How much does it cost to repipe a house in Virginia?

The short answer

There is no fair single number for repiping a house in Virginia. Two houses of the same size can be priced far apart because one has an open basement and the other has finished ceilings over a slab. What you can control is the quality of the quotes: get two or three licensed plumbing contractors to price the same scope, in writing, after they have looked at the house.

If you are still deciding whether you need a repipe at all, start with what repiping a house involves.

What drives the price

• Number of fixtures and bathrooms. Every sink, toilet, tub, shower, hose bib, washer box, ice maker and the water heater is a connection to make. More bathrooms means more pipe and more connections.
• Access. An unfinished basement or a roomy crawlspace lets the crew run pipe along open joists. Finished ceilings, plaster walls, tight crawlspaces or a slab foundation mean more openings, more time and more patching.
• Number of floors. Getting pipe up to a second or third floor usually means more wall openings and longer runs.
• Pipe material. PEX and copper are priced differently, and the labor differs too. Flexible PEX bends around corners instead of needing an elbow at each turn, so it can often be fished through walls with fewer openings. Copper has more fittings and joints.
• Layout. A manifold with a separate line to each fixture uses more tubing than a trunk-and-branch layout but fewer fittings. Ask which one the quote assumes.
• Valves and extras. A new main shutoff valve, individual shutoffs at fixtures, a pressure-reducing valve or an expansion tank may or may not be in the base price.
• Patching and finish work. Some quotes include drywall patching, texture and paint; many do not.
• The permit. Every repipe needs one. Virginia's building code requires a permit before installations or alterations involving a building's water supply and distribution system,^[1] and the fee depends on your county or city.

Permit fees

Permit fees are set locally. As one example, when we checked Montgomery County's fee schedule on October 26, 2026, it listed a residential plumbing trade permit at $0.03 per square foot with a $45 minimum.^[2] The county bases its fees on Gross Building Area unless it says otherwise, adds a Virginia state levy of 2% of each fee and a technology fee of 2% with a $10 minimum on top of application fees, and notes that the building official may assess other or additional fees.^[2] The full schedule is the place to work out a total. Other localities charge differently, so ask for the fee to appear as its own line on the quote.

The Board for Contractors is clear about who should handle it: "The contractor should apply for and obtain any necessary building permits."^[6] The same guide warns that if the contract does not spell this out, "you may be held legally responsible for failure to obtain any required permits."^[6]

Costs that sit outside a typical repipe quote

The service line. Many repipes start at the main shutoff inside the house. The pipe from the meter or the well to the house is a separate job with digging involved. If it may be lead or galvanized, ask your water utility first; the EPA notes that some states and utilities pay for water testing or lead service line replacement.^[4]

Water treatment. If your copper failed because of acidic water, a repipe alone will not fix the cause. Extension warns that a new pipe material does not make the water any less corrosive,^[3] and that untreated corrosive water keeps corroding the metal parts of water heaters and other water-using appliances.^[3] Budget for a water test and, if needed, treatment; see what water treatment system you need.

Hidden damage. Old leaks can leave rotten subfloor or mold behind a wall. A good contract says how the crew will handle what they find and how it will be priced.

Comparing quotes

Virginia law requires all licensed contractors to provide a written contract for residential work.^[6] For a repipe, make sure each quote states:

• the pipe material, layout and brand, and where the new system starts and ends;
• every fixture and appliance being reconnected, and any new shutoff valves;
• who pulls the permit and what the fee is;
• how many days the job takes and when the water will be off;
• whether patching, texture and paint are included, and to what standard;
• what happens if the crew finds rot, mold or a failing service line;
• the warranty on the pipe and on the work.

If you plan to hire a painter or do the patching yourself, say so: "If you intend to do some of the work yourself or hire another contractor to do it, this also should be written into the contract."^[6] On payment, the Board's rule of thumb is a first deposit of no more than 10% of the total price or $1,000, whichever is less.^[6]

A much lower quote often leaves something out: the permit, the patching, or a few fixtures. Line the quotes up against the list above before you compare totals.

When to call a licensed pro

Repiping is licensed, permitted work. Virginia's plumbing contractor (PLB) classification covers the installation, alteration and removal of piping in connection with water supply systems within or adjacent to a building,^[5] so get your quotes from licensed plumbing contractors and check each licence before you sign; our guide to checking a contractor's licence shows how. Call promptly if you are seeing repeated leaks or rusty water, because water damage in walls and ceilings adds to the bill. If a pipe has burst, have it repaired first; the repipe can be planned afterwards. Our page on what fixing a water leak costs covers the repair side.

Get quotes

Loclis lists licensed businesses from Virginia's DPOR register with their licence number and class. Browse repiping services, look up plumbers in Blacksburg, or read more plumbing answers. When you are ready, describe the job once and licensed local businesses quote it.