By the MJC design team, Orlando. Updated November 2026.
Short answer: Often not, if the new cabinets go in the same place. Orange County lists replacing cabinets or countertops in the same location, without changing the layout, as work that generally needs no permit. Plumbing, electrical and structural work, such as moving a sink, adding an outlet or removing a wall, generally does. Always confirm with your city or county.
What does Orange County say about replacing cabinets?
Orange County’s permitting FAQ says you generally do not need a permit for minor home improvement projects, and it lists “replacing cabinets or countertops in the same location (without changing the layout)” among them, next to painting and replacing flooring.
The same page says most construction, remodeling, electrical, plumbing, mechanical and structural work does require a permit, and that a project that alters a building or its systems typically needs one before work begins, as required by the Florida Building Code.
The County’s Do I Need a Permit page adds details that matter in a kitchen. A new outlet or a moved outlet needs an electrical permit. Additions and alterations need a building permit, with electrical, mechanical, plumbing or gas sub-permits depending on the scope. An appliance that plugs into an existing outlet does not need one.
What does the City of Orlando say?
The City of Orlando runs its own permitting office. Its Get a Permit page states that “by law, the State of Florida requires you to get a permit for most projects, even small ones,” and points homeowners to the City’s online permit guide.
In the City pages we reviewed in October 2026, we did not find a statement about cabinet replacement specifically. That silence is not an exemption. If your home is inside Orlando city limits, ask the Permitting Services Division before work starts, at 407.246.2271 or digitalpermits@orlando.gov.
What turns a cabinet swap into permitted work?
The official pages draw the same line: same cabinets in the same place on one side, changes to the house and its systems on the other.
| Work in the kitchen | What the official pages say |
|---|---|
| Cabinets or countertops replaced in the same location, same layout | Orange County: generally no permit |
| A new or moved outlet, for example on an island | Orange County: electrical permit |
| Moving the sink, dishwasher or gas line | Plumbing and gas work generally requires a permit |
| Removing or moving a wall | Structural work generally requires a permit |
| An alteration to the house | Building permit, plus sub-permits by scope |
| A new appliance plugged into an existing outlet | Orange County: no permit |
Does the 2026 Florida law change this?
Florida HB 803 was approved by the Governor in May 2026 and took effect on July 1, 2026. According to the Senate bill summary, it requires local governments, except in flood hazard areas, to exempt from building permits work on single-family homes valued at $7,500 or less, excluding electrical, plumbing, structural, mechanical and gas work.
That threshold rarely fits a full kitchen. The 2024 Cost vs Value report puts a midrange minor kitchen remodel in Orlando at $28,206. Cities also apply the law through their own procedures, so check how your office handles it.
Which office should you call?
The answer depends on where your property sits, not on the city in your mailing address. A home with an Orlando mailing address can be outside city limits, and cities such as Orlando and Kissimmee run their own permitting offices. Before you call, write down what comes out, what goes back and whether any sink, outlet, appliance line or wall moves.
- City of Orlando Permitting Services Division: 407.246.2271, digitalpermits@orlando.gov.
- Orange County Permitting Services: (407) 836-5550, PermittingServices@ocfl.net.
How MJC handles this
Permit rules come from your city or county, and the answer depends on the scope of your project. MJC’s process starts with a free design visit, a 3D design and a detailed quote, which together describe what changes in your kitchen: which cabinets come out, what goes back in the same place and what moves. That scope is the information a permit office asks about. Bring up permits at the design visit and confirm the answer with your jurisdiction before work starts.
MJC remodels kitchens with its own team and trusted partners and coordinates the schedule with everyone involved. See what a kitchen remodel in Orlando includes, check the areas we serve or read whether you can replace cabinets and keep your countertops.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a permit to add a kitchen island in Orlando?
If the island gets an outlet, a sink or a gas line, that is electrical, plumbing or gas work, which the official pages treat as permitted work. An island with no connections raises fewer questions, but it changes the layout, so confirm it with your permitting office.
What happens if I skip a required permit?
Unpermitted work can come up later, during a home sale, an insurance claim or an inspection. The owner may then have to permit the work after the fact or open finished surfaces for inspection.
Does the HB 803 exemption mean I do not have to tell anyone?
Not always. Kissimmee, for example, asks owners to file an exemption form and wait for approval before work begins, and says all work must still meet the Florida Building Code.
Do condo or HOA rules apply even without a permit?
Yes, they can. Many associations require approval for renovations, work hours and contractor access, even when the city or county does not require a permit. Check your association documents before you schedule the work.
Plan your project with MJC
Get a free 3D design and see door, finish and granite samples at your home. Cabinets are built to measure in our Orlando shop at 5014 Forsyth Commerce Rd. Complete custom kitchens start at $15,000.
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