How long does a kitchen remodel take? Phases and what controls the schedule

How long does a kitchen remodel take?

Nationally, kitchen projects averaged about 9.5 months of planning and 5.8 months of construction (Houzz 2026); your schedule depends on scope, permits and lead times. That figure comes from Houzz's 2026 Houzz & Home Study, published through Stacker in May 2026, and it is the longest overall timeline the study reported. It is a national average across kitchen projects of every scope, so treat it as context, not a forecast. The useful lesson is where the time goes: planning outweighs building.

A kitchen schedule has several clocks that run partly at once. The sections below follow them in order.

What are the phases of a kitchen remodel?

A kitchen remodel moves through eight phases: design and measure, permits, material lead times, demolition and rough-in, inspections, cabinets, stone templating and fabrication, and finish. Some overlap, but each one has a gate that must open first.

1. 01

   Design and measure

   The room is measured, plumbing, electrical and structure are documented, and the layout is drawn. You choose cabinets, stone, sink, fixtures and appliances. Time depends mostly on how fast decisions are made, plus engineering if a wall moves.

2. 02

   Permits

   The application goes to the city or county. Review time depends on the jurisdiction, the type of work and how complete the submission is. Some counties, such as Hillsborough, require a recorded notice of commencement before the first inspection; see our guide to permit rules in Tampa and Hillsborough County.

3. 03

   Material lead times

   Cabinets, stone slabs, sinks, fixtures and appliances are ordered once the design is approved. Cabinets are usually the longest wait.

4. 04

   Demolition and rough-in

   Old cabinets and surfaces come out, then framing, plumbing and electrical rough-in follow. Hidden conditions, such as old wiring or water damage, tend to show up here.

5. 05

   Inspections

   The local building department inspects permitted work. Manatee County, for example, inspects structural, gas, plumbing, mechanical and electrical work under a permit.

6. 06

   Cabinets

   Cabinets are installed, leveled and adjusted. Stone cannot be templated until the base cabinets are set, so this step gates the next one.

7. 07

   Templating and stone fabrication

   The fabricator measures the installed base cabinets, cuts the stone to that template and installs it. This Old House’s quartz countertop guide says fabrication takes about a week once base cabinets are in and the kitchen is otherwise ready, and installation takes a few hours to a day for a typical kitchen.

8. 08

   Finish

   Backsplash, hardware, appliance hookups, final plumbing and electrical connections, paint touch-ups, the final inspection and a punch-list walk-through. Late items, especially appliances, set the end date.

How long do permits take in Florida?

Once an application is complete, Florida law gives local governments a fixed window to decide, but your total time depends on how soon the application is complete. Under s. 553.792 of the 2026 Florida Statutes, a local government must approve, approve with conditions or deny a complete and sufficient application within:

• 5 business days for certain permits, including structural, electrical, mechanical and plumbing, on an existing single-family home when the work is valued under $15,000.
• 30 business days for single-family residential and related permits on structures under 7,500 square feet.
• 60 business days for the same permit types on structures of 7,500 square feet or more.

The statute applies when a local government plans reviewer handles the application, and stricter local ordinances can apply instead. These review windows start once an application is complete, so confirm timing with your building department. The local government must also tell you within 5 business days what is missing from an application. Which category your remodel falls into is the building department's call. To confirm who is allowed to pull the permit, see how to check a Florida contractor license. A related statute, s. 553.791, lets the property owner (or the owner’s contractor with explicit written authorization) choose a private provider for plan review, inspections or both. The $15,000 figure only sets a review window; it is separate from the $7,500 permit exemption and the $2,500 licensing exemption (see how the three thresholds differ).

How long are cabinet and stone lead times?

Cabinets are usually the longest wait, and stone cannot be made to size until the cabinets are in. The table collects published ranges. Cabinet figures are retail-channel ranges, so ask any supplier for a written ship date.

The week-long figure is for quartz; slab availability, the material you choose and the fabricator's schedule can change the stone timing. See Darvin Kitchen's stone surfaces for the materials offered.

What actually causes delays?

Most delays trace back to a short list of causes, and most of them can be seen coming. Our guide to kitchen remodel mistakes to avoid in Florida covers related planning errors.

• Selections that change after ordering. Cabinets and stone are made to your layout, so changes restart the clock.
• Incomplete permit applications. The review window starts only when the application is complete.
• Appliances chosen late. Their specifications drive cabinet openings, ventilation and electrical load, so choose them early.
• Hidden conditions. Old wiring, plumbing or water damage appear after demolition.
• Failed inspections. Permitted work needs one or more inspections, and failed work needs a re-inspection.
• Stone ordered before cabinets are set. Templates come from installed base cabinets.
• Approvals and weather outside the contractor's control. Condominium or HOA rules and flood-zone requirements should be checked before design, and storm threats can pause work; see planning a remodel around hurricane season.

How does a turnkey project handle the schedule?

On a turnkey project, one contractor leads the work from design through installation. Permits, engineering approvals and final inspections are part of most remodels that involve structural, electrical, plumbing or mechanical work, and who applies for them is described in the written agreement, so ask at your consultation. At Darvin Kitchen, once your 3D layout is approved and permits are cleared, fabrication begins. Timelines vary with the extent of structural work, such as removing load-bearing walls, and the written agreement describes the schedule for your project.

If no walls need to move, Darvin Kitchen also offers a Cabinetry & Stone Only package. Learn more about kitchen remodeling and Darvin Kitchen's cabinetry, or see the areas it serves. Scope also drives price, so read the kitchen remodel cost guide.

What should a written schedule include?

A written schedule should name every phase, when it starts, what it depends on and who is responsible. Ask for these items before you sign:

1. The selection deadline and what moves if you miss it.
2. When cabinets and stone are ordered, and the confirmed delivery dates, relative to demolition.
3. Who applies for permits, who schedules inspections and what happens after a failed inspection.
4. How hidden conditions and changes affect the schedule and the price.
5. What the schedule assumes about appliances, HOA or condominium approvals and flood-zone rules.

Keep reading

Do you need a permit to remodel a kitchen in Tampa and Hillsborough County?Usually yes, if the work touches plumbing, wiring, gas, ventilation or walls. Finish-only work usually does not. Here is what the City of Tampa and…Read morePlanning a kitchen remodel around hurricane season in FloridaHurricane season covers half the year. You can still remodel, but the schedule needs buffers, a plan for materials on site and a few written answers…Read moreKitchen remodel cost in Tampa Bay: what published estimates sayThe 2025 Cost vs. Value report prices three standardized Sarasota kitchen jobs from about $28,600 to about $161,200; other published sources report…Read more