BATHROOM REMODELING
Bathroom Remodeling Contractor in
Long Beach, CA
With more than 10 years of experience, ARD Remodeling remodels bathrooms for homeowners in Long Beach, CA, from a new vanity and fresh tile to a tub that becomes a walk-in shower. The city publishes a bulletin for simple bathroom repairs that need no plan submission, and it draws the line at walls and at new plumbing or electrical runs. The free estimate starts by working out which side of that line your bathroom sits on.
- Free estimates
- Tub or shower
- Waterproofing first
- Scope in writing
Where to begin
Three sizes of bathroom job
Most Long Beach bathrooms we are asked about fall into one of three groups. Naming yours early keeps the estimate honest and the sequence of work clear.
Surface refresh
New tile, counters, cabinets or fixtures in the places the old ones stood. Nothing inside the walls changes.
Tub to shower, or the reverse
Same room, different main fixture. The drain, the valve and the framing around them are reworked.
Moved fixtures or walls
Relocating the toilet or vanity, widening the room, or closing and opening doorways.
LONG BEACH PERMITS
Which route does a bathroom take?
A planning guide, not a ruling. The Permit Center decides which route applies, and the city's express bulletin defines its own list.
On the express list
- Bathroom cabinets, counters and flooring
- Wall finishes and tile
- Plumbing and electrical fixtures, with no new openings or lines through existing walls
- Minor bathroom remodels, which can also be applied for and paid for online
Outside it, or needing review
- Changing or removing a wall or an opening
- New plumbing or electrical fixtures that penetrate existing walls
- A property in the Coastal Zone or a Historic District
- A qualified historical building
Permit Center
562.570.PMIT (7648), at City Hall, 411 W. Ocean Blvd.
Two bulletins to know
IB-058 lists the express projects, and IB-056 covers the bathroom itself.
Even where plan review is skipped, the city's bulletin says an Express Permit does not excuse code violations found at inspection. We scope to the code, not just to the list.
Inside the room
What the city's bathroom bulletin asks for
The bulletin, IB-056, last revised in August 2020, sets water-conserving flow limits for toilets, showerheads and bathroom faucets. It also covers lighting, ventilation, plumbing clearances, outlets and glass around the tub or shower. We carry those lines into the scope so the fixtures and details you pick are ones the room can actually use. Code editions move, so we confirm the current numbers with the Permit Center before anything is ordered.
A fan that ends outdoors
Each bathroom needs mechanical ventilation that terminates outside the building and runs on a humidity control.
GFCI throughout
Every bathroom outlet is GFCI protected, and one sits within 3 feet of the edge of each sink basin.
Tempered glass near water
Glass in walls or enclosures around a tub or shower, where the bottom edge is under 60 inches above the floor, must be tempered.
Lights over the tub
No electrical fixtures within 3 feet to the side or 8 feet above a tub or shower, and recessed lights there need a damp-location rating and a cover.
TUB, SHOWER OR BOTH
Choosing the main fixture
This choice drives the plumbing, the glass and the footprint, so make it before the tile is picked.
Walk-in shower
Best for: Replacing a tub that rarely gets used
- Wall and floor tile can run as one surface
- A glass panel keeps the room open
- Space freed for a wider vanity
Keep in mind: It must meet the city's minimum shower size, a 30-inch circle, and the floor has to slope to the drain.
Alcove tub with shower
Best for: Households that want a soak and a shower in one footprint
- Fits the standard tub opening
- Tile or a surround up the wall
- Fewer framing changes
Keep in mind: Any glass beside it that sits lower than 60 inches off the floor has to be tempered.
Tub plus a separate shower
Best for: Larger primary baths
- Two fixtures that can be used at once
- Room for a freestanding or deep tub
- More freedom in the layout
Keep in mind: It needs the floor area and a second set of plumbing lines.
FLOORS AND THRESHOLDS
Pattern, grout and edges underfoot
A bathroom floor is walked on, seen and cleaned every day. We choose the pattern, the grout color and the threshold into the next room together, so the floor meets the hallway, the tub and the vanity cleanly.
