Kitchen Remodeling in Lafayette, CA
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Kitchens for How Lafayette Families Live
Lafayette’s postwar ranch homes were built with separate kitchens, dining rooms and family rooms. Most of our kitchen work here combines them: removing or opening a wall, adding an island, moving the sink to a window, and connecting the kitchen to the backyard. We manage the structural engineering, electrical upgrades, cabinetry, counters and finishes.
Kitchen Projects
Will a Kitchen Project Trigger Lafayette Design Review?
An interior remodel does not. A kitchen that becomes part of an addition might, because Lafayette design review is based on size and height:
In Lafayette’s single-family zones, a Design Review Permit is required when total structures on the lot exceed 6,000 sq ft, or any building is taller than 17 feet, measured from average grade at the lowest foundation wall. Minor projects are decided by the Zoning Administrator; larger ones go to the Design Review Commission. Pending design review and hillside applications need story poles or ground staking, certified by a surveyor or civil engineer and usually up at least 14 days before the hearing. Owners within 300 feet are mailed notice.
If your lot is in the Hillside Overlay District, exterior changes and grading can also need a Hillside Development Permit.
Permit Steps for a Lafayette Kitchen
- Zoning plan check with the City through idtPlans: site plan, floor plans and elevations.
- Central San review if the work affects sewer.
- Contra Costa County Fire Protection District review if applicable.
- County building plan check after the City stamps the drawings.
- County inspections and final.
3675 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Suite 210, Lafayette, CA 94549
City Hall (925) 284-1968 · Planning (925) 284-1976
Zoning plan check is submitted online through the City’s idtPlans portal. Counter time is limited and Fridays are by appointment only, so book ahead.
Lafayette contracts with the County for plan check and inspection. Submit the City-stamped plans digitally through the County ePermits Center. County offices: 30 Muir Road, Martinez · (925) 655-2700. Inspections: ePermits or (925) 646-4108.
- Bearing walls need an engineered beam.
- Kitchens need dedicated appliance circuits with GFCI and AFCI protection; induction or new appliances may require a panel upgrade.
- Lighting must meet California’s Title 24 energy code.
Explore More
Other Lafayette services: ADUs · Bathrooms · Additions · New Homes · Lafayette overview
Same service nearby: Orinda · Moraga · Walnut Creek
See our kitchen remodeling page.
Lafayette Kitchen Remodeling FAQ
Do I need design review to remodel my kitchen in Lafayette?
Not for interior work. Design review applies when total structures exceed 6,000 sq ft or a building is taller than 17 feet.
Who issues kitchen remodel permits in Lafayette?
The City does the zoning check and Contra Costa County issues the building permit and inspects.
Can you open my kitchen to the family room?
Usually. Load-bearing walls need an engineered beam reviewed by the County.
How long does a kitchen remodel take?
Construction usually runs a couple of months, plus design and permit time.