How much does it cost to move plumbing during a kitchen renovation in NB?

Moving plumbing during a kitchen renovation in New Brunswick costs $1,500 to $4,000, depending on how far you're relocating the sink, whether drain lines need rerouting, and the condition of your existing plumbing. This is one of the most significant cost factors when changing a kitchen layout, and it requires a plumbing permit and inspection in every NB municipality.

The cost varies based on what's being moved and how far. Moving a sink 3 to 5 feet along the same wall — say, shifting it from a corner to a centre position — is the simplest scenario, typically $1,500 to $2,500. The supply lines (hot and cold water) are relatively easy to extend, and the drain line may only need a short extension. Moving a sink to a different wall or into a new island is significantly more complex, usually $2,500 to $4,000+, because the drain line needs to run across or under the floor, and maintaining proper slope for drainage (1/4 inch per foot) over longer distances requires careful planning.

Island sink plumbing deserves special attention. Running drain and supply lines to a kitchen island means going through the floor, which involves cutting into the subfloor and potentially the floor joists below. In homes with basements (common in Moncton, Fredericton, and Saint John), this is manageable because the plumber can work from below. In homes built on concrete slabs, it means cutting into the concrete — a much more expensive proposition that can add $1,000 to $2,000 to the project.

NB-Specific Plumbing Concerns

Many New Brunswick homes built before 1980 have galvanized steel plumbing, which corrodes internally over decades, reducing water pressure and potentially leaching contaminants. If your plumber discovers galvanized pipes while moving your kitchen plumbing, strongly consider replacing all accessible kitchen supply lines with copper or PEX at the same time. Doing it during a renovation — when walls are open — is far cheaper than dealing with it later. This adds $500 to $1,500 but eliminates a ticking time bomb.

The plumbing permit process in NB requires a rough-in inspection before walls are closed up. In cities like Moncton, Fredericton, and Saint John, the municipal building inspection department handles this with turnaround times of 1 to 3 weeks for the permit and typically 1 to 3 business days for the inspection once work is ready. Rural areas covered by Regional Service Commissions may take 2 to 5 weeks for permits and have less flexible inspection scheduling.

Dishwasher relocation is another plumbing cost to factor in. If you're moving your dishwasher to a new location, it needs a hot water supply line, a drain connection (ideally near the sink drain), and a dedicated electrical circuit. Keeping the dishwasher adjacent to the sink — on either side — minimizes plumbing costs significantly. Moving it to the opposite side of the kitchen can add $800 to $1,500.

A practical tip: before committing to a layout change that involves moving plumbing, ask your contractor for a quote on the plumbing relocation separately from the overall renovation quote. This lets you evaluate whether the layout improvement is worth the additional plumbing cost. Sometimes a modest compromise in sink placement saves thousands. Find local kitchen renovation contractors through the New Brunswick Construction Network to get detailed estimates for your project.

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Looking for experienced contractors? The New Brunswick Construction Network connects homeowners with qualified professionals:

• Gionetterenovations
• Thirty Four Renovations