Home Remodeling in Riverside

More than half of Riverside's homes were built before 1980

The Census Bureau's 2024 American Community Survey counts 99,910 homes in Riverside with a median year built of 1976. About 56 percent went up before 1980, 27 percent before 1960, and 6,284 homes date to 1939 or earlier. The 1950s alone added 16,583. In a house that age, a kitchen or bathroom remodel often opens walls on galvanized pipe, an undersized electrical panel or no insulation at all, so budget for what you find behind the plaster, not only for the new finishes.

Source: Census ACS 2024 5-year, Table B25034, Riverside city

In a Riverside historic district, vinyl replacement windows are not acceptable

Riverside requires a Certificate of Appropriateness, a design approval from its historic preservation staff or Cultural Heritage Board, for any rehabilitation, alteration or demolition of a designated or eligible historic resource, and for both contributing and non contributing buildings inside a Historic District or Neighborhood Conservation Area. The city's residential historic district design guidelines say vinyl windows and aluminum sliders are not acceptable replacements unless they already exist on a non historic house, that replacements should match the original windows in style, size, material and profile, and that additions should sit toward the rear. If you want better energy performance, the guidelines point you to storm windows instead of new ones. The upside is the Mills Act, a property tax reduction for owners who restore and maintain a historic house; Riverside takes applications from January 1 to May 31 each year.

Source: City of Riverside, Historic Preservation and Mills Act Programs

Riverside sits in California climate zone 10, where a new roof has to reflect heat

The California Energy Commission places every Riverside ZIP code in building climate zone 10, the hot inland zone. Under the 2025 Energy Code, in effect since January 1, 2026, a reroof on a pitched house roof in zones 4 and 8 through 15 has to use a cool roof product with an aged solar reflectance of at least 0.20, meaning it bounces back at least 20 percent of the sun's energy after three years of weathering. You can skip that if the attic already has R-38 insulation, a qualifying radiant barrier, no ducts in the attic (an option zone 10 allows), or R-2 or better continuous insulation at the roof deck. Ask your roofer which of these your house meets before you pick a color.

Source: Cool Roof Rating Council, 2025 California Energy Code cool roof requirements

How much does a kitchen or bathroom remodel cost in Riverside?

In the Census Bureau's 2023 American Housing Survey, owners in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario metro reported a median of $10,000 for a kitchen remodel and $9,000 for a bathroom remodel, both above the national medians of $8,000 and $5,000. Local trade wages also run above national levels, with carpenters at $34.08 an hour in May 2025.

Do I need a permit to remodel in Riverside?

Yes for most work. Riverside requires a permit to build, alter, repair or demolish a structure. Painting, tiling, carpeting, cabinets and countertops are exempt, as are fences up to 7 feet and sheds up to 120 square feet. A residential permit expires if work does not start within 12 months of issue.

Can I replace windows in a Riverside historic district?

Only with approval. Exterior changes to any house in a Historic District or Neighborhood Conservation Area need a Certificate of Appropriateness. The city's design guidelines say vinyl windows and aluminum sliders are not acceptable replacements and that new windows should match the originals in style, size and material. The process takes 6 to 8 weeks.

Do I need a cool roof in Riverside?

Usually. Riverside is in California building climate zone 10, and the 2025 Energy Code requires a reroof on a pitched home roof there to use a product with an aged solar reflectance of at least 0.20. Homes with R-38 attic insulation, a qualifying radiant barrier, no attic ducts or R-2 roof deck insulation are exempt.

How old are the houses in Riverside?

The 2024 Census estimates put the median year built at 1976. About 56 percent of Riverside's 99,910 homes predate 1980, 27 percent predate 1960, and 6,284 were built in 1939 or earlier, so many remodels involve original plumbing, wiring and windows.