Columbus Kitchen Remodel Permit

What's Required in Columbus

• Building permit required for any interior alteration involving structural walls or layout changes
• Separate MEP permit ($275) required for electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work
• GFCI protection required for all countertop outlets per current electrical code
• Plumbing permit required for moving sinks, gas lines, or new dishwashers
• Structural alterations to load-bearing walls require design calculations
• Certificate of Appropriateness required for exterior changes in historic zones

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

It depends on what you're changing, not on the word “remodel.” Columbus 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 $385–$700 (project-based), issued by the City of Columbus Department of Building and Zoning Services. 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 City of Columbus Department of Building and Zoning Services up front; retrofitting a permit onto half-finished work is the expensive path.

How to Get a Kitchen Remodel Permit in Columbus

Frequently Asked Questions