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Kitchen Remodeling in Florida

In Florida, we plan kitchen remodeling projects in Miami and Tampa. A kitchen remodel replaces or reworks the parts of the kitchen that no longer fit how you live: cabinets, counters, flooring, lighting, and sometimes the layout itself. A smaller update keeps the footprint and swaps surfaces. A larger remodel moves the sink, appliances or walls, which brings plumbing, electrical and ventilation changes. It makes sense when storage is short, work areas are cramped, surfaces are worn, or you plan to stay in the home and want the room to work better every day.
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Remodelled kitchen in a 1920s Tampa Bay bungalow with beadboard ceiling, heart-pine floors, white cabinets and a navy range wall.
Illustrative image

Florida context

Planning kitchen remodeling in Florida

  1. One statewide building code, updated every three years

    Florida uses its own Florida Building Code. It applies statewide without each local government having to adopt it. The Florida Building Commission updates it every three years after reviewing the latest International Code Council codes and the National Electrical Code. The 8th Edition (2023) took effect on December 31, 2023. A city or county can strengthen the code with local technical amendments only after an advertised public hearing and a finding of local need, and those amendments last only until the next edition is adopted.

  2. Energy code and climate zones 1 and 2

    Florida's residential energy code is based on the 2021 IECC with state amendments and took effect on December 31, 2023. All of Florida falls in IECC climate zones 1 and 2. A study published by the Florida Building Commission uses Miami for zone 1 and Tampa and Jacksonville for zone 2. New homes must be tested for air leakage, with a limit of seven air changes per hour at 50 pascals in both zones. In zone 2, the prescriptive path does not allow electric resistance heat as the primary heating system, and complete equipment replacements face a similar ban, though many small projects can be exempted.

  3. Hurricane season, wind rules and product approvals

    The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30. The peak is around September 10, and most activity falls between mid-August and mid-October. Miami-Dade County is in the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone, where doors, windows, shutters, roofing, truss connectors and prefabricated buildings need county product approval. State law also has a partial-roof rule: if a roof was built, repaired or replaced under the 2007 Florida Building Code or later, and 25 percent or more of it is being repaired, replaced or recovered, only that portion has to meet the current code.

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Permits

Kitchen work that changes plumbing, electrical circuits, gas lines, ventilation or walls commonly needs a permit and inspections. Purely cosmetic work, such as painting or replacing cabinets in the same place, may not. Requirements vary by city and county, so the local building department confirms what applies before work begins.

Contractor licensing

Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR), Construction Industry Licensing Board

Florida licenses construction contractors at the state level through the Construction Industry Licensing Board. A certified license lets a contractor work anywhere in Florida. A registered license is limited to the local jurisdictions where the contractor met competency requirements. License categories include general, building and residential contractors, plus trades such as roofing, plumbing, air-conditioning, mechanical and pool contractors. A residential contractor is limited to one-, two- and three-family homes with no more than two habitable stories above at most one uninhabitable story. Electrical contractors are licensed by a separate state board. A narrow exemption covers minor jobs under $2,500 in total, but not work that is part of a larger job or split up to avoid licensing. Owners who personally supervise work on their own one- or two-family home for their own use can act as owner-builders after signing a disclosure statement; selling or leasing the home within a year of completion creates a presumption that the work was done for sale or lease. Before hiring any contractor, ask for the license number and check it on the DBPR license search.

Check a contractor’s status (opens the official Florida site in a new tab)

Building permits

Permits in Florida

Florida law requires a permit to build, alter, repair or demolish a building unless the law provides an exemption. Permits are issued by the building department of the city or county where the property is located, such as the City of Miami Building Department or Tampa's Construction Services Division. These offices enforce the statewide Florida Building Code and any local technical amendments. Since July 1, 2026, owners of single-family homes, or their contractors, can skip the permit for work valued under $7,500 by filing a written request with a contract or other proof of the work's nature and value. The exemption does not cover electrical, plumbing, structural, mechanical or gas work, or any property partly or fully in a flood hazard area, and a project cannot be split up to fit under the limit. Some departments, such as St. Petersburg's, treat window and door replacement, roofing, soffit, fascia and siding as structural work. Many jobs also need a notice of commencement recorded and posted on site before the first inspection. Permit needs are confirmed for your address during planning.

