Sources
Data on every town page
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimates: housing units, tenure, units in structure, year structure built, median value (tables B25001, B25003, B25024, B25034, B25035, B25077), for places and ZIP code tabulation areas.
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025: median hourly wage of electricians, plumbers, carpenters, tile and stone setters, and painters, by metropolitan area and state.
- EPA: Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Program rules and EPA: firm certification and state programs.
Contractor laws by state
- Arizona: Arizona Revised Statutes 32-1121: exemptions
- California: CSLB industry bulletin 24-07: minor work threshold raised to $1,000
- California: CSLB, Contracting for Success: home improvement contracts
- Florida: Florida Statutes 489.103: exemptions
- Florida: Florida Statutes 489.117: job scopes local governments may not license
- Minnesota: Minnesota DLI: residential contractor licensing
- Nevada: Nevada Revised Statutes, chapter 624 (NRS 624.031, 624.510, 624.970)
- Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania Attorney General: home improvement contractor registration
- Utah: Utah Code 58-55-305: exemptions from licensure
- Virginia: Code of Virginia § 54.1-1100: contractor classes
Guides
Kitchen remodeling
- City of Las Vegas Building and Safety, When Do I Need a Permit? A Homeowner's Guide
- Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety, Information Bulletin P/GI 2020-003: Express Permits
- EPA: Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Program rules
Cabinet refacing
- EPA: Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Program rules
- Florida Statutes 489.117: job scopes local governments may not license
Countertop replacement
- California Department of Industrial Relations, Silica Safety Updates fact sheet, March 2026
- California Department of Public Health, Cal/OSHA silica standard: what employers need to know
- Florida Statutes 489.117: job scopes local governments may not license
- City of Las Vegas Building and Safety, When Do I Need a Permit? A Homeowner's Guide
New tops on old cabinets
- City of Las Vegas Building and Safety, When Do I Need a Permit? A Homeowner's Guide
- EPA: Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Program rules
Design consultation
- Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety, Information Bulletin P/GI 2020-003: Express Permits
- City of Las Vegas Building and Safety, When Do I Need a Permit? A Homeowner's Guide
Opening a wall
- City of Las Vegas Building and Safety, When Do I Need a Permit? A Homeowner's Guide
- Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety, Information Bulletin P/GI 2020-003: Express Permits
- Nevada Revised Statutes 624.510: Residential Recovery Fund
Electrical and appliances
After water damage
What it costs
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
- Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety, Building Permits Issued from 2020 to Present (open data)
- City of Las Vegas Building and Safety, When Do I Need a Permit? A Homeowner's Guide
Paying for it
- IRS Publication 936, Home Mortgage Interest Deduction
- IRS Publication 523, Selling Your Home
- CSLB, Contracting for Success: home improvement contracts
- Nevada Revised Statutes 624.970: residential improvement contracts
Permits
- City of Las Vegas Building and Safety, When Do I Need a Permit? A Homeowner's Guide
- Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety, Information Bulletin P/GI 2020-003: Express Permits
- Nevada Revised Statutes 624.510: Residential Recovery Fund
Checking a contractor
- Nevada Revised Statutes, chapter 624
- CSLB industry bulletin 24-07: minor work threshold raised to $1,000
- Arizona Revised Statutes 32-1121
- Utah Code 58-55-305
- Minnesota DLI: residential contractor licensing
- Florida Statutes 489.103 and 489.117
- Pennsylvania Attorney General: home improvement contractor registration
- Code of Virginia § 54.1-1100
- EPA: Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Program, firm certification
The contract
- CSLB, Contracting for Success: home improvement contracts
- Nevada Revised Statutes 624.970: residential improvement contracts
Lead-safe remodeling
- EPA: Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Program rules
- EPA: Renovation, Repair and Painting Program, firm certification
Timeline and order
- Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety, Information Bulletin P/GI 2020-003: Express Permits
- City of Las Vegas Building and Safety, When Do I Need a Permit? A Homeowner's Guide
- EPA: Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Program rules