It depends on what you are changing. Under the Residential Code of Ohio, cabinets, countertops, tile, paint and similar finish work do not need a permit. Cutting into walls or load-bearing supports, or moving or altering plumbing or electrical, does. A layout change almost always needs one. A same-layout refresh usually does not.
Exempt work still has to meet code. And local rules can go further than the state list: Columbus, for example, treats a kitchen remodel as needing a permit and plan review, and sets a limit on drywall replacement. Check with the office that covers your address.
What Triggers a Kitchen Permit
General rules from the Residential Code of Ohio. Your building department has the final say.
| Work | Permit? |
|---|---|
| New cabinets and countertops in the same layout | No |
| Paint, tile, flooring and similar finish work | No |
| Removing or cutting a wall | Yes |
| Cutting a beam or load-bearing support | Yes, with plan review |
| Moving a sink, dishwasher or gas line | Yes, plumbing or gas permit |
| Adding or extending a circuit | Yes, electrical permit |
| Replacing concealed pipe | Yes |
Who Issues Trade Permits Around Columbus
Plumbing is the one that catches people out, because it does not always go through the building department.
| Where you live | How it works |
|---|---|
| Columbus | The city issues its own mechanical, electrical and plumbing permits, separate from the building permit |
| Dublin | Electrical and plumbing permits are handled over the counter in the city’s portal |
| Gahanna | Franklin County Public Health handles plumbing inspections |
| Hilliard | An electrical permit is required for any new or extended circuit, and the city names kitchen remodels specifically |
| Franklin County townships and villages | Franklin County Public Health serves these areas for plumbing |
The Questions That Decide It
- Is any wall coming out, and is it load-bearing?
- Is the sink, dishwasher, range or fridge moving?
- Are you adding circuits, or changing a gas line?
- Is drywall coming off, and how much?
Why It Is Worth Doing Right
Unpermitted wall removal and rewiring tend to surface when you sell, when a buyer’s inspector asks for records. Opening finished work up for inspection later costs more than getting it inspected the first time.
A good estimate should say which permits the job needs and who pulls them. The Ohio Attorney General advises homeowners to have the contractor obtain them.
Questions, Answered
Do I need a permit to replace kitchen cabinets and countertops in Ohio?
No. The Residential Code of Ohio exempts painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, countertops and similar finish work from approval, though the work still has to meet code.
Do I need a permit for a kitchen remodel in Columbus?
For a remodel, yes. Columbus lists a kitchen or bath remodel as needing a permit and plan review. Cabinets and countertops alone do not need one, but replacing more than 32 square feet of drywall does. Homeowners can pull permits only for work they do themselves on a single-family home they live in, so hired work needs a licensed contractor.
Do I need a permit to remove a wall in my kitchen?
Yes. The code’s minor-repair allowance excludes cutting away a wall or partition, or cutting a beam or load-bearing support. If the wall is load-bearing, expect the drawings to show how the load is carried.
Do I need a permit to move a sink?
Yes. Rearranging pipes takes approval. In Franklin County suburbs, plumbing often runs through Franklin County Public Health, and since February 2026 its plan review approval is needed for plumbing permit applications in the building departments it serves.
Planning a kitchen remodel?
See how we build them, with real project photos and reviews, on our Kitchen Remodeling page, or request a free written estimate.