- Typical cost
- $25k to $100kSanta Monica, 2026
- Building department
- City of Santa Monica
- Permit needed
- Usually yes
- Licensed
- CSLB 1083262Class B general building
Two things shape kitchen and bathroom work in Santa Monica. Coastal zone status, which applies across much of the city and needs checking parcel by parcel, and rent control, which governs what can be done in an occupied unit and on what notice. On a single-family house outside the coastal zone, neither applies and the job runs normally.
What it costs in Santa Monica
| What | Typical Los Angeles range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bathroom refresh | $10,000 to $25,000 | Fixtures, counters, paint, lighting |
| Full bathroom remodel | $25,000 to $60,000 | Everything new, same footprint |
| Primary bath with layout change | $60,000 to $120,000+ | Moved plumbing, custom shower |
| Kitchen refresh | $20,000 to $40,000 | Counters, appliances, paint |
| Full kitchen remodel | $35,000 to $100,000 | New cabinets, counters, floors, fixtures |
| Kitchen with walls removed | $120,000+ | Structural beam, moved plumbing |
Los Angeles County figures, reviewed 2026-10-29 by America General Contractors, California contractor licence CSLB 1083262. Planning ranges, not a quote, and not legal advice. We confirm the current rules for your parcel before anything is drawn.
How we approach it here
Kitchens and bathrooms get used every day and move a home's value more than any other room. We do all three versions: a refresh that keeps everything where it is, a full replacement in the same footprint, and a remodel that moves walls and plumbing to get the layout you actually want.
One contractor runs the whole thing. We handle the drawings, the permit, demolition, plumbing, electrical, tile, cabinets, counters and the final fixes. You get one price and one person to call.
Building rules in Santa Monica
Santa Monica runs its own permits and plan check, has a seismic retrofit ordinance covering soft-story, unreinforced masonry and some concrete buildings, and applies Coastal Commission rules west of certain streets. The city also has strong rent control and tenant relocation rules that affect multifamily renovations.
Building department
City of Santa Monica Building & Safety
ZIP codes we cover
90401, 90402, 90403, 90404, 90405
Neighborhoods
North of Montana, Sunset Park, Ocean Park, Mid-City, Wilshire-Montana
What a kitchen & bathroom remodeling job includes
- Drawings, material choices and an itemized price
- City permit and all inspections
- Demolition, haul-away and dust control
- New plumbing, gas and electrical, including a bigger panel if you need one
- Waterproofing, tile, flooring and paint
- Cabinets, counters, backsplash and fixtures
- Ventilation, lighting and energy-code paperwork
- Final clean, walkthrough and written warranty
What moves the price
- Whether the plumbing and electrical stay where they are
- Cabinet grade and counter material, which is where most of the money goes
- How much tile, and how complicated the tile pattern is
- What is behind the walls in an older house: old pipe, old wiring, water damage
- Whether the city needs full drawings or just a counter permit
Permits and inspections
In the City of Los Angeles, any work that touches plumbing, electrical, gas or structure needs a permit from the building department. Swapping a faucet or painting does not. Most refreshes are permitted at the counter in a day. Moving a wall or a drain needs drawings first. We pull the permit under our license, so it is our name on it, not yours.
How we run the job
1. Walk the property
We meet you on site, listen, and look at what the building and the city will need. You get a written scope and a budget range.
2. Drawings
When drawings are needed we bring in the architect and engineer, and price the design while it is being drawn.
3. Permit
We file with the city, handle the corrections they send back, and tell you where it stands.
4. Price and contract
An itemized price, a schedule and payment terms. Anything new after signing gets priced in writing first.
5. Build
One supervisor on your job, licensed trades, inspections in order, and a weekly update with photos.
6. Walkthrough
A final fix list, the city's sign-off, and a written warranty on our work.
Santa Monica questions about kitchen and bathroom remodeling
Do I need a permit for kitchen and bathroom remodeling in Santa Monica?
City of Santa Monica Building & Safety Swapping a faucet or painting does not. Most refreshes are permitted at the counter in a day. Moving a wall or a drain needs drawings first. We pull the permit under our license, so it is our name on it, not yours.
How much does kitchen and bathroom remodeling cost in Santa Monica?
$25k to $100k is the usual range across Los Angeles County, and Santa Monica sits inside it. The table on this page breaks it down by scope. What moves the number locally is the condition of the existing house and whether the layout changes, not the ZIP code. We price from a walkthrough, not a square-foot rule.
How long does kitchen and bathroom remodeling take in Santa Monica?
A bathroom refresh takes 2 to 3 weeks on site. A full bathroom runs 4 to 6 weeks. A replacement kitchen is 6 to 10 weeks once the cabinets arrive, and a kitchen with walls coming out is 10 to 16 weeks. Cabinets and counters take 4 to 12 weeks to build, so we order them before demolition starts instead of after.
Do I need a permit to remodel my kitchen in Los Angeles?
If the work touches plumbing, electrical, gas or structure, yes. New cabinets and counters in the same spots, with nothing moved, generally do not need one. Most real remodels do. We pull it under our license.
Can I live in the house during the work?
Most people do. We set up a temporary kitchen, seal the work area with plastic and keep the noisy work in blocks. If it is a full gut and you only have one bathroom, plan to stay elsewhere for part of it.
Other work we do in Santa Monica
ADU and garage conversion work, room additions, whole-house renovation, seismic retrofit and foundation work. Or see everything on the Santa Monica page.
Kitchen & Bathroom Remodeling in nearby cities
Pasadena, Beverly Hills, Culver City, Long Beach, Burbank, Sherman Oaks.