What's Required in Jacksonville
- Permit valuation must include all electrical, gas, mechanical and plumbing work, materials and labor at fair market value.
- Electrical, plumbing and mechanical work each need a separate trade permit.
- Faucet replacement after the stop, leak repair and clearing stoppages do not need a permit.
- Replacing light fixtures, switches, ceiling fans and receptacles needs a permit but no plan review or inspection.
- Plumbing fees are $11 per fixture with a $60 minimum.
- Improvements over $5,000 need a recorded Notice of Commencement before the first inspection.
- Owner-builders must be on the deed, apply in person and provide proof of homestead exemption.
- Plans must show clearly which MEP trades are and are not being revised.
Do you need a permit to remodel a kitchen in Jacksonville?
Almost always, once the work goes past paint and finishes. Ordinance Code 320.402 requires a permit's valuation to include all electrical, gas, mechanical and plumbing work, and each of those trades is permitted separately. The Building Inspection Division's exempt list for homes covers only patio slabs, swapping faucets after the shutoff, and clearing leaks and clogs. The Florida Building Code's exempt list has no building items at all. Even replacing light fixtures, switches, fans and receptacles takes a permit. It's one of the single-family jobs Section 320.408(f) lets through without plan review or inspection, and it auto-expires once paid.
What about cabinets and countertops? Neither exempt list mentions them, and the city says it does not inspect cosmetic items such as paint, wallpaper and carpet. If the job is cabinets and counters only, with no plumbing or wiring moved, ask BID whether it needs a permit before you assume it doesn't.
How much does a kitchen remodel permit cost in Jacksonville?
A remodel is an alteration under Section 320.409, subsection (6). It's charged per $1,000 of estimated cost:
- $3.00 BID fee
- $0.65 resource management
- $1.00 Development Services
- $0.90 construction and demolition debris
- a landscape fee of 12% of the BID fee
The BID minimum is $112.50, or $33.75 per required inspection if that's more. Plan review is 67% of the BID fee or $75, whichever is greater. Each trade permit has a $60 minimum. Plumbing is $11 per fixture, and electrical is $1 per outlet on existing homes.
- $30,000 remodel: $112.50 BID (minimum) + $19.50 + $13.50 + $30 + $27 + $75.38 plan review = $277.88. With minimum plumbing and electrical permits ($60 each), the total is $397.88.
- $60,000 remodel: $180 + $39 + $21.60 + $60 + $54 + $120.60 = $475.20. With the two trade minimums, it's $595.20.
A job that's only a new circuit or a relocated sink is a single trade permit at the $60 minimum. Gas piping adds an $80 mechanical line. Florida's 1 percent and 1.5 percent building-code surcharges apply to permit fees.
| What you are doing | City filing | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Paint, flooring, backsplash | No permit | City does not inspect cosmetic items |
| New faucet on existing supply | No permit | Faucet replacement after the stop is exempt |
| Swap light fixtures or receptacles | Electrical permit, no inspection | Auto-expire permit under 320.408(f) |
| Move the sink or add a dishwasher | Plumbing permit | $11 per fixture, $60 minimum |
| Add circuits for new appliances | Electrical permit | $60 minimum |
| $30,000 remodel with a wall removed | Building + plumbing + electrical | About $398 |
| New gas line to a range | Mechanical permit | $80 gas piping line |
Who can do the work?
As an owner-builder, you can permit a remodel of your own primary residence if you're on the deed and the home isn't for sale or rent. You must appear in person and attach proof of homestead exemption. If you hire tradespeople, each licensed electrician, plumber or HVAC contractor must pull their own permit tied to yours. Otherwise the permit goes only to a qualified contractor. City guidance says plumbing, electrical and HVAC work must be done by contractors certified in those trades, each under a separate permit. A recorded Notice of Commencement is required when improvements exceed $5,000. Plan review takes 25-30 business days for a first review.
How to Get a Kitchen Remodel Permit in Jacksonville
Define the scope by trade
List what changes in plumbing, electrical, gas and structure. Your plans must say clearly which trades are not being revised.
Submit in JaxEPICS
Your contractor files the building permit online with the permission-to-obtain-permits form. Owner-builders apply in person.
Add the trade permits
Each licensed trade contractor pulls their own plumbing, electrical or mechanical permit linked to the building permit.
Plan review and payment
After zoning and Development Services review, pay the plan review fee. The first review takes 25-30 business days, and the balance is due before issuance.
Inspections
Record and file the Notice of Commencement if over $5,000, then schedule rough and final inspections for each trade before walls are closed.