What's Required in San Antonio
- Cabinet, countertop, tile, flooring and paint work needs no permit.
- Installing sinks or faucets needs a plumbing permit from a licensed plumber or a homesteading owner doing the work personally.
- New outlets, circuits or light fixtures need an electrical permit from a state-licensed, city-registered electrical contractor.
- Gas line work needs a separate gas permit.
- Adding, removing or modifying interior walls or replacing sheetrock needs a Residential Repair building permit.
- Changes to two or more exterior walls require plan review.
- Homeowners pulling the building permit attest to 12 months of ownership after completion.
- Each trade permit is closed by its own inspection.
Do you need a permit to remodel a kitchen in San Antonio?
It depends on the trades involved. San Antonio exempts finish work: City Code Section 10-6(e)(1)g lists painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, counter tops and similar finish work, and the Development Services Department (DSD) No Permit Required list adds flooring and sheetrock repair. New cabinets and countertops on the same layout need nothing. Plumbing, electrical, gas and mechanical work are another matter: DSD's Home Remodeling FAQ says you need a permit to install faucets or sinks, receptacles, light fixtures or kitchen hoods. Removing or adding interior walls, or replacing sheetrock rather than patching it, needs a building permit through the Residential Repair Permit Application, and if two or more exterior walls are involved the project goes to plan review.
How much does a kitchen remodel permit cost in San Antonio?
Each trade is priced separately in DSD's FY 2027 Development Fee Schedule (revised September 2026). A building permit for work on an existing home is the Residential Repair Existing General Fee of $172.50 or the Full Remodel Fee of $241.50. Plumbing, electrical, gas and mechanical permits each have a $57.50 base plus small per-item charges. Worked example for a full remodel that moves walls, adds circuits and keeps the sink in place:
- Building, full remodel: $241.50
- Plumbing: $57.50 + $8.05 sink + $8.05 dishwasher = $73.60
- Electrical: $57.50 + 4 appliance circuits at $1.73 + 6 outlets at $0.18 + 4 LED fixtures at $1.84 = $72.86
- Total $387.96, or $419.00 with the two 4% surcharges. Moving the gas range line adds a gas permit of $57.50 + $11.50 per opening, which brings the schedule total to $456.96.
Replacing just a sink or faucet is a plumbing permit alone: $57.50 + $8.05 = $65.55 before surcharges. Paper applications processed by staff add $11.50 each, and card payments add 3%.
| What you are doing | City filing | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| New cabinets, countertops, backsplash, flooring, paint | None | Finish work (10-6(e)(1)g) |
| Replacing a sink or faucet | Plumbing permit, $57.50 + $8.05 | Licensed plumber or homesteading owner |
| Adding outlets, circuits or lighting | Electrical permit, $57.50 + items | Licensed electrician only |
| Moving or adding a gas line | Gas permit, $57.50 + $11.50 per opening | Plumbing-license work |
| Installing a kitchen hood | Mechanical permit, $57.50 base | DSD Home Remodeling FAQ |
| Replacing sheetrock or moving interior walls | Building permit, $172.50 or $241.50 | Residential Repair Permit Application |
| Changing two or more exterior walls | Building permit with plan review | Not an over-the-counter permit |
Who can pull the permits?
A homeowner can take out the building permit by attesting to 12 months of ownership after the project. Trade permits are tighter. DSD says homeowners must use licensed trade contractors for new electrical, plumbing and HVAC work, with one exception: you may get a plumbing permit for your own homestead if you do the work personally, which requires a notarized Plumbing Affidavit for Homeowner's Permit. Electrical work is for state-licensed electrical contractors registered with the city.
How to Get a Kitchen Remodel Permit in San Antonio
List every trade in the job
Separate finish work, which needs no permit, from plumbing, electrical, gas, ventilation and wall changes, which each need their own permit.
Hire licensed trades
Have your licensed plumber, electrician and HVAC contractor file their permits on BuildSA, or file the plumbing permit yourself with a notarized homestead affidavit.
File the building permit if walls change
Submit the Residential Repair Permit Application for interior walls or sheetrock; use plan review if two or more exterior walls change.
Pay the fees
Pay each permit's flat or per-item fee plus the two 4% surcharges; filing online avoids the $11.50 convenience fee.
Schedule inspections
Book rough-in and final inspections on each permit record online, where scheduling is free, before closing up walls.