Kitchen Remodel Checklist for Palm Beach County (2026)

Most kitchen remodels that go sideways don’t fail on craftsmanship. They fail on sequence: appliances chosen after the cabinets were ordered, a countertop templated before the sink arrived, or a condo board that never approved the work. A good plan puts every decision in the order the job actually needs it.

This checklist walks through a kitchen remodel the way it happens in a Palm Beach County home, with the Florida rules that changed in 2026 built in. Use it to plan a full remodel, or skip to the phases that matter for a smaller refresh.

Key Takeaways

Lock in scope and budget first. Moving walls, plumbing or gas changes the cost, the permits and the timeline more than any finish you pick.
Choose appliances before cabinets, and the sink and faucet before countertops are templated. Specs drive every measurement after them.
Most kitchen remodels still need permits. Florida’s 2026 permit exemption (HB 803) covers only small building jobs on single-family homes, and never electrical, plumbing, gas or structural work.
Budget for the unseen: a 10 to 15 percent contingency, a temporary kitchen, and the time it takes to close the permit at the end.

Phase 1: Define the scope and the budget

Decide what kind of project this is

Before you look at a single cabinet door, decide which of these three projects you’re doing. It determines almost everything else on this checklist.

Project type	What usually changes	Permits
Refresh	Paint, hardware, lighting fixtures, backsplash, possibly countertops	Often minimal, but any electrical or plumbing work still needs a permit
Replace in place	New cabinets, countertops, appliances and flooring in the same layout	Usually electrical and plumbing permits, plus a building permit in most cities
Full remodel	New layout, moved walls, relocated sink or range, new lighting plan	Building, electrical, plumbing, and often mechanical or gas permits

If you’re moving the sink to an island, removing a wall, or switching from electric to gas cooking, you’re doing a full remodel even if the finishes are modest.

Set a realistic budget

National numbers are a useful starting point. The 2025 Cost vs Value report put a midrange minor kitchen remodel at about $28,458, a midrange major remodel at about $82,793 and an upscale major remodel at about $164,104 (Cost vs Value 2025). Angi’s data puts the average kitchen remodel near $27,000, with most homeowners spending between roughly $14,600 and $41,600 (NerdWallet).

Palm Beach County projects often land higher than national averages once you add local labor rates, condo requirements and the cost of moving utilities in slab-on-grade homes. Treat national figures as a range, not a quote.

A few budgeting rules hold up on almost every job:

Cabinetry is typically the largest single line item, so it’s where layout and door-style choices move the total most.
Set aside a contingency of 10 to 15 percent for what’s behind the walls: old wiring, water damage under the sink, or a floor that isn’t level.
Price the “small” items early. Lighting, outlets, a vented range hood, a filtered water line and appliance installation add up quickly.
Decide what you’ll do if bids come in high: cut scope, phase the work, or change finishes. Deciding that now prevents rushed choices later.

Phase 2: Permits and approvals in Palm Beach County

Your permit comes from the building department where the home is located. That’s your city (Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Boynton Beach, West Palm Beach and others run their own) or Palm Beach County’s Planning, Zoning and Building Department for unincorporated areas.

What usually needs a permit

Electrical work: new circuits, outlets, lighting, or appliance connections
Plumbing work: moving or adding a sink, dishwasher, ice maker or pot filler
Gas work: adding or moving a gas range or cooktop
Mechanical work: a range hood ducted to the exterior, or HVAC changes
Structural work: removing or altering walls, beams or openings
Exterior windows and doors

Florida’s 2026 permit exemption (HB 803)

Florida’s HB 803 was signed in May 2026 and took effect July 1, 2026. It lets owners of single-family homes skip the building permit for building work valued under $7,500 (WFSU). It’s narrower than it sounds:

Electrical, plumbing, mechanical, gas and structural work still require permits, regardless of cost.
It applies to single-family homes. Condos and other multifamily buildings don’t qualify.
Projects can’t be split into smaller pieces to stay under the threshold.
Cities are implementing it differently. Some require an exemption request before work starts, and some exclude homes in FEMA flood zones (City of Pompano Beach).

