Atlanta Kitchen Remodel: What You Need to Know About Permits

In 2021, more than half of all homeowners in the United States spent on home renovations, including kitchen remodeling. In fact, the median spend for a kitchen remodel rose to $10,000 for a minor project and $40,000 for a major upgrade.

Countertops were the most popular feature that was upgraded. They are followed by appliances, with 35% of homeowners splurging on high-tech upgrades such as wireless and smartphone controls. More people also renovated their kitchen islands, especially as they have taken up a bigger role in facilitating work inside homes.

If you’re planning a kitchen remodel in Atlanta, there are a lot of benefits to reap after the project, the least of which is a nicer and more functional kitchen. To make sure that the process starts and ends without a hitch, make sure to secure the necessary permits. Don’t know where to start? This guide is for you.

Does your kitchen remodel need a permit?

You may or may not need a permit to remodel your kitchen in Atlanta, depending on the type of renovation and the scope of work you intend to do. Generally, making aesthetic changes does not require a permit. These include repainting your kitchen cabinets, replacing your kitchen appliances, and replacing your faucets.

What types of kitchen remodels require a permit in Atlanta?

So which types of remodels necessitate a permit? According to the Atlanta Department of City Planning, any renovation project that deals with any of the following needs a permit:

Electrical: This covers making major changes to your home’s existing wiring, including upgrading or changing outlets and installing new electrical wires.
Plumbing: This covers renovating the location of your sinks, sewer lines, or water heaters; it also encompasses the addition of new sinks or outdoor faucets that may require making changes to your existing plumbing.
Structural: This covers working with structural additions or changes to doors, windows, skylights, and load-bearing walls.

Additions, such as islands, may also require a permit. Finally, if your project exceeds $2,500 in labor and materials, you may need a permit.

What happens if you don’t get a permit?

First and foremost, not getting a permit when your kitchen remodel needs one may result in serious safety risks. Without observing the technicalities of the process, you might end up endangering the structural integrity of your home. For example, if you’re moving load-bearing walls to accommodate a new kitchen fixture and you did the process yourself without submitting to the stipulations outlined in a permit, your home may very well collapse.

Additionally, failing to get a permit may void your homeowner’s insurance coverage, and make it hard for you to sell your home in the future. You may also need to pay hefty fines if the city discovers that you didn’t secure a permit for your project.

This is why it is critical to work with a trusted kitchen contractor in Atlanta. A reliable company like Sterling Works will make sure that your project adheres to the established codes in the city, as well as starts and ends successfully.

Sources:

Remodeling Activity and Spending Hit Highest Levels in Years, Houzz.com
How to Know if You Need a Permit to Remodel a Kitchen, Angi.com

Chad Robichaux

August 17, 2026

Sterling did an amazing job on our bathroom / laundry room renovation. We now have a beautiful space that fits well into our life for years to come!!

fin mad

February 26, 2026

Philip and the entire crew are amazing! Very thorough with special attention to detail and nothing short of quality work. They make sure everything is perfect. Would definitely want to use them for future projects. Strongly recommend.

Kate Hodgins

December 30, 2025

Philip and the Sterling Works team were wonderful to work with on my bathroom renovation! From the estimate to completing the final punch list, the project went smoothly and stayed on schedule. Philip was at my house daily for the bulk of the project, ensuring that all of the subs were coordinated and completing the project exactly as promised. Any small issues that arose were met with solutions from the experienced team. I highly recommend Sterling Works for your next home renovation!

Kate Ravin

June 2, 2025

My husband and I cannot praise Sterling Works highly enough! Philip has assembled and overseen a team of pros who do gorgeous, precise work, turning our cramped, hideous 1970s bathroom and small walk-in closet into the Japandi retreat of our dreams--a room we can age into with confidence. Would we use Sterling Works again? Absolutely! If you're lucky enough to find them free, grab them fast! A+++++++++

Nicole Zavodnick

May 4, 2025

Philip was hands down the best contractor from start to finish of a project we could have asked for. His attention to detail and understanding my vision for our kitchen was so easy to communicate. The crew he hires from demo and structural engineering work, to cabinet making to local recommendations for suppliers of appliances, countertops, etc are all top notch. The best part was his timeline and budget were accurate and we had no surprises there. I hope he never retires for my own sake. Most of all, he is an in town local and kept our house and dogs safe while we underwent this huge renovation! Peace of mind while turning a project over was such a relief.

Sam Burnwall

April 14, 2025

Sterling Works did an absolutely incredible job giving us the kitchen of our dreams. They weren’t the first business we met with when planning our kitchen renovation, but we knew after meeting with the owner, Phil, that we had found the right company for the job. Phil understood our vision for our kitchen and was really invested in giving us exactly what we wanted. He was the first contractor that we met with that actually had suggestions and gave some of his own ideas that helped us to make some key decisions. As far as timing goes, I know it’s impossible to promise an exact date for a project, but despite the hiccups that come with renovations in a 70+ year old house, they moved swiftly (not too swiftly as to make mistakes) and finished right on time as promised. 10/10 would absolutely work with Sterling Works again and would recommend them to anyone.

Stephanie Kelly

October 24, 2024

I am so happy with our our 2nd floor renovation project turned out from Sterling Works. Everyone was wonderful to work with, from the flooring crew who had to pivot when the original plan wasn't going to work, to the carpenter who built our custom vanity and the rest of the crew who did excellent work. They all took our wishes into account, offered suggestions based on their professional expertise, and made sure we were happy with the end results. Our house finally feels more like a home than an apartment and we are thrilled with the results.

Benjamin Kodish

June 16, 2024

We recently completed a project with Sterling Works and could not be happier with the experience and outcome. We updated both our kitchen and primary bathroom and they both turned out great. The entire process working with Philip and his team was easy from initial planning to completion. Philip’s team is wonderful. They are all very talented and do meticulous work. Also, they are also extremely friendly and polite. In addition to the great work, they also do the “little things” like cleaning up the work site at the end of every day, which really does make a huge difference with all of the work taking place in the house. Overall, the project was completed on time and there were no surprises on cost. We would highly recommend Sterling Works and are already considering updating a guest bathroom with them later this year.

Mark Caridi-Scheible

January 13, 2024

Had my kitchen completely redone with a lot of special requests and Sterling Works managed it all beautifully. They were extremely professional and all the work was done on time. Philip was so easy to work with and highly responsive, as were all of his crew. The subcontractors he chose were also highly professional and easy to work with. My kitchen turned out stunning, so if you want quality work done on time, these are the guys.

Erin F

October 28, 2023

I just finished a kitchen and second room remodel, working with Phil and his crew. I cannot say enough about the process and the results. Phil really helped guide me through the whole remodel process and communicated with me next steps, schedule and the all-important budget. As we came upon a couple of issues and choices, he and his crew were able to offer solutions and options and implement them to perfection. For example, my house is very old so I was terrified of what we would find once we opened the walls. And we did find something – some of the pipes were split and leaking beneath the house, as well as into the basement. Phil and his crew were able to deal with this new situation almost immediately. Going into this, I also worried about having a whole crew in the house for such a long period of time. His crew is really the best group of guys. But by the time the project was finished I could not imagine, not having them around! They are really good people!!! I cannot overstate that! This whole scary process was so easy and enjoyable due to their knowledge, experience and ingenuity. My remodel is absolute perfection. I definitely recommend Phil and hope to have future projects with them. Sincerely, Erin