Short answer. A typical Los Angeles kitchen remodel runs 4 to 6 months from signed contract to final inspection. Design and permits take 8 to 12 weeks. Cabinet fabrication runs 6 to 10 weeks in parallel. Active construction takes 8 to 10 weeks. The full week-by-week schedule below shows what happens and what tends to slip.
Almost every kitchen schedule overrun traces back to one of three problems: late selections, cabinet delivery surprises, or rough-trade conflicts uncovered after demo. The schedule below assumes selections are finalized by end of week 4 and the cabinets ordered immediately. Push selections later and every downstream phase slips.
Full week-by-week schedule
Phase 1: Design and selections
Weeks 1 to 4. Site measurement. Concept design. Cabinet layout and door style selection. Counter material selection. Appliance package finalized with model numbers. Plumbing and lighting selections. End of phase: signed-off drawings ready for permit submission and cabinet ordering.
Phase 2: Permit submission
Weeks 4 to 5. Submit to LADBS or local building department. Title 24 energy compliance documents prepared. Plan check typically begins inside 7 days of submission.
Phase 3: Cabinet fabrication and permit review
Weeks 5 to 14. Cabinets enter production. Plan check runs in parallel. Corrections resolved as needed. Permit issued by week 10 to 12. Cabinets delivered around week 12 to 14. Counter template not scheduled until cabinets are installed.
Phase 4: Demolition
Weeks 14 to 15. Existing kitchen removed. Floors protected. Appliances disconnected and stored. Containment dust barriers built. Hidden site conditions surface here (water damage, unpermitted prior work, undersized framing). Address before rough trades.
Phase 5: Rough trades
Weeks 15 to 17. Plumbing rough at new fixture locations. Electrical rough including new circuits for range, dishwasher, microwave, disposal, and under-cabinet lighting. HVAC adjustments if range hood vents through wall or roof. Rough inspection passed before drywall.
Phase 6: Drywall, paint, and tile
Weeks 17 to 19. Drywall hung and finished. Primer and first paint coat. Wall tile installed where applicable. Floors installed if not already in place.
Phase 7: Cabinet installation
Week 19. Cabinets set, leveled, and shimmed. Crown and toe kicks installed. Critical inspection week. Counter template scheduled after this is complete and accurate.
Phase 8: Counter template and fabrication
Weeks 19 to 21. Counter shop templates the cabinets in person. Fabrication runs 7 to 14 days. Sink and faucet selection finalized before template.
Phase 9: Counter install and final trades
Weeks 21 to 23. Counters set and seamed. Backsplash installed. Plumbing trim out. Electrical trim out. Appliance installation. Final paint touch-ups.
Phase 10: Punch list and final inspection
Weeks 23 to 24. Walkthrough. Punch list resolved. Final inspection scheduled with the building department. Final inspection passed. Project closed.
Where time gets lost
- Cabinet selections decided after the contract signed. Adds 4 to 8 weeks.
- Counter material picked after cabinets arrive. Adds 2 to 4 weeks.
- Appliances not on site by cabinet install. Adds 1 to 3 weeks of trim work delay.
- Permit corrections handled slowly. Each round adds 2 to 4 weeks.
- Hidden water damage or knob-and-tube wiring discovered at demo. Adds 1 to 3 weeks.
For the price side, see kitchen remodel cost in Los Angeles. For cabinet selection, read custom kitchen cabinets in LA. For layout ideas, see small kitchen island ideas. For our build process, open the kitchen remodeling service page.
