lowell, MA (Lowell, Chelmsford, Dracut, Tewksbury, Billerica, Westford, Tyngsborough and Pepperell), Andover, Lawrence & Haverhill, MA (Methuen, Lawrence, Andover, North Andover and Haverhill), Woburn, Reading & Melrose, MA (Woburn, Lexington, Burlington, Wilmington, North Reading, Reading, Wakefield, Melrose, Stoneham and Winchester), Nashua Region, NH (Nashua, Hudson and Merrimack), Salem, Derry & Londonderry, NH (Pelham, Salem, Windham, Derry and Londonderry), Manchester & Bedford, NH (Manchester and Bedford) and Portsmouth, Dover & Rochester, NH (Portsmouth, Dover and Rochester). We add towns across New England as we can cover them properly.
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