Kitchen remodels that pass the first inspection
Kitchen remodels in Simi Valley: when the City reviews in a week, when moving a wall means full plan check, and what the 2024 interior remodel permit fee was.
A kitchen remodel touches more trades than almost any other room: plumbing for the sink and dishwasher, dedicated electrical circuits, ventilation, cabinets, counters, flooring and finishes. That mix is why the State Board's consumer guide uses the kitchen as its example of a project for a licensed general building contractor.
The permit path depends on one question: does the new layout change the structure? Keep the walls where they are and the City reviews the job in up to a week. Open the kitchen to the living room and you are in plan check with structural drawings.
Same footprint or a new layout
The City of Simi Valley states that residential bathroom and kitchen remodels without a structural component take up to one week to review. Replacing cabinets, counters and appliances in the same footprint, with plumbing and electrical updated in place, usually stays on that track.
Removing or opening a wall changes everything. Many interior walls in tract homes carry ceiling or roof load, so taking one out means a beam, possibly posts and footings, and engineered drawings. That puts the project in full plan check, which the City publishes at 20 to 25 working days after counter review.
Electrical and ventilation are where kitchens fail
Modern kitchens draw far more power than the ones built into older Simi Valley houses: induction ranges, built-in microwaves, dishwashers and countertop appliances each want their own circuits. A remodel that adds them can expose a panel at its limit, and the time to find that out is during the estimate.
A range hood that actually vents outside, counter outlets placed where the code requires them, and protected circuits near water are routine inspection items. Planning them in the layout costs less than moving them after a failed inspection.
- Panel capacity checked before the appliance list is final
- Dedicated circuits for the major appliances
- Hood ducting routed to the exterior
- Counter outlet layout and protection planned in the drawings
What the City charged for a non-structural remodel
The City fee schedule effective July 1, 2024 listed single-family renovation and repair, interior only and non-structural, with plumbing, mechanical and electrical, at $171.24, plus $75.78 per general inspection. A remodel with structural work is priced differently, partly by plan check. Fees change, so confirm the current amount with Building & Safety.
| Fee item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Single-family renovation, interior only, non-structural, with plumbing, mechanical and electrical | $171.24 |
| General inspection service, per inspection | $75.78 |
| Permit issuance | $68.78 |
| Plan check, hourly rate | $268.41 per hour |
Questions homeowners ask
How long does a kitchen remodel take in Simi Valley?
Review alone runs up to a week for a non-structural kitchen and several weeks for one with structural changes. Build time depends on cabinet lead times, inspections and how much of the room changes. You get a schedule with the estimate, tied to your scope.
Can I keep using the kitchen during the remodel?
Usually not for most of the job. Plan a temporary setup elsewhere in the house with a refrigerator, a microwave and a sink nearby, such as a laundry room.
Is a kitchen island a structural change?
An island by itself is not, but running plumbing or power to it means work in the floor or slab, and that is part of the permit scope. Removing a wall to make room for it is structural.
Who installs the cabinets and counters?
On a kitchen under a B contract, the B contractor either installs them or subcontracts them to a contractor licensed for that work. Either way, they are part of one contract and one schedule.
Sources
Facts on this page last verified: .
- City of Simi Valley Building & Safety, Online Permit Submittal Instructions: https://www.simivalley.org/departments/environmental-services/building-safety-division/online-permit-submittal-instructions (2026-10-05)
- City of Simi Valley, Summary of Service Charges effective July 1, 2024 (FY2024-25): https://simivalleylibrary.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/CityofSimiValley_FeeSchedule2025.pdf (2026-10-05)
- CSLB, What Type of Contractor Do I Need?: https://www.cslb.ca.gov/Consumers/Hire_A_Contractor/What_Kind_Of_Contractor.aspx (2026-10-05)
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