Kitchen and Bathroom Remodel Permits in South Florida – Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach County 2026

Kitchen and bathroom remodels are among the most popular residential construction projects in South Florida, yet they are also among the most frequently attempted without proper permits. This is a costly mistake. Kitchen and bathroom renovations in Miami-Dade County, Broward County, and Palm Beach County almost always require multiple permits — building, electrical, plumbing, and sometimes mechanical — because these spaces contain the most complex and safety-critical building systems in any home. Unpermitted kitchen and bathroom work creates fire hazards, water damage risks, insurance complications, and severe obstacles to property sales.

Why Kitchen and Bathroom Remodels Require Permits

Kitchens and bathrooms contain electrical systems (outlets, lighting, appliance circuits), plumbing systems (water supply, drain lines, gas lines), and sometimes mechanical systems (range hoods, exhaust fans). When any of these systems are modified, relocated, added, or replaced during a remodel, permits are required. Even a cosmetic remodel that appears to only involve new cabinets and countertops often involves relocating electrical outlets, adding circuits for new appliances, moving plumbing for a different sink location, or installing a new range hood system — all of which require permits.

The Florida Building Code requires that all work in kitchens and bathrooms meet current code standards for electrical safety (GFCI protection on all kitchen and bathroom outlets), plumbing venting, and ventilation. Government inspections verify these requirements are met before walls are closed and finished.

Kitchen Remodel Permit Requirements

A complete kitchen remodel in South Florida typically requires:

Building Permit: Required when structural modifications are made — removing walls, changing door or window locations, or making any structural change. Also required when the scope of work meets the building permit threshold for the applicable jurisdiction.

Electrical Permit: Required in virtually all kitchen remodels because kitchens have strict electrical requirements: dedicated 20-amp circuits for small appliances, dedicated circuit for the refrigerator, dedicated circuit for the dishwasher, dedicated circuit for the microwave, dedicated circuit for the range or cooktop, GFCI protection on all countertop outlets within 6 feet of a sink, and under-cabinet lighting circuits.

Plumbing Permit: Required when the sink location changes, when new plumbing is added, when the garbage disposal is installed on a new circuit, or when any plumbing modification is made. If a kitchen island is added with a sink, both plumbing and electrical permits are required.

Mechanical Permit: Required when a new range hood is installed that vents to the exterior through new ductwork, or when an existing range hood duct system is rerouted or modified.

Gas Permit (part of plumbing): Required when gas line work is performed for gas ranges, gas ovens, or gas cooktops.

Bathroom Remodel Permit Requirements

Bathroom remodels in South Florida typically require:

Building Permit: Required for structural modifications including moving walls, changing window locations, or converting a half-bath to a full bath that requires structural changes.

Electrical Permit: Required because bathrooms have specific electrical requirements: GFCI protection on all bathroom outlets, proper lighting circuits, exhaust fan circuits, and circuits for heated towel bars, steam showers, heated floors, and other electrical bathroom fixtures.

Plumbing Permit: Required when plumbing fixture locations change, when a tub is replaced with a shower or vice versa, when new fixtures are added, or when plumbing systems are modified. A master bathroom expansion that adds a double vanity, freestanding tub, and walk-in shower requires substantial plumbing work under permits.

Millwork and Cabinet Installation Requirements

Custom millwork and cabinetry installation — including kitchen cabinets, bathroom vanities, built-in closets, home office built-ins, entertainment centers, and other built-in furniture — may or may not require a building permit depending on the scope and whether electrical or plumbing work is involved. At minimum, the electrical work for under-cabinet lighting, appliance circuits, and outlets within millwork requires an electrical permit. Always confirm with the applicable building department whether the specific millwork scope requires a building permit.

Flooring Permit Requirements

Floor replacement — new tile, wood, vinyl plank, or other flooring installed over the existing substrate — generally does not require a permit in South Florida when it is a like-for-like flooring replacement without any structural work. However, when floor replacement involves: raising the floor level, modifying the structural subfloor, installing radiant floor heating systems, or occurs as part of a larger renovation that requires permits, flooring may be included within the overall permit scope.

Kitchen and Bathroom Permit Process in South Florida

Miami-Dade County: Kitchen and bathroom remodel permits are processed through the Miami-Dade Building Department. The county has an online permitting portal for certain residential permit types. (786) 315-2000, miamidade.gov/permits.

Broward County: Kitchen and bathroom permits in municipalities served by Broward County Building Division are processed at (954) 765-4400, broward.org/building. The Broward County online permitting portal allows application submission and inspection scheduling.

Palm Beach County: Kitchen and bathroom permits are processed at (561) 233-5100 or (561) 274-1200 (South County). Palm Beach County's MyGovernmentOnline portal allows online permit submission for some project types.

Plan review for residential kitchen and bathroom permits typically takes 5 to 30 days for a complete and correctly prepared application package.

Contractor Requirements for Kitchen and Bathroom Remodels

Kitchen and bathroom remodels require multiple licensed trades. The general contractor or building contractor oversees the overall project and holds the building permit. The electrical work requires a licensed electrical contractor. The plumbing work requires a licensed plumbing contractor. The mechanical work (range hood, exhaust ventilation) requires a licensed mechanical contractor or a contractor with the appropriate scope of licensure.

Do not hire contractors who promise to do all trades without appropriate licenses. A general contractor cannot perform electrical, plumbing, or mechanical work under their building contractor license unless they also hold the applicable specialty licenses.

USD Costs and Fees for Kitchen and Bathroom Permits

Kitchen and bathroom remodel permits in South Florida generate USD fees across all permit types: building permit fees, electrical permit fees, plumbing permit fees, and mechanical permit fees. Total permit costs for a comprehensive kitchen remodel can range from a few hundred to several thousand USD depending on the scope of work and the applicable jurisdiction's fee schedule.

Reinspections cost USD fees per visit. Failed inspections due to incorrect GFCI placement, improper plumbing venting, or non-code-compliant installation require correction and reinspection at additional USD cost.

Insurance and Resale Benefits of Permitted Kitchen and Bathroom Remodels

Properly permitted kitchen and bathroom renovations increase property values. When property is sold, buyers' lenders and title companies review permit records — unpermitted kitchen and bathroom work must be disclosed and can require remediation before closing. Permitted renovations provide buyers' agents and appraisers with documentation of quality, code-compliant improvements that support higher appraisal values.