Do I need a permit for a kitchen remodel in San Diego?

A San Diego kitchen remodel needs a building permit any time the work goes beyond a strict cosmetic refresh. The permit triggers are spelled out in the 2022 California Residential Code as adopted by San Diego Municipal Code Chapter 14, Article 5: any alteration of gas piping (CRC G2415), any relocation or extension of plumbing fixtures (CPC Section 105.0), modification of electrical circuits beyond like-for-like replacement (CEC Article 210), removal or relocation of partition walls, and reconfiguration of mechanical ventilation including range-hood ducting (CMC Section 502.2). A pure cabinet-and-countertop swap with no fixture moves and no electrical work can sometimes proceed without a permit, but the moment a new island circuit, a relocated sink, or a vent-hood penetration enters the picture, DSD plan review applies. Over-the-counter (OTC) issuance is available for limited like-for-like work — for example, replacing a cooktop on the same gas line, swapping a dishwasher, or upgrading a range hood that vents through the existing duct. Anything more complex routes through full plan review, which currently runs four to twelve weeks depending on workload, structural scope, and whether the kitchen sits in a Coastal Overlay Zone, a Historic Resources district, or a Brush Management zone. Coastal-zone kitchens often pull a Coastal Development Permit on top of the building permit, which can add another six to ten weeks. We also confirm whether the project triggers Title 24 compliance — a full-service-panel upgrade or a re-circuit can pull EV-readiness and solar-readiness review into scope under California Energy Code 150.1. Inspection sequence after issuance is rough plumbing, rough electrical, rough mechanical, drywall, then final. Skipping the permit is risky: unpermitted kitchen work is a top finding during resale title review, and California Civil Code Section 1102.6 disclosure obligations make it a real liability when you sell.