In practice, a cabinet-and-countertop swap with no new wiring or plumbing might qualify. Almost every real kitchen remodel won’t.

Paperwork that protects you

Notice of Commencement. If your contract is over $5,000, Florida’s lien law requires a recorded Notice of Commencement on file before the first inspection (Fla. Stat. 713.135).
Condo and HOA approval. Associations often require plans, a contractor’s license and insurance certificates, and work-hour limits. Approval can take weeks, so submit early. See how we handle permits and HOA/condo approvals.
New code on the way. The 9th Edition (2026) Florida Building Code takes effect December 31, 2026, and adopts the 2023 National Electrical Code (ICC). If your permit is submitted near that date, ask which edition your plans will be reviewed under.

Phase 3: Hire a licensed contractor

In Florida, a remodel that touches structure, electrical, plumbing or gas has to be done by licensed contractors. Before you sign:

Look up the license with the state’s Verify a License tool and confirm it’s active.
Ask for proof of general liability and workers’ compensation coverage.
Get a written contract with the scope, materials, allowances, schedule and payment draws. Contracts over $2,500 must include a notice about Florida’s Homeowners’ Construction Recovery Fund (Fla. Stat. 489.1425).
Ask who pulls the permits. If a contractor suggests you pull them as an “owner-builder,” you take on the legal responsibility for the work.
Ask for lien releases from suppliers and subcontractors as you make payments.

Phase 4: Design a layout that works

Good kitchens follow a few dimensions that the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) has refined for decades. Use them to sanity-check any layout (NKBA Kitchen Planning Guidelines):

Guideline	Recommended minimum
Work aisle, one cook	42 inches
Work aisle, two or more cooks	48 inches
Walkway	36 inches
Behind seated diners, no traffic	32 inches
Behind seated diners, with traffic	44 inches
Knee space at a 36-inch counter	15 inches deep, 24 inches wide per seat
Landing space beside the sink	24 inches on one side, 18 on the other
Landing space beside the cooktop	12 inches on one side, 15 on the other
Dishwasher to sink	Within 36 inches

Florida homes add a few considerations of their own:

Ventilation. A range hood ducted to the outside handles heat, grease and humidity far better than a recirculating model.
Moisture. Plan for a leak pan or water sensor under the sink and refrigerator, and choose cabinet boxes and finishes rated for humidity.
Windows. If you’re enlarging or replacing a kitchen window, it needs to meet current impact and wind-load requirements.
Islands and outlets. Under the 2023 NEC that Florida adopts with the new code, island outlets become optional, but the island still needs provisions for adding one later (AIBD).

Phase 5: Make selections in the right order

The order you choose things in matters as much as what you choose:

Appliances first. Model numbers set the cabinet openings, electrical loads, gas lines and ventilation.
Cabinets and layout next, including the door style, interior organizers and panel-ready appliance fronts.
Sink and faucet before the countertop template, so the fabricator has the actual sink in hand.
Countertop material, edge profile and backsplash height.
Lighting, outlets and switches, including under-cabinet lighting.
Flooring, paint, hardware and trim.

Then order long-lead items before demolition starts. National guides put semi-custom cabinet lead times around four to eight weeks and fully custom cabinetry at several months (Fixr). Starting demolition before cabinets ship is how a six-week job turns into a four-month one.

Phase 6: Get your home ready

Set up a temporary kitchen with a microwave, coffee maker, fridge and a folding table in another room.
Empty cabinets and pantry, and box what you won’t need for a couple of months.
Plan for dust, noise and access: where the dumpster or trailer goes, which entrance crews will use, and where pets will stay.
In a condo, confirm work hours, elevator reservations, parking and any security deposit with management.

