Which kitchen renovation projects require permits, what they cost, and how we handle the process so you don't have to.
One of the most common questions we hear from Palm Beach County homeowners is: "Do I need a permit for my kitchen remodel?" The short answer: it depends on what work is being done. Here's a clear breakdown of when permits are required in Palm Beach County, how to pull them, what they cost, and what happens if you skip the process.
All kitchen work in Palm Beach County falls under the Florida Building Code, administered locally through city building departments or the county's Planning, Zoning & Building Department. Code adoption cycles run every three years, so anything we reference here reflects the 8th Edition (2023) currently in force as of this writing.
In Palm Beach County, permits are required when your kitchen remodel involves any of the following:
If your project touches plumbing, electrical, structural, gas, or HVAC, assume you need a permit and plan accordingly. The 8th Edition Florida Building Code is strict on these categories because they're the ones most likely to cause fire, flood, or collapse if done wrong.
Cosmetic updates that don't alter plumbing, electrical, or structure typically don't require permits. This includes:
Even for non-permitted work, we always install to code. The difference between "permit required" and "not permitted" isn't about quality — it's about what the building department needs to inspect before closing the project out.
Palm Beach County has both city-level and county-level building departments. If you live in an incorporated city — like Boca Raton, West Palm Beach, Delray Beach, or Jupiter — permits go through your city's building department. If you live in unincorporated Palm Beach County — including parts of Wellington, Royal Palm Beach, and Greenacres — permits go through the Palm Beach County Building Division.
The typical process:
The county's Building Division and most cities post checklists online showing exactly which documents they expect. Reading one of those checklists before you start saves a round of back-and-forth with the reviewer.
Turnaround times vary by municipality. Based on our experience over the last two years:
These timelines are for standard kitchen remodels with complete submissions. Projects requiring structural engineering, historic district review (Flagler Drive, Northwood, parts of Delray), or HOA approval stack additional time on top. Expedited review is available in Boca Raton and West Palm Beach for an extra fee — typically cuts review time in half.
The single biggest cause of delay isn't the reviewer. It's incomplete plans on submission. A clean, complete package almost always clears first-round review.
Homeowners and cut-rate contractors sometimes try to skip permits to save time or fees. It's a bad bet. Here's what actually happens:
Stop-work orders. If a neighbor reports the work, or an inspector happens to drive by, the county can post a stop-work order. Everything halts until you pull a retroactive permit, which costs more and requires exposing finished work for inspection. We've seen homeowners rip out brand-new drywall and cabinets to show inspectors the rough plumbing underneath.
Fines. Unpermitted work typically carries a fine equal to double the original permit fee, sometimes more. Structural violations in Palm Beach County can run into thousands.
Insurance problems. If an unpermitted electrical circuit later starts a fire, most homeowner's policies have a clause that excludes damage from unpermitted modifications. You'd be out of pocket for the full loss.
Resale problems. When you sell, the buyer's inspector flags unpermitted work. The title company flags open permits. The lender may refuse to close on the home. We've watched deals fall apart the week of closing because an unpermitted wall removal turned up in the inspection report.
Hurricane season exposure. After a major storm, the county cross-references damage claims against permitted work. Unpermitted modifications found during post-storm reviews can delay or deny insurance payouts.
The upside of permits is more than just compliance. A closed permit is a paper trail that protects the home's value for decades.
At South Florida Kitchen & Bath Design, we manage the entire permit process for every project — from application and plan submission to scheduling inspections and obtaining final approval. You never need to visit a government office, wait in line, or decipher code requirements. It's built into our process and our pricing, so there are no surprise fees partway through the project.
Our project manager coordinates with the building department, tracks each inspection, and keeps you informed at every stage. If a reviewer asks for a revision, we handle it without slowing your project down. When the final inspection passes, we hand you the closed permit alongside the final walkthrough — proof on record that your new kitchen is fully compliant with Palm Beach County code.
Have questions about whether your specific project needs permits? Schedule a free consultation and we'll assess your scope, explain the permit requirements, and include everything in your detailed project quote. Call (561) 401-0064 or fill out the form on this page.
No — replacing cabinets in the same location without moving plumbing or electrical does not require a permit in Palm Beach County. If you are adding new outlets, moving the sink, or changing the gas line location, a permit is required.
Permit fees in Palm Beach County typically run $150–$500 for a standard kitchen remodel, depending on the scope of work and the municipality. Some cities like Boca Raton have slightly different fee schedules than unincorporated Palm Beach County.
Unpermitted work can lead to fines, a stop-work order, and required demolition of unpermitted construction. More importantly, it can cause problems during home sales — buyers' inspectors flag unpermitted work, and lenders may refuse to finance homes with open permit violations.
Most standard permits are approved within 5–15 business days. Projects requiring structural or electrical review can take 3–6 weeks. Expedited review is available in some municipalities for an additional fee.
Either can pull the permit, but standard practice is for the general contractor to pull it so the contractor is on record with the county as responsible for the work meeting code. Your GC handles permits as part of their project management — we coordinate the cabinetry, countertop, and finish work around their schedule.
Owner of South Florida Kitchen & Bath Design, serving Palm Beach County since 2016. Andre and his team have completed thousands of kitchen and bathroom renovations across Boca Raton, West Palm Beach, Wellington, Delray Beach, and the surrounding communities.