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What’s included

Kitchen Remodeling in Florida: scope and options

  • Layout planning for work zones, walkways, storage and seating
  • Removal of old cabinets, counters, flooring and fixtures
  • Cabinet installation, whether new, refaced or partly replaced
  • Countertop templating and installation, plus backsplash tile
  • Plumbing and electrical updates for sinks, appliances and lighting, coordinated with licensed trades where required
  • Range hood and kitchen ventilation installation
  • Appliance placement, clearances and hookup planning
  • Drywall repair, flooring, trim and paint to finish the room

Common options

Keep the layout or change it
Leaving the sink, range and refrigerator where they are limits plumbing, gas and electrical changes. Moving them can fix a poor workflow but adds rough-in work and inspections.
Cabinet approach
Stock, semi-custom or custom cabinets, or refacing boxes that are still sound. The choice affects lead time, available sizes and finish options.
Countertop material
Quartz, natural stone, solid surface, laminate or butcher block. Each differs in heat and stain resistance, seams and upkeep.
Island or peninsula
An island adds prep space and seating but needs walking room on every side. A peninsula can give similar counter space in a tighter room.
Lighting plan
Layered lighting with ceiling fixtures, under-cabinet task lights and pendants, set on separate switches or dimmers so each can be used on its own.

What this service does not cover

  • Appliance purchases, unless they are written into the agreed scope
  • Asbestos or lead-based paint abatement, which is handled by certified specialists
  • Removing load-bearing walls without engineered plans where the jurisdiction requires them
  • Repairs to hidden damage found during demolition, such as rot or outdated wiring, until the work is reviewed with you and added by written change order
  • Work in other rooms that is outside the agreed scope

Budget planning

What affects cost

  • Layout changes

    Moving plumbing, gas lines or walls takes more labor and inspection than keeping the current footprint.

  • Cabinets

    Construction quality, finish, and whether they are stock, semi-custom or custom.

  • Countertops

    Material, thickness, edge profile, number of seams and the cutouts needed for sinks and cooktops.

  • Electrical capacity

    Older homes may need new circuits or panel work to support current appliances and lighting.

  • Ventilation

    Venting a range hood outdoors through a wall or roof adds labor compared with a recirculating hood.

  • Conditions behind walls and floors

    Water damage, rot or outdated wiring found after demolition adds work before new finishes go in.

  • Finish selections

    Tile, hardware, faucets, sinks and light fixtures range widely in price and installation effort.

Scheduling

What affects the schedule

  • Lead times for cabinets, counters and special-order appliances
  • Countertop templating, which can only happen after cabinets are installed
  • Permit review and the timing of required inspections
  • Selections made late or changed after ordering
  • Conditions found once walls and floors are opened

How to prepare

  • Empty cabinets, drawers and counters before demolition day
  • Set up a temporary kitchen in another room with a microwave, small refrigerator and coffee maker
  • Write down what you store and how you cook so the plan fits your habits
  • Choose appliances early so cabinets can be sized around them
  • Plan to keep children and pets away from the work area
  • Clear a path from the entry to the kitchen for deliveries and debris removal

Process

How Kitchen Remodeling Projects Work

  1. 1

    Consult

    We walk the kitchen with you and talk through how you cook, store food and gather. We note what works, what does not, and the plumbing, electrical and ventilation that could shape the plan.

  2. 2

    Plan

    We set the layout, choose cabinets, counters and finishes, and put the scope in writing. Long-lead items are ordered and any permits are requested before demolition starts.

  3. 3

    Build

    Demolition, rough-in work and inspections come first, then cabinets, counters, backsplash, fixtures and trim. The work area is kept separated from the rest of the home to limit dust.

  4. 4

    Enjoy

    A final walkthrough, completion of any punch-list items, and a review of care for new surfaces, fixtures and appliances.

Service areas

Where we plan kitchen remodeling projects in Florida

Availability is confirmed for each project address before anything is scheduled.

Other communities

Related services in Florida

Questions

Kitchen Remodeling FAQs

Can I stay in my home during a kitchen remodel?

Most people do. Plan on a temporary kitchen elsewhere in the house and expect dust, noise and limited use of the kitchen sink while work is underway. Separating the work area helps keep dust out of the rest of the home.

Should I pick appliances before or after the design?

Early. Appliance sizes, venting and electrical needs affect cabinet sizes and the layout. Changing an appliance after cabinets are ordered can force changes to cabinets, counters or wiring.

Is it worth changing my kitchen layout?

It depends on how well the current layout works. If moving between the sink, range and refrigerator is awkward or prep space is short, a new layout can help. If the flow is fine, keeping it lets more of the budget go to cabinets and surfaces.

Can I keep my existing cabinets?

If the cabinet boxes are sound and the layout is staying, refacing or painting can update the look. If cabinets are damaged, poorly sized or the layout is changing, replacement usually makes more sense.

What happens if problems are found behind the walls?

Opening walls and floors can reveal water damage, rot or outdated wiring. The issue should be shown to you, documented, and priced as a written change order before the added work starts.

How do I choose a countertop material?

Compare heat, stain and scratch resistance along with upkeep. Quartz needs little maintenance, natural stone varies by stone and may need sealing, laminate is a lower-cost option, and butcher block needs regular oiling.

Ready to Plan Kitchen Remodeling in Florida?

Share the scope and the address. We'll confirm availability and follow up to talk through options and next steps.

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