Permit Required? Required
Typical Fee Range $300–$1,000 Remodel work is $0.50 per sq. ft. plus trade fees and plan review.
Fee Method Size-based
Apply Online Apply at Development Services Department →

What's Required in Fort Worth

  • Building Addition/Remodel fee of $0.50 per sq. ft..
  • Building plan review fee of $75.
  • Electrical permit mandatory: $150 up to 2,500 sq. ft..
  • Plumbing permit mandatory: $150 up to 2,500 sq. ft..
  • Detailed floor plan showing structural and layout changes.
  • Must meet National Electrical Code (NEC) for safety.

Do You Need a Permit to Remodel a Kitchen in Fort Worth?

It depends on what you're changing, not on the word “remodel.” Fort Worth 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 $300–$1,000 (size-based), issued by the Development 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 Development Services Department up front; retrofitting a permit onto half-finished work is the expensive path.

How to Get a Kitchen Remodel Permit in Fort Worth

1

Step 1: Plan Submittal

Provide plans for the $75 mandatory review.

2

Step 2: Trade Registration

Ensure plumber and electrician are registered with the city.

3

Step 3: Submit Online

File for building and trade permits through Accela.

4

Step 4: Pay Fees

Pay based on square footage and applicable flat trade fees.

5

Step 5: Inspections

Schedule rough-in and final inspections for all trades.

Frequently Asked Questions

Electrical, plumbing, and mechanical are $150 each for standard homes.
The base construction fee is $0.50 per square foot.
Yes, residential building plan reviews cost $75.
Only if the work goes beyond cosmetic scope. Plumbing, electrical, or structural changes require permits in Fort Worth; cabinet, countertop, and flooring swaps generally don't. Fees typically run $300–$1,000.
Not usually — like-for-like cabinet and countertop replacement without moving plumbing or wiring is cosmetic work. Add or move fixtures and the permit requirement kicks in.