Irvine HOA Approval for Kitchen and Bath Remodels
By Joseph, Licensed General Contractor, CSLB #1021647 / October 25, 2026
Quick answer: Get your association's remodel rules in hand before you sign with a contractor. On our Irvine master bathroom job, the homeowner ran the HOA approval, and the association gave us its allowed working hours and a permit to park on the street. Ask your HOA for its approval process, working hours and parking rules, and ask each contractor who files what.
Who handles HOA approval on an Irvine remodel?
It depends on the job and the contractor, so ask. On our Irvine master bathroom remodel, the homeowner ran the HOA approval. We did not handle the HOA paperwork on that job.
Before you hire, ask every contractor you talk to who files what. Do not assume the contractor will do it, and do not assume you will have to.
What did the HOA actually require of the contractor?
On that job, the association gave us its allowed working hours and a permit to park on the street, and the rest was straightforward. That is one job, not a rule for every Irvine association.
The project was a master bathroom gut renovation. We demoed to the studs and rebuilt with tile on the walls, floor and shower surround, a double vanity and a frameless glass shower enclosure. It took 5 weeks start to finish. We had no surprises on the job, and we put that down to the house being a 2020 build. If your house is older, ask your contractor how they handle what turns up after demolition.
What should you ask your HOA before you sign a contract?
Ask the association for its remodel rules and its approval process. Then ask what working hours are allowed and what the parking rules are for contractors and deliveries. We cannot tell you what your association requires, so ask yours.
Get the hours and parking in hand before you schedule demolition and deliveries, because those dates depend on them. Then tell your contractor what the association gave you, so the schedule fits it from day one.
Is the City of Irvine part of this?
The city's Permits Not Required page says: "Please consult with your Homeowners' Association to see if your project is allowed within your association's CC&Rs." HOA approval and a city permit are separate things, so ask about both.
That page lists painting, papering and similar finish work as not needing a permit. It also lists removal and reinstallation or replacement of water closets, sinks, garbage disposals or dishwashers, provided the work does not involve or require the replacement or rearrangement of valves, pipes or fixtures. Cabinets, countertops, flooring and tile are not on that page, so ask the city about them. If your scope does need a permit, the city also has a Building Permits and Inspections page.
This is general information, not professional advice. Confirm with the City of Irvine and your association.
What did the finished Irvine bathroom look like?
CRS Construction is a licensed Orange County general contractor, CSLB #1021647, based in Fountain Valley. The clients on the Irvine bathroom were a pleasure to work with on picking the materials, and the homeowner had a great eye for design and color coordination. The finished room has a freestanding fluted tub, a curbless walk-in shower with a linear drain, an arched niche, a rain head and a double vanity with wall-mounted brass faucets.
You can see more of our Irvine work on our Irvine page, or read about how we run bathroom remodeling jobs.