Kitchen Renovation · Cambridge
Do You Need a Permit for a Kitchen Renovation in Cambridge?
Cabinets, counters and backsplash: no permit. Move the sink, remove a wall or add circuits: yes. Here is the line the City of Cambridge Building Division and the Electrical Safety Authority draw, and how to stay on the right side of it.
Kitchen renovations sit in a grey zone for a lot of homeowners because so much of the work is finishing. The rule in Cambridge, under the Ontario Building Code, is simple once you see it: if you are changing what the house is, you need a permit; if you are changing what it looks like, you do not.
No building permit needed
- Replacing cabinets and countertops in the same layout
- New backsplash, flooring, paint and lighting fixtures on existing boxes
- Replacing the sink, faucet and dishwasher in the same location
- Replacing appliances like for like, including a gas range on an existing gas line (the connection itself must be done by a licensed gas fitter)
Building permit required from the City of Cambridge Building Division
- Removing or altering any wall, load-bearing or not, including opening the kitchen to the dining room
- Moving the sink or dishwasher, or adding plumbing to an island or peninsula
- Adding or enlarging a window or exterior door
- Changing the range hood to a ducted unit that needs a new exterior penetration (in most cases)
- Any structural work: beams, posts, new openings
ESA electrical permit
Almost every full kitchen renovation involves new electrical: a dedicated 40-amp range circuit if there was not one, separate circuits for the dishwasher, microwave and fridge, counter receptacles at the spacing the code now requires, and under-cabinet lighting. All of that needs a permit and inspection through the Electrical Safety Authority, filed by a licensed electrical contractor. This is separate from the building permit, and you need it even when the building permit is not required.
Gas work
Any new gas line or relocated gas connection for a range or cooktop must be done by a TSSA-licensed gas fitter. There is no homeowner option here.
Why it matters more for kitchens than anywhere else
A kitchen is the room a buyer's home inspector looks at hardest, and an open-concept wall removal is the single most common unpermitted renovation in Cambridge resale listings. A buyer's lawyer can request permits; a missing one for a removed wall raises the question of whether a beam was engineered. Insurers ask the same question after a fire that starts at a range on an undersized circuit. The permit costs a few hundred dollars. The alternative costs a deal.
How we handle it
The quote states which permits apply. We file the building permit with the City of Cambridge Building Division, our electrician files the ESA permit, our gas fitter handles any gas work, and we book every inspection. Permit fees appear as their own line item.
For what the rest of the project costs, see our Cambridge kitchen renovation cost guide, or book a free in-home quote and we will tell you exactly which permits your kitchen needs.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a permit to remove a kitchen wall in Cambridge?
Yes, every time, load-bearing or not. Load-bearing walls also need an engineer-designed beam. The permit application includes the drawings showing the existing and proposed layout.
Do I need a permit to move my kitchen sink?
Yes. Relocating a sink means new drain and vent lines, which are plumbing work under the Ontario Building Code and are inspected at rough-in.
Can I do my own kitchen electrical?
In Ontario a homeowner can do electrical work in their own home, but it still needs an ESA permit and inspection. For a kitchen with multiple new circuits, a licensed electrician is faster, safer and what your insurer expects.
Serving Cambridge and surrounding areas. Contact us for a free, no-obligation quote specific to your project.