How Much Does a Kitchen Remodel Cost in Richmond, VA?

A kitchen remodel in the Richmond area costs about the same as the rest of the South Atlantic region, according to the 2025 Cost vs. Value report. The report puts a minor midrange kitchen at $28,567 and a major midrange kitchen at $81,076 in job cost for the region. Where your project lands depends mostly on three things: whether the cabinet boxes stay, whether plumbing and wiring move, and how far up the cabinet and appliance ladder you go.

How to read these numbers: figures credited to a named report are quoted from it. The ranges labeled “Renovexus planning estimate” are ours: we take the Cost vs. Value job cost for that scope and add or subtract 25 percent, rounded to the nearest $1,000. The band exists because the report prices one defined 200-square-foot kitchen, and yours will differ in size and finish. Get written bids before you set a budget.

Costs at a glance

Which region is Virginia in? The Cost vs. Value report does not print a list of states for each region. Its region names follow the U.S. Census Bureau’s divisions, and the Census Bureau places Virginia in the South Atlantic division. The report has no Richmond page. Its Virginia city pages are Virginia Beach and Harrisonburg, so we show Virginia Beach as a second data point. Harrisonburg’s page has no minor kitchen figure, but its major midrange kitchen comes in at $79,003.

What each scope means

The Cost vs. Value numbers are only useful if you know what they price. All three projects assume a 200-square-foot kitchen with 30 linear feet of cabinets and counters.

Minor midrange remodel. The cabinet boxes stay. New shaker-style door and drawer fronts and hardware go on, the range and refrigerator are replaced with energy-efficient models, laminate counters are replaced, and you get a midpriced sink and faucet, new resilient flooring and fresh paint. Nothing moves. The report puts this at $28,567 regionally and $27,106 in Virginia Beach. It also estimates the work returns 109.2 percent of its cost at resale in the South Atlantic region, the best return of any kitchen scope in the report.

Major midrange remodel. Everything is replaced in a functional layout: 30 linear feet of semi-custom wood cabinets including a 3-by-5-foot island, laminate counters, a double-bowl stainless sink, an energy-efficient range, vented hood, built-in microwave, dishwasher, disposal, custom lighting, new resilient flooring and paint. The regional job cost is $81,076, and the report estimates 50.2 percent of that comes back at resale.

Major upscale remodel. Top-of-the-line custom cabinets with interior accessories, stone counters with an imported tile backsplash, a built-in refrigerator, commercial-grade cooktop and hood, wall oven, high-end undermount sink with water filtration, new general and task lighting and tile flooring. The regional job cost is $161,511, with 35.5 percent recouped at resale.

What drives the cost

Cabinets. Angi calls cabinetry the single largest cost driver in most kitchen remodels and says cabinets can account for 40 percent or more of the total budget, with cabinet costs running from $2,000 to $28,000 or more. Keeping your boxes and refacing them is the difference between the minor and major scopes above.

Moving plumbing, gas and wiring. Angi puts the cost of relocating a gas line at $375 to $750, and new or replaced kitchen piping at $1,500 to $15,000, averaging about $7,500. Moving the sink, range or refrigerator also changes which permits you need (see below).

Countertops. Angi puts installed countertops at $1,800 to $4,400 on average, with premium materials pushing past $10,000.

Labor and management. Angi estimates installation labor at about 25 percent of a kitchen remodel and a general contractor’s fee at 10 to 20 percent of the project cost. It also suggests holding back a cushion of at least 10 percent of the budget for surprises.

Size. Angi’s per-square-foot range is $75 to $250, with smaller kitchens costing more per square foot because fixed costs are spread over less area.

Permits in Richmond, Henrico and Chesterfield

Which office you deal with depends on where the house is. The City of Richmond, Henrico County and Chesterfield County each run their own permit office and fee schedule.

What needs a permit. The City of Richmond’s homeowner permit guide says a residential building permit is required for alterations, repairs and renovations, with exceptions listed in Section 108 of the 2021 Virginia Residential Code. The guide names ordinary repairs, window and door replacements and cabinetry installation among the work that does not need a building permit. Mechanical, electrical, plumbing and gas work are not included on a residential building permit in Richmond: each trade needs its own application. A cabinet-and-counter refresh may need no building permit, but new circuits, a moved sink or a relocated gas line will need trade permits.

City of Richmond. The city fee schedule (effective July 1, 2024) charges $63 for residential work valued up to $2,000, and over $2,000 adds $6.07 per thousand or fraction thereof. A 2.0 percent state surcharge is added, and the value of work is the higher of the contractor’s estimate or the RS Means price. The guide says some applications take as long as two to three weeks, with a goal of finishing the first review within 10 business days. Applications go through the city’s online permit portal.

Henrico County. Henrico charges $100 for the first $5,000 of work, plus $6 per additional $1,000 or fraction, plus the 2 percent state levy, for additions and alterations to an existing home. The building permit fee will not exceed $693.60. Trade permits for existing homes use the same formula. As our own calculation from that schedule: a $50,000 renovation works out to $100 plus 45 times $6, or $370, plus the levy, about $377. Apply through Build Henrico.

