Virginia Beach Kitchen Remodel Permit

What's Required in Virginia Beach

• Permit required for structural work or system modifications.
• Floor plan showing existing and proposed layout.
• Electrical permit for GFCI protection and new circuits.
• Plumbing permit for moving sinks or gas lines.
• Mechanical permit if installing a new range hood vent.
• Verification of smoke and CO detector compliance.

Do You Need a Permit to Remodel a Kitchen in Virginia Beach?

It depends on what you're changing, not on the word “remodel.” Virginia Beach 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 $200–$800 (valuation-based), issued by the Planning & Community Development - Building Permits and Inspections. 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 Planning & Community Development - Building Permits and Inspections up front; retrofitting a permit onto half-finished work is the expensive path.

How to Get a Kitchen Remodel Permit in Virginia Beach

Frequently Asked Questions