Kitchen Remodeling in Orinda, CA
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Opening Up an Orinda Kitchen
Orinda kitchens are often closed off by mid-century floor plans, with hill and canyon views hidden behind a wall. Most of our Lamorinda kitchen projects open the kitchen to the family room, add an island, bring in daylight and connect to a deck. We handle structural beams, new circuits and panel upgrades, gas or induction cooking, custom cabinets, stone counters and lighting.
Kitchens We Remodeled
Interior Remodel or Something Bigger?
An interior kitchen remodel goes straight to County plan check. A kitchen that grows outward changes the picture: a bump-out adds exterior work that Orinda Planning reviews first, and an addition over 1,000 sq ft, a new second story or a lot with an average slope of 20% or more triggers design review.
Orinda City Hall, Planning Department
22 Orinda Way, Orinda, CA 94563 · (925) 253-4200
Planning applications and building permit authorizations are filed online through the City’s Cloudpermit portal.
Contra Costa County Department of Conservation and Development
30 Muir Road, Martinez, CA 94553 · Permit Center (925) 655-2700
Submittals are digital through the County ePermits Center. The County’s Lamorinda field office closed in March 2023. Inspections are requested through ePermits or the County inspection line, (925) 646-4108.
What Changes When Walls and Systems Move
- Removing a bearing wall needs a beam designed by a structural engineer.
- Kitchens need dedicated small-appliance circuits with GFCI and AFCI protection. Older Orinda homes often need a panel upgrade for induction ranges, EV chargers or heat pumps.
- New lighting must meet California’s Title 24 efficiency and control rules, and range hoods must meet ventilation requirements.
- Permitted work on an older home triggers replacement of noncompliant plumbing fixtures and updated smoke and CO alarms.
Keep Exploring
More Axiom services in Orinda: ADU Builder · Bathroom Remodeling · Home Additions · New Home Construction · Orinda overview
Nearby: Lafayette · Moraga · Walnut Creek · All service areas
See our kitchen remodeling page and portfolio.
Orinda Kitchen Remodeling FAQ
Do I need a permit to remodel a kitchen in Orinda?
Yes, if walls, plumbing, gas or electrical change. Contra Costa County issues it. Replacing cabinets and counters in place usually does not need one.
Will my kitchen remodel need design review?
Not for interior work. A kitchen expansion can, if it is part of an addition over 1,000 sq ft, a new second story or a steep-lot project.
Can you remove a wall to open my kitchen?
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.