Chesterfield County. Chesterfield’s residential schedule for July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027 uses flat fees: $114 for a renovation that does not change the square footage, $114 for an electrical permit where rough-in is required ($57 where rough-in already exists), and the same $114 and $57 for plumbing. The 2 percent state levy is added. Apply through the county’s ELM citizen access portal.

For more on what Virginia’s code requires in a kitchen, see our Virginia kitchen and bathroom permit guide.

Check the contractor’s Virginia license

Virginia licenses contractors by class, and the class sets how big a job they may take on. Under Code of Virginia § 54.1-1100:

• Class C: a single contract over $1,000 but less than $30,000.
• Class B: a single contract of $30,000 or more but less than $150,000.
• Class A: a single contract of $150,000 or more.

That means most major kitchen remodels in this guide call for at least a Class B license, and an upscale job may call for Class A. Look the company up on the DPOR License Lookup, which searches by name, license number, address and license type and includes a disciplinary action search. Confirm the class covers your contract amount and that the license is current.

Virginia’s Board for Contractors also requires a legible written contract for residential work under 18VAC50-22-260. The contract must include when work begins and the estimated completion date, the total cost, the payment schedule including any down payment, the contractor’s name, address, license number, class and specialties, and a statement about the Virginia Contractor Transaction Recovery Fund. DPOR says that fund provides relief to eligible consumers who lose money through the improper and dishonest conduct of a licensed contractor, so the license check matters. Our Virginia license guide walks through the lookup step by step.

How to compare quotes

1. Ask each contractor which Cost vs. Value scope your job is closest to. A refacing quote and a new-cabinet quote are not the same job, so the totals will not line up until the scope does.
2. Get the cabinet line on its own. Since cabinets can be 40 percent or more of the budget, ask for the cabinet line (brand, construction, finish) separately from installation.
3. Ask who pulls the permits and what they cost. In Richmond, trade permits are separate from the building permit. In Henrico, the fee follows the value of the work. In Chesterfield, it is flat. A quote should say which permits are included.
4. Check the license class against the contract total. A Class C contractor cannot take a single contract of $30,000 or more.
5. Read the contract against the 18VAC50-22-260 list. Start date, completion date, total cost, payment schedule and license details should all be in writing, and changes should be signed by both parties.
6. Leave room for surprises. Angi suggests a cushion of at least 10 percent.

FAQ

How much does a kitchen remodel cost in Richmond?

The 2025 Cost vs. Value report puts a minor midrange kitchen at $28,567 and a major midrange kitchen at $81,076 in job cost for the South Atlantic region, which includes Virginia. There is no Richmond page in the report. Our planning estimates for the Richmond area are $21,000 to $36,000 for a minor remodel and $61,000 to $101,000 for a major midrange remodel.

Do I need a permit to replace kitchen cabinets in Richmond?

The City of Richmond’s homeowner permit guide lists cabinetry installation among the work that does not need a building permit under the 2021 Virginia Residential Code. New wiring, plumbing, gas or mechanical work still needs separate trade permits, which Richmond does not bundle into the building permit.

What does a kitchen permit cost in Henrico County?

Henrico charges $100 for the first $5,000 of work, plus $6 per additional $1,000, plus a 2 percent state levy, with the building permit capped at $693.60. By our calculation, a $50,000 renovation comes to about $377 for the building permit. Trade permits use the same formula.

What license does a Virginia kitchen contractor need?

It depends on the contract amount. A Class C license covers a single contract over $1,000 and under $30,000, Class B covers $30,000 to under $150,000, and Class A covers $150,000 or more. Check the class and status on the DPOR License Lookup before you sign.

Does a minor kitchen remodel pay off at resale?

In the 2025 Cost vs. Value report, the minor midrange kitchen recouped 109.2 percent of its cost in the South Atlantic region, compared with 50.2 percent for a major midrange kitchen and 35.5 percent for a major upscale kitchen.

Comparing Richmond-area kitchen remodelers? Browse license-checked pros in Virginia, or go straight to Richmond, Henrico, North Chesterfield or Midlothian. County lists: City of Richmond, Henrico County, Chesterfield County.

Sources

1. JLC/Remodeling Cost vs. Value 2025: South Atlantic Region jlconline.com
2. JLC/Remodeling Cost vs. Value 2025: Virginia Beach, Virginia jlconline.com
3. U.S. Census Bureau: Census Regions and Divisions of the United States www2.census.gov
4. Angi: How Much Does a Kitchen Remodel Cost? (updated Sep 4, 2026) angi.com
5. Houzz: 11 Things to Know About Home Renovations Today (2026 U.S. Houzz & Home Study) houzz.com
6. City of Richmond: Permit Fee Schedule (effective 07/01/2024) rva.gov
7. City of Richmond: Homeowner Permit Guide rva.gov
8. Henrico County: Residential Building Permit Fees henrico.gov
9. Chesterfield County: Residential Building Inspection Fee Schedule (7/1/2026 to 6/30/2027) chesterfield.gov
10. Code of Virginia § 54.1-1100: Contractor classes law.lis.virginia.gov
11. 18VAC50-22-260: Board for Contractors prohibited acts and contract requirements law.lis.virginia.gov
12. Virginia DPOR: Board for Contractors dpor.virginia.gov
13. Virginia DPOR: License Lookup dporweb.dpor.virginia.gov