Phase 7: Construction, in the order it happens

Protection and demolition
Floors, doorways and HVAC returns are protected, then old cabinets, counters and finishes come out.
Structural changes
Walls, beams or openings are framed if the layout is changing.
Rough-in
Plumbing, electrical, gas and ventilation are run to their new locations.
Rough inspections
The building department inspects the work before anything is covered up.
Drywall and prep
Walls are closed, patched, primed and ready for cabinets.
Flooring
Depending on the material and plan, flooring goes in before or after the cabinets.
Cabinet installation
Boxes are set level and secured, then fillers, panels and crown are fitted.
Countertops
Counters are templated after the base cabinets are installed, then fabricated and installed.
Backsplash and finishes
Tile, trim and paint go in, followed by hardware.
Fixtures and appliances
The sink, faucet, lighting and appliances are connected.
Final inspections
Each permit gets its final inspection and is closed out.
Punch list
You walk the kitchen with your contractor and list anything that needs adjustment.

For a typical full remodel, the on-site work often runs about 6 to 12 weeks once materials are on hand. Moving load-bearing walls or relocating drains can stretch a project to several months (Fixr).

Phase 8: Close out the project properly

The last step is the one homeowners skip most often:

Confirm every permit has passed final inspection and shows as closed. Open permits can surface when you sell or refinance.
Collect final lien releases before the last payment.
Keep warranties, appliance manuals and the countertop care instructions together.
Take photos of the finished kitchen and of any open walls before they were closed, if your contractor has them.

Florida tip

If your home is in a FEMA flood zone, a large remodel combined with other recent work can trigger the “50 percent rule,” which requires bringing the whole house up to current flood standards. Ask your building department early if you’re planning a major renovation.

How North2South helps with kitchen remodels

North2South Renovations is a licensed Florida contractor (CBC1269429) that remodels kitchens across Palm Beach County, from Boca Raton and Delray Beach to Boynton Beach and West Palm Beach. We handle the design, permits, condo and HOA paperwork, custom cabinetry and installation as one project, so the sequence above stays in order.

Explore our kitchen remodeling services, see how we approach kitchen design and planning, or browse our custom cabinets. When you’re ready, request a free in-home estimate.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a permit to remodel my kitchen in Palm Beach County?

Usually, yes. Any electrical, plumbing, gas, mechanical or structural work needs a permit from your city or the county. Florida’s 2026 law (HB 803) only exempts building work under $7,500 on single-family homes, and it never covers electrical, plumbing, gas or structural changes.

How much does a kitchen remodel cost in Palm Beach County?

National data from the 2025 Cost vs Value report ranges from about $28,000 for a midrange minor remodel to more than $160,000 for an upscale major remodel. Your cost depends on layout changes, cabinetry, countertops and appliances. An in-home estimate is the only reliable number.

How long does a kitchen remodel take?

Plan on several weeks of design, ordering and permitting, then roughly 6 to 12 weeks of construction for a typical full remodel. Moving walls or plumbing, custom cabinetry and condo approvals can extend that.

Can I live at home during a kitchen remodel?

Most families do. Set up a temporary kitchen in another room and expect dust, noise and a few days without water at certain stages. Larger whole-home projects sometimes make a short move-out worthwhile.

Should I buy appliances before cabinets?

Yes, or at least choose the exact models. Appliance dimensions, power and gas requirements and ventilation specs determine cabinet sizes and the rough-in, so they need to be locked in first.

What do people most often forget in a kitchen remodel?

Enough outlets and landing space, under-cabinet lighting, a ducted range hood, trash and recycling pull-outs, and closing the permits at the end.

References

2025 Cost vs Value Report, Journal of Light Construction.
Kitchen Remodel Cost, NerdWallet, updated January 2026.
A New Florida Law Will Drop Permits for Low-Cost Home Projects, WFSU Public Media, May 2026.
House Bill 803: Building Permit Exemption for Projects Under $7,500, City of Pompano Beach.
Florida Statutes 713.135, Notice of Commencement and Applicability of Lien, Florida Senate.
Florida Statutes 489.1425, Duty of Contractor to Notify Residential Property Owner of Recovery Fund, Florida Senate.
Florida Adopts New Building Codes, ICC-NTA, September 2026.
Kitchen Planning Guidelines, National Kitchen & Bath Association.
Changes in Outlets on Island and Peninsular Countertops, American Institute of Building Design.
How Long Does a Kitchen Remodel Take?, Fixr, January 2025.

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Kitchen Remodel Checklist: A Step-by-Step Planning Guide for Palm Beach County