- Pattern scaleSmaller repeats suit small floors; larger ones mean fewer cuts at the edges.
- Grout colorPicked alongside the tile, not after, so the two work as a pair.
- Doorway thresholdThe step between bathroom and hall is planned so the change in height stays small.
State rule
Fixtures that must be water-saving by final sign-off
Civil Code section 1101.4 says that on building alterations or improvements to single-family residential real property, the permit applicant replaces all noncompliant plumbing fixtures with water-conserving ones as a condition of the local building department's final approval. In practice that can put toilets, showerheads and faucets outside the bathroom on the list. How far the city reads it in your house is a question for the Permit Center, and we put the answer in the scope.
It rides on final approval
The condition attaches to the end of the permit, so budget for it at the start.
Single-family property
The statute speaks of single-family residential real property. A condo or townhome is a separate question, so ask us.
Your address
Bathrooms in the Coastal Zone or a historic district
The city's express bulletin says an Express Permit can be issued for simple projects except those located within a Coastal Zone or a Historic District, or on a qualified historical building. If your address is one of those, the shortcut is off the table before we begin. We look the address up first and confirm the route with the Permit Center, so nothing is ordered before the route is known.
Look up the address
The city publishes its Coastal Zone map and its list of historic districts.
Call the Permit Center
Building questions go to 562.570.PMIT (7648).
Online, at any hour
For the minor bathroom remodel category the city says its online process is also open outside regular business hours.
READY FOR THE ESTIMATE
What to note before the visit
Short answers are enough.
- 1Your address, so we can check the Coastal Zone and historic-district lists
- 2Whether the fixtures stay where they are or move
- 3Where the exhaust fan vents today, if there is one
- 4Which outlets in the room are GFCI, if you know
- 5Any glass around the tub or shower right now
- 6Photos of each wall, the floor and the ceiling
- 7Your HOA contact, if there is one
Answers can be rough. We sort out the rest in the room.
MORE IN THIS CITY
More Remodeling in Long Beach
Service overviewKitchen RemodelingBeautiful kitchens that bring together thoughtful design, quality materials and expert craftsmanship.See the service 
Service overviewFlooring & TileStylish, durable, and professionally installed flooring and tile for every room in your home.See the service 
Service overviewTile InstallationFloor, shower, backsplash and patio tile installed on a properly prepared surface, with clean layouts and neat grout lines.See the service 
Service overviewWhole-Home RenovationsDesign, construction and finishing details brought together into one carefully coordinated project.See the service 
Service overviewLighting InstallationRecessed lights, pendants, chandeliers, under-cabinet and outdoor lighting, wired safely and placed where it matters.See the service 
Service overviewPaintingFlawless finishes, lasting beauty, and attention to detail in every interior and exterior painting project.See the service
All remodeling in Long BeachEverything we do in this city, on one page.LIKE FOR LIKE, OR A NEW LAYOUT?
What would you change if nothing were in the way?
Tell us about the bathroom and what bothers you about it. We will say which route it probably follows.
HOW IT WORKS
How a bathroom remodeling project runs
Step 1
Measure and ask
We measure the room, note the fan, the outlets and the glass, and ask what you want to keep.
Step 2
Choose, then write it down
Tile, fixtures and the main tub or shower choice are settled together, then the scope is put on paper.
Step 3
Match the plan to a city route
We work out whether the plan fits the express list, the online category or a plan review, and we help with the paperwork and approvals.
Step 4
Build, then walk through
Demolition, rough plumbing, waterproofing, tile and finishes run in order, inside the city's permitted hours.
Good to know
Before you start in Long Beach
Every point below comes from the source shown on its card, with the date we last checked it. Rules change, so confirm anything that affects your project directly with the source.
- Official source
Online category for minor remodels
The city's online permitting page lists Minor Repair/Alteration for One- and Two-Family Dwellings, limited to a minor kitchen remodel, a minor bathroom remodel and minor drywall/plaster repair. It says you can apply and pay for these projects online using the Customer Portal, and that the process is also available outside of regular business hours. Owners or contractor's agents need to attach a letter of authorization. For other simple or minor express work, it refers to IB-058, Express Permit Services.
