Kitchen & Bathroom Remodeling in Mountain View, CA

Local knowledge matters

Mountain View permits, step by step.

Mountain View publishes separate kitchen, bathroom and addition/remodel guides and uses ePermitsMV for online applications. Its kitchen guidance calls out Planning review when exterior modifications are proposed. Identify those changes early so the building and planning questions are considered together rather than after the interior design is settled.

1. Define the scope, including anything outside. Mark new windows, doors, vents or other exterior changes on the same brief as the interior work. The city says exterior changes need Planning review before the building permit.
2. Bathrooms: expect a permit. Mountain View's bathroom remodel page requires a permit for all bath remodels, including a tub or shower enclosure swap. Only a same-location toilet replacement (1.28 gpf or less) is exempt. As of October 2026 the city lists fees of about $800–$1,100 and timing of 5–7 days for like-for-like work or 6–8 weeks for structural changes.
3. Kitchens and larger remodels: match the city guide. Use the kitchen remodel guide and the additions and remodels guide. Larger remodels can need building, electrical, mechanical, plumbing and demolition permits, energy calculations and the Mountain View Green Building Code (MVGBC) worksheet. Work within 6 ft of a property line requires a survey, and heritage-tree, flood or planning permits may also apply.
4. Apply through ePermitsMV. Applications go through the city's online ePermitsMV system. The Building Division is on the first floor of City Hall, 500 Castro St, (650) 903-6313, building@mountainview.gov.
5. Build and pass inspections. Construction follows the approved plans, with inspections required by the permit before final sign-off.