Renovating in Bali is genuinely rewarding — and full of process questions that nobody explains clearly. Do you need a permit? How long will it really take? What happens at each stage? This guide walks through the practical reality of a Bali villa renovation from first idea to handover, based on the projects we run every week.
Do You Need a Permit?
The honest answer: it depends on what you are changing, and a lot of renovations need no permit at all.
No permit needed: like-for-like renovation inside the existing structure and footprint — new bathrooms, a new kitchen, flooring, repainting, pool resurfacing, replacing finishes. If you are not moving the external walls or roofline, you are generally fine.
Permit needed (PBG): Indonesia replaced the old IMB with the PBG (Persetujuan Bangunan Gedung, or Building Approval). You need it when you change the structure, alter the footprint, add a storey, or significantly change the building's function. The PBG process involves drawings, technical documents and approval from the local authority, and it takes time — typically several weeks to a few months depending on the regency and complexity.
A Realistic Timeline
Here is how the stages actually break down. The build itself is often the shortest part — design and permits front-load the calendar.
Design & quote (1–4 weeks)
Site visit, brief, drawings where needed, and a fixed-scope quote. Simple remodels skip most of this; full renovations spend real time here, and it is time well spent.
Permits, if required (3–12 weeks)
PBG approval runs in parallel with finalising design. Only structural and footprint changes trigger it. This is the stage most likely to extend a project, so we start it early.
Demolition & structure (1–4 weeks)
Strip-out, then any structural repair, beams, foundations and rough-in for new plumbing and electrics.
Wet areas & waterproofing (1–3 weeks)
Membrane waterproofing and flood-testing of every bathroom and terrace — the stage we will not rush, because it decides whether the villa stays dry for years.
Finishes (3–8 weeks)
Tiling, kitchen and joinery, painting, fixtures, glazing and outdoor works — the visible transformation.
Snagging & handover (1 week)
A walkthrough, a written snag list, every item fixed, then handover with warranties.
In total: a single bathroom is 2–4 weeks, a kitchen 3–5 weeks, and a full villa renovation typically 3–6 months including design and permits.
What to Expect During the Work
Dust and noise are real. Renovation is disruptive. If you are living in or renting the villa, we phase work and seal off active zones, but a full renovation really wants a vacant property. For rental villas we work around the booking calendar where we can.
Hidden surprises happen. Older Bali villas hide things — failed waterproofing, termite damage, dodgy original wiring. A good contractor stops, shows you photos, and agrees the variation before continuing. Budget a 10–15% contingency for this; it is normal, not a sign something has gone wrong.
Payment follows progress. Reputable renovation is paid against milestones — a mobilisation deposit, then staged payments as work completes. You should never be paying far ahead of what is built on the ground.
The Foreigner Question
Many of our clients are foreign owners renovating leasehold or company-held villas. Renovation itself is straightforward regardless of ownership structure, but if structural changes need a PBG, the approval is tied to the property and the proper documents need to be in order. We are used to working with foreign owners and their notaries and management companies, and we keep the process transparent so absent owners can follow it remotely with photo updates.
Start With a Conversation
Every villa is different, and the best first step is just to talk through your specific situation. Send us a video walkthrough and a description of what you want to change on WhatsApp — we will tell you whether you need a permit, roughly how long it will take, and what it is likely to cost. Browse our services or check the pricing page while you are deciding.