City of Long Beach, Online Permitting Checked 2026-10-30 - Official source
Express list and its limits
Information Bulletin IB-058, Express Permit Service, says an Express Permit can be issued for simple construction projects that need no plan submission, except for projects located within a Coastal Zone or a Historic District or on a qualified historical building. Item B4, Bathroom: repair and/or replace existing bathroom cabinets, flooring, wall finishes, tile, counters and/or plumbing/electrical fixtures only. No change in walls or openings is permitted, and no penetration of new plumbing or electrical fixtures into existing walls is allowed.
City of Long Beach, Information Bulletin IB-058 Checked 2026-10-30 - Official source
Residential bathroom remodel bulletin
Information Bulletin IB-056, Residential Bathroom Remodel (revised 01-27-2025), lists water-conserving fixtures as 1.28 gallons per flush for toilets, 1.8 gallons per minute at 80 psi for showerheads and 1.2 gallons per minute at 60 psi for bathroom faucets (CalGreen 4.303). It also requires a bathroom exhaust fan that is humidity controlled and terminates outside the building, GFCI protection for all bathroom outlets, a minimum shower size of 1024 square inches and a 30-inch circle, and tempered glazing where glass around a tub or shower is less than 60 inches above the walking surface.
City of Long Beach, Information Bulletin IB-056 Checked 2026-10-30 - California law
Water-saving fixtures at final approval
Civil Code section 1101.4(a), as enacted by SB 407: on and after January 1, 2014, for all building alterations or improvements to single-family residential real property, as a condition for issuance of a certificate of final completion and occupancy or final permit approval by the local building department, the permit applicant shall replace all noncompliant plumbing fixtures with water-conserving plumbing fixtures.
California Legislature, SB 407 (2009), enrolled bill text Checked 2026-10-30
FAQ
Bathroom Remodeling questions in Long Beach
Direct answers to what homeowners ask us most. If your question is not here, call or send a request.
- Long Beach
- Permits
- Clear scope
Can a Long Beach bathroom remodel go through an express or online permit?
The city lists bathroom repairs among its express examples and a minor bathroom remodel among its online categories, but both are limited. Changes to walls or openings and new fixture runs fall outside the express bulletin. The Permit Center, at 562.570.PMIT (7648), confirms where your plan lands.
What does the express bulletin allow inside a bathroom?
It covers repairing or replacing existing cabinets, flooring, wall finishes, tile, counters and plumbing or electrical fixtures. It does not allow a change to walls or openings, and it does not allow new fixture lines through existing walls.
Does it matter if my house is near the coast?
It can. The express bulletin leaves out projects in a Coastal Zone, in a Historic District or on a qualified historical building. We check your address against the city's maps before we promise a route.
Can I swap a tub for a shower?
Usually. We check the framing, the drain position and whether it is your only tub. Whether the change fits the express list depends on the walls and lines involved, so the Permit Center has the final word.
Which fixtures does California make me replace?
For a permitted alteration of a single-family home, Civil Code section 1101.4 makes replacing noncompliant plumbing fixtures a condition of final approval. We list what to replace in the scope and ask the Permit Center how far the city reads the rule in your house.
Why does the city care about the exhaust fan?
Its bathroom bulletin asks for a humidity-controlled fan that ends outside the building, which keeps moisture out of the framing and the attic. If your fan is old or vents into the attic, we plan the change with the rest of the work.
Will you help with the permit paperwork?
Yes, we help with the paperwork and approvals the project calls for. Owners and contractors' agents applying online attach a letter of authorization, and we sort out which forms apply while we write the scope.
Service area
Bathroom Remodeling near Long Beach
We work across Riverside, Orange, Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties. Call or send a request and we will confirm your address.
Prefer the full overview?
Bathroom Remodeling: main service page
READY TO GET STARTED?
Planning a bathroom remodeling project in Long Beach?
Tell us about your home and your plans. We will confirm the details and set up your free estimate.