Kitchen Remodeling in Castle Pines, CO

Kitchen remodeling in Castle Pines goes through the City of Castle Pines Building Division, which works out of 7437 Village Square Drive, Suite 200, and takes applications through the CommunityCore online portal. The city sorts permits into two tracks, and a kitchen almost always lands on the one that needs drawings. Our crew plans Castle Pines kitchens around that track from the first walkthrough, so the drawings, the contractor paperwork, and the inspections are ready before demolition starts.

Why a Castle Pines Kitchen Usually Needs Plan Review

Castle Pines splits residential permits into 1-Stop Permits, which do not require drawings, and Plan Review Permits, which do. The city lists “Remodel” on the Plan Review side, next to additions, basement finishes, and decks. So a kitchen that changes the room itself is treated as a design review, not a quick counter permit.

Some pieces of a kitchen job do show up on the 1-Stop list: demolition, an electrical service amp change, a water heater replacement, water or sewer line repair, and window or patio door replacement. Those can move faster when they stand alone. Once they are part of a larger kitchen remodel, we plan them together under the remodel permit so the inspector sees one project.

We could not find an official Castle Pines list of kitchen work that is exempt from permits, such as a cabinet-only or counter-only swap. The city’s version of the residential code does not add a local exemption list either. For a light refresh, we ask the Building Division before assuming no permit is needed, and we note the answer in the project file.

What the Drawings Have to Show

For Plan Review Permits, Castle Pines asks for two identical drawings that show every structural component and are drawn to scale. The city’s residential submittal checklist recommends floor plans at 1/4 inch to the foot, fully dimensioned, with adjoining rooms labeled and every window and door located. It also asks for finished ceiling heights and the type of each window, whether slider, casement, fixed, or single hung.

The same checklist wants the mechanical side on paper. Plumbing sheets show every fixture and the water heater. Electrical sheets show the meter location, the main breaker size in amps, and any subpanels. For a kitchen that adds an island sink, a new range circuit, or a relocated refrigerator line, those details have to match what is built, because the rough inspections check against them.

The checklist on the city site is dated 2018 and still shows the old office address, so we confirm the current submittal requirements with the office before we file. That small check avoids a resubmittal later.

Asbestos Testing Before Demolition

This is the rule that surprises many Castle Pines homeowners. The city’s asbestos handout says any project that disturbs more than 32 square feet of surface material or 50 linear feet of piping in a one- or two-family home requires asbestos testing, regardless of the home’s age. Tearing out a kitchen’s drywall, ceiling texture, or flooring can pass that threshold quickly.

Testing must be done by a Colorado-certified asbestos inspector. If a sample comes back above 1% asbestos, removal has to be done by a state-certified abatement contractor. The handout says test results and abatement clearance letters are submitted with the building permit application for a renovation, so this step comes before the permit, not after it.

We build the asbestos inspection into the pre-construction schedule. It usually means a short site visit and lab turnaround before plans go in, and it keeps the demolition day from turning into a stop-work situation.

Gas Lines and Local Code Amendments

Castle Pines enforces the 2021 International Residential Code, adopted by Ordinance 23-02 in February 2023, with local amendments. Two of those amendments touch kitchens with gas appliances. The city raised the test pressure for fuel gas piping from 3 psig to 10 psig, and it requires plastic fuel gas piping to be buried at least 18 inches below grade.

The buried piping rule matters most when a kitchen project also runs gas out to a patio grill or fire table. The city lists a gas line to a patio or fire pit as its own Plan Review Permit. Inside the house, the higher test pressure is simply part of the rough gas inspection, and we plan the test before walls close.

Electrical work follows the National Electrical Code as adopted by the city and updated by the Colorado State Electrical Board. The city’s own pages disagree on the current edition: the permit page cites the 2020 NEC, while the FAQ cites the 2023 NEC. We confirm the edition with the Building Division before we draw a kitchen’s circuit plan, and we do not rely on either page alone.

Licensed Contractors on Every Trade

Castle Pines is strict about licensing. The city says a contractor license must be obtained before business can start in the city, and that no permits will be issued for work done by an unregistered contractor. The FAQ adds that a permit will not be issued until all contractors on the project are licensed.

The submittal checklist backs that up by asking for the general contractor’s Castle Pines license number and the license number of every subcontractor. Electrical contractors register with the city on the strength of a Colorado Electrical Board license, and plumbing contractors on a Colorado Plumbing Board license. The city also requires proof of insurance from licensed contractors.

Homeowners doing their own work do not need a license. The city notes that owners who do the work themselves should still assign a fair market value to their own labor when they list project value. For a kitchen we build, we line up each trade’s city registration before the application goes in.

Fees, Review Time, and Inspections

Castle Pines fees are based on project value. The permit application asks for an estimated value that includes all materials and labor, and the city’s code amendment lets the Building Official set the final valuation if an estimate looks low. On top of the building permit fee, the city charges a plan review fee equal to 65% of the permit fee, plus use tax. The city also charges a fee equal to 100% of the building fee if work starts before a permit is issued.

The city’s FAQ says residential plan reviews take up to 5 days, and 1-Stop permits typically issue within 24 hours. Permits are valid for 180 days after issuance. If the kitchen tear-out needs a dumpster on the street, the 2026 fee schedule lists a separate right-of-way fee for temporary dumpster placement.

Inspections are requested by email or phone before 4 p.m. on the business day before, or through the online portal. Someone over 18 must be present for interior inspections, and a call to the office after 8:30 a.m. on inspection day gets a two-hour arrival window. We plan to have a crew lead on site for each visit.

How We Sequence a Castle Pines Kitchen Remodel

We start with scope and the asbestos question together. If demolition will pass the city’s 32-square-foot threshold, we schedule a certified inspection first. At the same time we measure the room, confirm the wall and floor conditions, and draw the two sets the city wants, with plumbing, electrical, and gas details matched to the cabinet layout.

Once the permit is issued, our crew protects the rest of the house, handles demolition, and brings framing, plumbing, gas, and electrical rough-ins to inspection. The gas line gets its 10 psig test before anything is covered. Drywall, cabinets, counters, fixtures, and appliances follow, and the project closes with final inspections scheduled a day ahead through the Building Division.

Common Questions

Does a kitchen remodel in Castle Pines need a permit?
The City of Castle Pines lists remodels as Plan Review Permits, which require drawings. We did not find an official list of kitchen work that is exempt, so confirm cosmetic-only work with the Building Division before starting.

Why would my Castle Pines kitchen need an asbestos test?
The city’s asbestos handout requires testing when a project disturbs more than 32 square feet of surface material or 50 linear feet of piping in a one- or two-family home, regardless of age. Results go in with the permit application.

How long does kitchen plan review take in Castle Pines?
The city’s FAQ says residential plan reviews take up to 5 days. Incomplete drawings or missing contractor licenses can slow that down, so the application should be complete when it is filed.

Do all of my kitchen contractors need a Castle Pines license?
Yes. The city says a permit will not be issued until all contractors on the project are licensed. Homeowners doing their own work do not need a license.

Talk to Us About Your Project

Tell us what you want to change in your Castle Pines kitchen, from the layout and the island to gas appliances, lighting, and flooring. We plan the asbestos check, prepare the two drawing sets the city asks for, coordinate licensed trades, and schedule inspections with the Building Division.