Quick Answer
Howard Construction Inc. is a family-owned kitchen remodeling contractor based in Santa Rosa, California, CSLB Class B license #836369, building here since 2000.
We handle full kitchen remodels end to end: design coordination, permits, structural work, cabinetry, electrical and plumbing, countertops and finishes. Kitchen remodels in Santa Rosa typically run $45,000 to $180,000 depending on scope. Free written line-item estimates. Call (707) 578-6565.
Our kitchen work
Every photo below is a Howard Construction kitchen. No stock photography, no renderings.
What a full kitchen remodel includes
We are a general contractor, not a cabinet showroom. That means one contract, one point of accountability, and no coordinating four trades yourself.
| Phase | What we handle |
|---|---|
| Design coordination | Work with your designer or architect, or help you develop the layout directly |
| Permits | Submittal, plan check corrections, inspections and final sign-off with the City of Santa Rosa or Permit Sonoma |
| Demolition | Containment, floor protection, HEPA air scrubbing, disposal |
| Structural | Wall removal, engineered beams, headers for new openings |
| Electrical | Dedicated circuits, GFCI and AFCI, panel upgrades, lighting |
| Plumbing | Sink and dishwasher relocation, gas lines, venting |
| Cabinetry | Stock, semi-custom or full custom installation and scribing |
| Surfaces | Countertop templating and install, backsplash, flooring |
| Finish | Paint, trim, hardware, appliance install, punch list |
What Santa Rosa kitchens specifically involve
Kitchen remodeling advice is mostly generic. This part is not — it is what we actually find behind walls in this city, by era and neighborhood.
1920s–1940s: Junior College, West End, McDonald Avenue
Beautiful housing stock, and consistently the most surprises. Expect knob-and-tube or early ungrounded wiring, 60–100 amp service, plaster over lath, raised foundations with limited crawl clearance, and cast-iron drain lines at the end of their life. A panel upgrade to 200 amps is common here and runs $4,000–$9,000. Budget a real contingency: 20% is not excessive on a house of this age.
1950s–1970s: Rincon Valley, Bennett Valley, Montgomery Village
Closed-off galley kitchens separated from the living space by a non-structural or lightly structural wall. This is the most common remodel we do in Santa Rosa — opening that wall transforms the house. Whether it is load-bearing determines whether you are spending $2,500 or $12,000 on that single decision, and it needs an engineer to answer, not a guess.
1980s–2000s: Skyhawk, Fountaingrove, Oakmont
Structurally straightforward. The work is usually cabinetry, surfaces and lighting, with electrical brought to current code. Oakmont adds HOA architectural review, and accessibility modifications are common — wider clearances, drawer-based storage, varied counter heights.
Post-2018 rebuilds: Coffey Park, Fountaingrove
Homes rebuilt after Tubbs are now seven or eight years old, and some owners are upgrading kitchens that were specified quickly under insurance pressure. These are clean, code-current structures — usually the most predictable remodels in the city.
Jurisdiction check first. Larkfield-Wikiup, parts of Mark West and areas of Bennett Valley carry Santa Rosa mailing addresses but are unincorporated — Permit Sonoma reviews those, not the City. Different fees, different timeline. We confirm this on the first visit.
What the permit requires in a Santa Rosa kitchen
Nearly every full kitchen remodel needs a permit, because nearly every one moves or adds electrical. Once permitted, current code applies to the work you touch:
- Two dedicated 20-amp small-appliance circuits for countertop receptacles
- GFCI protection on all countertop outlets
- AFCI protection on most branch circuits
- Dedicated circuits for dishwasher, disposal, microwave and range
- Receptacle spacing so no point along the counter is more than 24 inches from an outlet
- Ducted mechanical ventilation sized to the range — recirculating hoods generally do not satisfy this
- Title 24 energy compliance for lighting
Plan review at the City of Santa Rosa typically runs 3–8 weeks. We handle submittal through final; you never visit the counter. Full detail in our permit guide.
