Kitchen Remodeling in Montgomery County, MD (2026)

The short version

Montgomery County is our home market, our office is in Gaithersburg, so from Bethesda to Rockville to Chevy Chase, this is the work we do most.
Permits depend on your address: the City of Rockville and City of Gaithersburg permit their own; everywhere else goes through county DPS, with plumbing under WSSC.
Your contractor must hold an MHIC license (Maryland law), ours is 149913.
Older county homes hide surprises, wiring, plumbing, panels, so plan for them rather than being caught out mid-project.

What’s different about a Montgomery County kitchen remodel?

A kitchen remodel is a kitchen remodel, but where you do it changes the details that matter. Montgomery County pairs affluent, established neighborhoods with a housing stock that skews older, which shapes both the design and what you find behind the walls. As a design-build remodeler headquartered in Gaithersburg, this is the market we know best, and here is what actually affects your project locally.

Permitting: county vs city

Any kitchen remodel that touches electrical, plumbing, structure, or the layout needs a permit. The catch is which office issues it. The City of Rockville and the City of Gaithersburgrun their own permitting for homes inside their limits, while Bethesda, Chevy Chase, Kensington, Silver Spring, and unincorporated areas go through Montgomery County’s Department of Permitting Services (DPS). Plumbing work falls under WSSC Water. We confirm which office governs your address before filing, so a submission never lands in the wrong queue.

The MHIC license rule

Maryland requires a Home Improvement Commission (MHIC) license for residential home-improvement work, and it is the single easiest credential to check before you hire anyone: ask for the number. Excell Homes holds MHIC license 149913. A contractor who cannot give you one should not be touching your kitchen.

Older housing stock, and what it means

Much of Montgomery County’s most desirable housing is decades old. That is part of the appeal, but it means a kitchen remodel here more often runs into outdated wiring, aging supply lines, or an electrical panel that needs upgrading once the walls are open. None of that is a reason not to remodel; it is a reason to plan for it up front, so it shows up in the estimate instead of as a mid-project surprise. Opening up a closed-off galley kitchen into the kind of open plan buyers here expect is some of our most common county work.

What it costs

Kitchen cost tracks scope, finishes, and how much of the layout moves far more than the ZIP code, though Montgomery County’s premium submarkets and older homes push toward the higher end. Rather than repeat ranges here, see our detailed DC-metro kitchen remodel cost guide, and if you would rather build now and pay over time, our RenoFi financingis based on your home’s after-renovation value.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a permit to remodel a kitchen in Montgomery County?

For electrical, plumbing, structural, or layout changes, yes. Permits go through Montgomery County's Department of Permitting Services, or the City of Rockville or City of Gaithersburg if your home is inside those city limits. A purely cosmetic refresh, like paint or a like-for-like cabinet swap, usually does not need one.

Does my kitchen contractor need an MHIC license?

Yes. Maryland requires a Home Improvement Commission (MHIC) license for residential home-improvement work, and it is worth asking any contractor for their number before you sign. Excell Homes holds MHIC license 149913.

Who issues my permit, the county or the city?

It depends on your address. The City of Rockville and City of Gaithersburg run their own permitting for homes inside their limits; Bethesda, Chevy Chase, Kensington, Silver Spring, and unincorporated areas go through Montgomery County DPS. Plumbing connections fall under WSSC Water. We confirm which office governs your home.

How long does a Montgomery County kitchen remodel take?

A cosmetic refresh runs about 4 to 6 weeks, a mid-range remodel about 8 to 12 weeks, and a major remodel with structural or layout changes about 12 to 20 weeks, with design and permitting first. Older homes can add time when hidden conditions surface.

What surprises come up in older Montgomery County kitchens?

In the county's established neighborhoods, opening a wall often reveals outdated wiring, aging plumbing, or an undersized electrical panel that has to be brought up to code. Planning for those realities up front is what keeps an older-home kitchen remodel on budget.

Related guides

Where we build

Excell Homes remodels homes across the DC metro. Explore our work by area: