The general rule in Gilbert
Gilbert follows the same basic line as the rest of the Valley. Work that changes where water, drains or wiring run, or that cuts concrete or framing, is permitted work. Swapping what is already there for something new in the same place usually is not.
| Work | Permit? |
|---|---|
| New tile, vanity, faucet, toilet or paint in the same location | Usually no |
| Tub-to-shower conversion with the drain upsized or moved | Yes |
| Moving a toilet, sink or shower | Yes |
| Cutting the slab for a drain or curbless entry | Yes |
| New circuit, heated floor or new fan duct | Yes |
Who issues the permit
Gilbert is an incorporated town with its own building department. Residential remodel permits are issued by Town of Gilbert Development Services, not by Maricopa County. Requirements, fees and review times change, and they depend on your exact scope, so confirm the current rules with the town before work starts. A licensed contractor who works in Gilbert regularly will know the current process and should quote the fee in writing.
Why Gilbert homes need extra care: post-tension slabs
Much of Gilbert was built after the mid-1990s, and many of those homes sit on post-tension slabs. These slabs have steel cables under high tension running through the concrete. Look for a stamp in the garage floor warning not to cut or core the slab.
That matters for permits because the bathroom jobs people want most, such as moving a drain or building a curbless shower, involve cutting concrete. On a post-tension slab the cables must be located before any cut, and the town may ask for more detail on how the work will be done. Ask about this at the estimate, not after demo.
HOAs and who pulls the permit
Many Gilbert neighborhoods have an HOA. An HOA cannot issue or waive a building permit. It may have rules about work hours, dumpsters and contractor parking, so check before the start date.
The licensed contractor should pull the permit under their own license and meet the inspector. When a permit applies to your job, we pull it and the fee is included in the fixed price. Tub-to-shower conversions run $7,900 to $16,500 and full remodels run $18,500 to $60,000.
Key facts
- Issued by
- Town of Gilbert Development Services
- Permit needed when
- Plumbing, electrical, slab or walls change
- Usually no permit for
- Same-location fixture and finish replacement
- Local factor
- Post-tension slabs are common in Gilbert homes
Related questions
Where we do this work
Services: Full Bathroom Remodel · Tub-to-Shower Conversion
Bathroom remodeling in Gilbert, Chandler, Queen Creek, and across the Valley.