What does a kitchen remodel cost in Santa Rosa?
| Tier | 2026 cost | Scope |
|---|---|---|
| Cosmetic refresh | $18,000–$40,000 | Refaced cabinets, new counters, fixtures, lighting. Layout unchanged. |
| Mid-range full remodel | $45,000–$85,000 | New semi-custom cabinets, quartz, tile, flooring, updated electrical. |
| High-end remodel | $85,000–$140,000 | Custom cabinetry, stone, pro appliances, relocated plumbing, structural work. |
| Luxury | $140,000–$300,000+ | Full custom millwork, wall removal with engineered beam, butler's pantry. |
Cabinetry alone is usually 30–40% of the budget, and the biggest single cost lever is whether you keep the sink, range and refrigerator where they are. Our full breakdown — where every dollar goes, what moving plumbing costs, where to save and where not to — is in the kitchen remodel cost guide.
How we run your kitchen
- Free site visit. Phil walks your kitchen, talks through what your layout will and will not allow, and flags what he expects to find behind the walls.
- Written line-item estimate. Itemized scope, allowances with unit costs, and explicit exclusions. You see the whole number, not a headline.
- Design and selections. We push you to decide early, because late decisions are the single most expensive habit in remodeling.
- Cabinet order. Placed as soon as the layout is final — 6–16 week lead times are the pacing item on nearly every kitchen.
- Permit. We submit, respond to corrections and schedule inspections.
- Construction. Containment before demolition, weekly walkthrough at a fixed time, written change orders only.
- Punch list and closeout. Signed final permit, warranties, paint colors and product specs so you can match things in five years.
Plan on 8–16 weeks without a kitchen, plus 4–10 weeks of design and permitting first. Our guide to living through a remodel covers setting up a temporary kitchen properly.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a kitchen remodel cost in Santa Rosa?
A full kitchen remodel in Santa Rosa costs $45,000 to $180,000 in 2026, with most complete remodels landing between $70,000 and $120,000. A cosmetic refresh that keeps the existing layout runs $18,000 to $40,000. Cabinetry typically accounts for 30 to 40 percent of the budget, and keeping the sink, range and refrigerator in place is the single largest saving available.
Do I need a permit to remodel my kitchen in Santa Rosa?
Almost certainly yes. A permit is required for any electrical, plumbing, mechanical or structural work, and nearly every full kitchen remodel adds or relocates circuits. Purely cosmetic work such as painting or swapping a countertop generally does not. Plan review at the City of Santa Rosa typically takes 3 to 8 weeks, though properties in unincorporated areas go through Permit Sonoma instead.
How long does a kitchen remodel take in Santa Rosa?
Expect 8 to 16 weeks of construction, preceded by 4 to 10 weeks of design, selections and permitting. Cabinet lead times of 6 to 16 weeks are usually the pacing item, so ordering cabinets as soon as the layout is finalized is the most effective way to shorten the overall schedule.
Can I stay in my house during a kitchen remodel?
Most households can, provided you set up a genuine temporary kitchen with a refrigerator, microwave, hotplate or toaster oven, a prep surface and a wash station located away from the work zone. Proper dust containment matters just as much: plastic with zippered doors, floor protection, and a HEPA air scrubber running under negative pressure.
What is the most expensive part of a kitchen remodel?
Cabinetry, at 30 to 40 percent of a typical budget. After that, the largest cost driver is not finishes but layout: relocating a sink costs $3,500 to $9,000, moving a range with gas and ventilation costs $4,000 to $11,000, and removing a load-bearing wall with an engineered beam costs $9,000 to $30,000.
Do you handle the permit and inspections for my kitchen?
Yes. Howard Construction handles permit submittal, plan check corrections, engineering coordination, scheduling inspections and obtaining the signed final. You do not visit the building counter. We also confirm at the first visit whether your property falls under the City of Santa Rosa or Permit Sonoma, since many Santa Rosa mailing addresses are actually unincorporated.
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Phil will walk your kitchen, tell you honestly what your layout allows, and give you a written line-item estimate with itemized allowances. Free, no obligation, and you'll be talking to the owner.
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