What a Kitchen Remodel Costs in Palm Beach County
Kitchen remodel pricing in Palm Beach County runs above the Florida average across every tier. A cosmetic refresh starts around $10,000, and a full gut-and-rebuild with custom cabinetry and high-end finishes can run $68,000 or more. The average full remodel we price for Palm Beach County homeowners lands between $32,000 and $52,000.
| Scope | Typical Range (Palm Beach County) | What's Included |
|---|---|---|
| Cosmetic Refresh | $10,000–$18,000 | Cabinet refacing or painting, new countertops, hardware, fixture swap, backsplash tile |
| Mid-Range Remodel | $26,000–$42,000 | Semi-custom cabinets, quartz countertops, new appliances, tile backsplash, updated lighting & plumbing fixtures |
| Full Gut & Rebuild | $42,000–$68,000 | Custom cabinetry, premium countertops, full plumbing & electrical update, structural changes, high-end appliances, permit-pulled renovation |
| Luxury / Custom | $70,000+ | Custom millwork, high-end stone, smart appliances, island additions, structural changes, design-build managed |
Cost by City Within Palm Beach County
Palm Beach County isn't one market. Housing stock age, labor availability, and HOA structure vary block to block, and all three move the number.
| Area | Full Remodel Range | Why |
|---|---|---|
| West Palm Beach / Lake Worth Beach | $30,000–$50,000 | Older CBS housing stock (1940s–1970s), frequent cast-iron plumbing replacement, historic district review in some neighborhoods |
| Boca Raton | $36,000–$60,000 | Higher-end material expectations, gated community ARC approval adds timeline, strong subcontractor demand |
| Delray Beach | $32,000–$54,000 | Mix of older CBS bungalows and newer construction, moderate HOA presence |
| Jupiter / Palm Beach Gardens | $34,000–$56,000 | Newer construction (less plumbing surprise), but higher-end finish expectations in golf and country club communities |
| Town of Palm Beach | $60,000–$120,000+ | Luxury market, landmark/historic preservation review, higher-end everything |
Why Palm Beach County Runs Above the Florida Average
1. Older CBS Construction and Cast-Iron Plumbing
A large share of homes in West Palm Beach, Lake Worth Beach, and older Delray Beach neighborhoods were built between the 1940s and 1970s on concrete block (CBS) with cast-iron drain stacks. Cast iron corrodes from the inside out over 50–70 years. It's common, once we open a wall or pull a kitchen fixture, to find a drain line that needs full replacement rather than a simple tie-in. That's not a Palm Beach markup — it's a real cost driven by the age of the housing stock.
2. Subcontractor Labor Rates
Plumbing, electrical, and cabinet installation labor in Palm Beach County runs higher than Central and North Florida markets, driven by cost of living and demand from the county's active new-construction and luxury renovation market. Expect labor line items to run 10–20% above statewide averages.
3. Palm Beach County Building Division Permit Fees
The Palm Beach County Building Division calculates permit fees off a construction-valuation table, plus a DBPR surcharge and a radon research fee on every permit. For a mid-range kitchen remodel involving plumbing and electrical work, expect total permit costs (including plan review and reinspection fees) in the $450–$1,200 range. Straightforward permits without plan review typically clear in 5–10 business days; anything requiring plan review — structural wall removal, for example — runs longer.
4. HOA and ARC Approval in Gated and Waterfront Communities
Many Palm Beach County communities — gated developments in Boca Raton, PGA National, Frenchman's Reserve, and most waterfront associations — require Architectural Review Committee (ARC) sign-off before a permit application can even be submitted. Budget an additional 2–6 weeks for ARC review on top of standard permit timelines. Waterfront properties near flood zones may also require an elevation certificate review if plumbing or structural work is involved.
In West Palm Beach and Lake Worth Beach homes built before 1975, we scope the cast-iron drain stack with a camera before we ever write a final number. Contractors who skip this step give you a clean-looking bid — and then hit you with a change order once the wall's already open and the stack turns out to be rotted through. Ask any contractor bidding your Palm Beach County kitchen whether they've scoped the drain line. If they haven't, the number they gave you isn't real yet.
Labor vs. Material Cost Breakdown
- Cabinetry: 28–38% of total budget
- Labor (installation, plumbing, electrical): 28–38% — runs higher here than statewide due to local labor rates
- Countertops: 10–15%
- Appliances: 10–15%
- Tile, backsplash, flooring: 5–10%
- Permits, ARC review, design fees: 4–8%
Getting an Accurate Estimate in Palm Beach County
Because so much of the Palm Beach County cost swing comes from what's behind the walls — plumbing age, CBS anchor conditions, HOA requirements specific to your community — an accurate number requires a site visit, not a phone quote. D&Co provides a written, line-item estimate within 48 hours of visiting your home, including any ARC or permit timeline specific to your community, so you know the real number and the real schedule before you sign anything.