Kitchen Renovation in Toronto

Guide · Kitchen renovation · Toronto, Vaughan, Markham, Brampton and the GTA · Reading time about 8 minutes

A kitchen is a plumbing, electrical and cabinet job at the same time. Plan all three together.

A kitchen renovation covers the layout, the cabinets, the countertops, the appliances, the plumbing, the electrical and the ventilation. Moving a sink, adding an island with a sink, or adding circuits usually changes the plumbing or wiring, and those changes generally need a permit in Toronto. Confirm the permit scope with Toronto Building before you demolish anything. Order the cabinets and stone early, because their lead times often set the pace. This guide shows the scope, the permit questions, the decisions that change the price, and what to measure before the designer visits.

Book a kitchen site visit

What does a kitchen renovation include?

A kitchen renovation can include any of these: the layout and the position of the sink, the range and the fridge; the cabinets; the countertops and backsplash; the appliances; the plumbing lines and drains; the electrical circuits and lighting; the range hood and its ventilation; and the flooring. Each one affects the others, so plan them together rather than one at a time.

Write the scope as a list of what changes. “New kitchen” means different things to different people, and the list is what the contract, the drawings and the permit have to match.

Does a kitchen renovation need a permit?

Work that changes the structure, the plumbing or the electrical generally needs a permit. Common examples include removing or opening a wall, moving plumbing lines, adding new circuits, and changing the ventilation. Painting, replacing like for like, and swapping an appliance in the same place usually do not need one. Check the scope with the City.

For permit questions, Toronto’s building permits page directs readers to Toronto Building Customer Service. Ask in writing which parts of your scope need a permit, and keep the answer with the contract.

Can I move the sink or add an island?

Yes, but it is usually more than a swap. Moving a sink to an island means relocating the drain and the water lines, and that is plumbing work that generally needs a permit. Adding an island with a sink can also change the venting and the electrical. Adding circuits to existing wiring can also need approval.

Ask the designer to show where each line runs before the island is drawn. A layout that looks simple on paper can need a long run of pipe under the floor.

How do I choose a kitchen layout?

Start with how the kitchen is used, not with the cabinet style. Count the people who cook, the people who clean up, and the places where food, dishes and appliances are used. Map the work triangle between the sink, the range and the fridge, and check that the main routes through the room stay clear when doors and drawers are open.

Test the layout on paper before the design is finished. Ask the designer to show the clearances at the sink, the range and the dishwasher, and the walking path from the entrance. A layout that works on paper is much easier to change before the cabinets are ordered.

How do cabinets and countertops fit in?

Cabinets and countertops are made to measure, so the order follows the measurements. Take measurements after the walls, the plumbing and the electrical are roughed in, and confirm them before the cabinets are ordered. A template is taken for the stone, and the stone is ordered once the cabinets are set.

1. Measure the room. Walls, openings, and fixed items such as windows and the range hood.
2. Design the cabinets. Confirm the layout and the door and drawer style in writing.
3. Order the cabinets. Confirm the lead time in writing.
4. Template the stone. Once the cabinets are set and the sink is placed.
5. Install and finish. Fixtures, backsplash and appliances last.

What changes the cost?

This guide does not publish prices, because the sources we checked were contractor and marketing pages that could not be verified against real jobs. The factors below change the cost, and you can price each one with your builder in writing.

• Layout changes. Moving a sink, an island or a wall adds plumbing, electrical and structural work.
• Cabinets and stone. Custom work and natural stone cost more than standard options.
• Appliances and ventilation. Built-in units and a ducted hood add trades.
• Hidden conditions. Older wiring, pipes and subfloors can add work once opened.
• Permits and inspections. Confirm whether permit fees are included in each quote.

What is the order of the job?

Plan the layout first, then confirm the permit, then measure and design. Order the long-lead items before demolition, so the lead time does not stop the job. The rough-in is inspected before the walls are closed. The finishes and fixtures come last.

What does an older kitchen hide?

Older homes can hide wiring, pipes and subfloors behind the cabinets and walls. Once the demolition starts, those conditions can change the scope and the cost. Ask for an inspection before the design is finished, and write the findings down. A short inspection early is cheaper than a change order mid-job.

Which kitchen myths should I ignore?