Local service guide
Kitchen Remodeling in Aurora, CO: Plan and Hire
For Kitchen Remodeling in Aurora, verify the contractor through the city’s lookup, compare written bids for the same layout and finishes, and assign permit and inspection responsibility before demolition. Aurora requires appropriate contractor licensing and access to inspect work before workers cover it. Start by deciding whether to keep the sink, appliances, and walls in place. [1] [2]
Define the kitchen you want bidders to price
Write a scope that names what you want to keep, replace, or move. Include cabinets, counters, flooring, lighting, appliances, sink, and ventilation. Give each bidder the same scope and request a separate option for changing the layout. Compare what each contractor includes before choosing an offer.
Record appliance model numbers before approving cabinet dimensions. Ask the contractor to check door swings, drawer clearance, refrigerator access, and the space you need to cook together. For a proposed wall opening, request an explanation of how the contractor will assess the wall and what design or engineering work the bid includes.
Rank your priorities: storage, preparation space, seating, accessibility, or appearance. If bids exceed your budget, request prices for specific substitutions. Keep a reserve for changes you approve after demolition, and require a written price and schedule adjustment before additional work starts.
Verify credentials and assign permit responsibility
Aurora requires contractors to obtain the appropriate license to build, alter, repair, or demolish buildings or structures. Check the business you plan to hire through the city’s contractor lookup. For plumbing and electrical contractors, Aurora requires current Colorado master’s and contractor’s licenses on file with the Building Division; it does not issue separate city contractor licenses for those trades. [1]
Ask the bidder to name the plumbing and electrical contractors and explain who coordinates their work. Request proof of insurance and references for kitchens with a comparable scope. Ask references about communication during changes, cleanup, and how the contractor handled unfinished items.
Name the proposed permit holder in the agreement. Aurora’s Building Permit Center answers permit-status, plan-review, inspection, and code questions at 303.739.7420. Describe your planned fixture, wiring, ventilation, and wall changes when you call, and ask which permits and plans the city requires for that project. [3]
Compare the complete price
Request a breakdown covering demolition and disposal, cabinet installation, countertop fabrication, trade work, finishes, and cleanup. Ask bidders to identify exclusions and selection allowances. For each allowance, require the contractor to explain the included product budget and how you will approve any difference for your chosen product.
Aurora’s 2026 development-fees checklist lists a building permit fee and a sales and use tax deposit of 3.75% of total construction materials cost at permit issuance. It lists an additional 0.25% Arapahoe County Open Space Use Tax deposit for properties in that county. The city cautions that all listed fees may not apply to all projects. Ask the bidder to identify the remodel-applicable charges. [4]
Aurora’s retail sales-tax table, reviewed January 1, 2026, lists combined rates of 8.00% for Arapahoe, 8.50% for Adams, and 8.75% for Douglas County locations within the city. Before using a rate for appliances or materials, confirm the applicable transaction or delivery location and rate with the seller or Aurora Tax Section. Ask the contractor to explain retail taxes and construction-material deposits as separate items in the estimate. [5] [4]
Choose payment milestones that describe completed work and the records you expect to receive. Include a change-order process, a final walkthrough, and a written correction list. Ask who supplies product warranties and whom you contact if an installation needs attention after completion.
Arrange demolition around inspections and deliveries
Aurora allows construction to begin upon issuance of required permits. The permit holder must maintain the inspection permit card and approved plans on site during construction. The city requires access to inspect work before workers cover it. Ask your contractor to schedule applicable inspections before closing affected walls. [2]
Request dates for material delivery, demolition, trade work, inspections, cabinet installation, countertop measurement, and appliance connection. Have the contractor identify what must arrive before demolition and how you will handle damaged or missing items. Ask how long you should plan to live without a working sink or cooking appliances and when you will receive schedule updates.
Agree on dust barriers, floor protection, working hours, waste removal, and delivery access. Set up a temporary food-preparation area before the crew arrives. At handover, test drawers, doors, lights, and appliances with the contractor. Record corrections and collect the applicable inspection results.
Aurora published combined retail sales-tax rates by county
Local details that affect your job
Check the electrical bid against the current code
Aurora’s permit page states that the city transitioned to the 2026 National Electrical Code effective August 1, 2026. The city reviews and inspects new electrical permit applications under those requirements. Ask the electrical contractor which requirements apply to your kitchen work and whether the bid includes them before approving the price. [3]
Name the person who will request inspections
Contractors registered and licensed with Aurora can request and cancel inspections online; other users can view results. The city also accepts inspection requests by telephone through the Permit Center. Assign responsibility for requests and follow-up corrections, and ask for results before approving the next stage. [2]
Separate the property-based deposit from purchase taxes
Aurora limits the additional 0.25% Arapahoe County construction-material deposit to properties in that county. Confirm your property’s county when reviewing that deposit. For retail purchases, ask the seller or Aurora Tax Section to confirm the applicable transaction or delivery location and rate rather than selecting a retail rate from your property’s county alone. [4] [5]
Choose the next step for your proposed scope
| Your plan | Ask before hiring | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| Keep the layout and update finishes | Which existing items will remain, and what installation work is included? | Request a bid with named products and a clear list of exclusions. |
| Move the sink or add electrical work | Who are the trade contractors, and which permits apply? | Confirm the scope with the Permit Center and check trade credentials on file. |
| Open a wall or change the room layout | How will you assess the wall, and who supplies any required plans? | Resolve the design and permit scope before authorizing demolition. |
| Close walls after trade work | Who requests applicable inspections and handles corrections? | Keep the work accessible for inspection before covering it. |
| Buy appliances or materials yourself | Who checks compatibility, accepts deliveries, and accounts for taxes? | Confirm the applicable transaction or delivery location and retail rate with the seller or Aurora Tax Section. |
Your hiring checklist
- Give bidders the same written scope, appliance models, and finish selections.
- Check the remodeler through Aurora’s lookup and identify the plumbing and electrical businesses.
- Confirm permit requirements and name the permit holder in the contract.
- Separate fixed prices, selection allowances, exclusions, permit fees, and taxes.
- Confirm the property-based deposit and retail purchase tax treatment as separate items.
- Require written approval for changes to price or schedule.
- Put applicable inspections before wall closure and agree on kitchen downtime and delivery access.
- Collect inspection results, warranties, and a written correction list at handover.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a kitchen remodel need a permit?
Confirm requirements for your actual scope with Aurora’s Building Permit Center at 303.739.7420. Explain any wall, plumbing, wiring, or ventilation changes. Ask your contractor to document the required permits and who will obtain them before work begins. [3]
Which license should I check?
Check the remodeler through Aurora’s contractor lookup. For plumbing and electrical contractors, Aurora requires current Colorado master’s and contractor’s licenses on file with the Building Division and does not issue separate city contractor licenses for those trades. [1]
Can the crew cover plumbing and wiring before inspection?
Aurora requires access to inspect work before workers cover it. Ask your contractor which inspections apply and require the crew to complete those steps before closing the affected walls. [2]
How much should I budget for the remodel?
Get itemized bids for your selected layout and finishes. Ask each bidder to separate construction, product allowances, permits, and taxes so you can compare the same scope. Request prices for optional changes and agree on how you will approve additional work.
Sources and scope
This guide combines the sources below with practical planning guidance. Figures apply to the stated geography and period; request a written quote for your property.