What's Required in Fort Worth
- Cabinets, countertops, flooring, tile and paint need no permit.
- Replacing 16 sq ft or more of drywall on a wall or ceiling requires a building permit.
- Moving or adding plumbing, wiring or ductwork requires the matching trade permit.
- Water heater replacement always requires a plumbing permit.
- Remodel fees are $119 per trade plus a $33.08 application fee and a $16.87 technology fee.
- Mechanical, electrical and plumbing permits go only to Texas license holders or homestead owner-occupants.
- Submit existing and proposed floor plans, plus MEP plans for any system you alter.
- Each trade permit is inspected separately from the building permit.
Do you need a permit to remodel a kitchen in Fort Worth?
It depends on what you touch. Fort Worth's residential permitting page says permits are not required for cosmetic remodels. That includes floor or wall covering, cabinets, countertops and shelving. It also includes plumbing fixture replacement. The Administrative Code exempts painting, tiling, cabinet replacement and countertop replacement. It also exempts swapping a faucet, sink, garbage disposal or dishwasher, as long as no pipes or valves are replaced or rearranged.
A permit is required once the work changes, moves or repairs walls, floors, ceilings, windows, doors, or the electrical, mechanical or plumbing systems. One specific trigger catches many kitchen jobs: replacing 16 square feet or more of drywall on any wall or ceiling needs a building permit. Moving the sink to an island, adding circuits for new appliances or venting a range hood outside all need trade permits. Replacing a water heater also needs a plumbing permit.
How much does a kitchen remodel permit cost in Fort Worth?
Fort Worth charges a residential remodel by the number of trades involved, not by the size or cost of the kitchen. Texas Local Government Code 214.907 bars value-based residential fees. Under Fee Ordinance 26-28781, effective October 1, 2026, the per-trade schedule is:
- 1 trade: $119.00
- 2 trades: $238.00
- 3 trades: $357.00
- 4 trades: $476.00
Every building permit adds a $33.08 application fee and a $16.87 technology fee. A remodel with drywall, new circuits and a relocated sink (building, electrical and plumbing) comes to $357.00 + $49.95 = $406.95. Add a ducted hood or HVAC change as a fourth trade and it is $525.95. If the only work is plumbing, such as adding a sink, a standalone plumbing permit can be used. That is a $33.08 application fee plus $10.34 for the first fixture, or $43.42. Trade permits also carry small per-item fees, such as $0.54 per outlet and $4.22 per additional plumbing fixture.
| What you are doing | City filing | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| New cabinets, countertops, backsplash and flooring | No permit | Cosmetic finish work is exempt |
| Swap the sink faucet, disposal or dishwasher in place | No permit | Exempt if no pipes or valves are moved |
| Add a second sink, with no other work | Standalone plumbing permit, $43.42 | $33.08 application fee + $10.34 first fixture |
| Replace the water heater during the remodel | Plumbing permit | Water heaters always need a permit |
| New circuits, relocated sink, new drywall | Remodel permit, 3 trades, $406.95 | $357.00 + $49.95, plus trade items |
| Open a wall, move plumbing, rewire, vent a hood outside | Remodel permit, 4 trades, $525.95 | $476.00 + $49.95, plus trade items |
| Replace 16 sq ft or more of drywall | Building permit | The city's drywall trigger |
Who can do the work?
Mechanical, electrical and plumbing permits are issued only to holders of the required Texas state licenses. The exception is a homeowner working on the house they own and live in as a primary residence. That homestead exception also lets owners pull the building permit. Otherwise the remodel permit goes to a building contractor registered with the city. Each trade still needs its own permit and inspections. A building permit does not cover the trades.
What to submit
The remodel packet asks for existing and proposed floor plans with every room labeled. It also asks for mechanical, electrical and plumbing plans if you are altering those systems. Apply in Accela Citizen Access. Residential plans get first review comments within 7 business days. If you start without a permit, the investigation fee equals the permit fee.
How to Get a Kitchen Remodel Permit in Fort Worth
Define the scope
List which trades the job touches (building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical). Cosmetic-only work needs no permit.
Draw the plans
Prepare existing and proposed floor plans, plus MEP plans for any system being altered.
Apply in Accela Citizen Access
A registered contractor or homestead owner files a Residential Remodel permit. Licensed trades pull their own trade permits.
Pay per trade
Pay $119 per trade plus the $33.08 application fee and $16.87 technology fee. First review comments come within 7 business days.
Pass rough and final inspections
Schedule each trade's rough-in before walls close, then the finals. A permit expires after 180 days without an approved inspection.