Boston Kitchen Remodel Permit

What's Required in Boston

• Floor plan showing existing vs. proposed layout with fixture locations.
• Electrical permit for new circuits, outlets, and lighting.
• Plumbing permit for any sink, gas line, or dishwasher relocation.
• GFCI protection mandatory for all countertop receptacles.
• Mechanical permit required if installing a new range hood exhaust.
• Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors must be upgraded to current code.

Do You Need a Permit to Remodel a Kitchen in Boston?

It depends on what you're changing, not on the word “remodel.” Boston lists kitchen remodels as permit-required work, and in practice the permit attaches to the plumbing, electrical, and structural scope — not to cosmetic swaps. Permit fees typically run $250–$1,500 (valuation-based), issued by the Inspectional Services Department. A remodel that moves the sink, adds circuits, relocates the range, or opens a wall is firmly in permit territory — and often means separate trade permits rather than one ticket.

Kitchen Work That Usually Doesn't Need a Permit

The cosmetic layer is generally yours to change freely: swapping cabinets in the same footprint, new countertops, flooring, backsplash, paint, and replacing appliances that use existing hookups. The moment the project touches what's behind the finishes — supply lines, drains, gas, new circuits, walls, or venting — it stops being cosmetic in the city's eyes. If your remodel straddles the line, describe the full scope to the Inspectional Services Department up front; retrofitting a permit onto half-finished work is the expensive path.

How to Get a Kitchen Remodel Permit in Boston

Frequently Asked Questions