Homeowners planning a kitchen remodel in Delray Beach often budget for cabinets and countertops but overlook the building permit, which typically takes 6 to 8 weeks or longer to approve, according to KMR Enterprises, a Florida certified general contractor based in Delray Beach and in business since 1992.
The company, led by owner Kris Schlembach, said the permit process is the most common source of unexpected delay in kitchen projects. A permitted kitchen requires plans, licensed subcontractors and permit fees, and the approval timeline can stretch well beyond what homeowners anticipate.
To address the bottleneck, KMR recommends that homeowners consider hiring a private provider, a licensed third party allowed under Florida law to handle plan review and inspections. For a typical kitchen, that option adds about $1,500 but can save 4 to 8 weeks on overall completion, according to the company.
"At KMR, we recommend paying a little extra to hire a private provider to handle the permit approvals and inspections," Schlembach said. "For a typical kitchen, this would add around $1,500 but would save 4 to 8 weeks on the overall completion."
The guidance matters for Palm Beach County homeowners weighing timelines and budgets, because delays can push projects past planned move-in dates or force families to extend temporary living arrangements. Faster permitting can also reduce the carrying costs associated with being displaced from a kitchen for an extended period.
KMR said layout decisions drive cost more than any other factor, because two questions determine price: whether walls are moving and whether appliances are being relocated or added. Moving an appliance can require new electrical and plumbing work plus trenching and repairing the concrete slab, which the company said are among the most expensive items in a kitchen.
"The more information we have the better, because with more precise information and details we can create a more accurate budget," Schlembach said. "Major questions that would have the greatest effect on price are related mostly to: Are we moving any walls? Are we relocating or adding appliances that would require electrical and plumbing as well as concrete trenching and repair?"
On cost, KMR said a small kitchen can start at about $15,000, and the company has completed kitchens ranging from roughly $20,000 to more than $300,000. Access challenges such as upper floors in condo buildings, elevator scheduling and limited parking add both time and money.
The company said it prices each option separately, from a budget version up to the full wish list, so homeowners can decide which items are worth the expense. KMR also said impact windows can typically be handled under its main permit, with window installers working as part of the same job, allowing windows to be scheduled and inspected within the kitchen project.
KMR Enterprises designs, permits and builds kitchens under one contract and holds a 4.9-star rating on Google from more than 75 homeowner reviews. It was named Best of Houzz for Service in 2019 and 2023. The company holds Florida Certified General Contractor CGC1520685 and Certified Roofing Contractor CCC1331167.
