Anyone can book
The City lets any person request an inspection on the ePLAN portal, with no account needed. We book ours using your permit number.
Kitchen renovations, Markham
Markham kitchen renovation
Markham has new subdivisions, old village streets and plenty in between. The rules for your kitchen depend on which of those you live on.
Can you redo a kitchen for $30,000?
Yes, in many cases, if the sink, range and walls stay where they are. That can often cover new cabinets, counters and a backsplash in a typical room. A bigger room, top grade materials or moved plumbing push it higher, and our written quote shows exactly where.
Markham basics
The City, the permit desk and the trip
| Who issues permits | The City of Markham Building Standards Department, 101 Town Centre Boulevard. |
|---|---|
| Swap fixtures | A new tap or sink in the old spot needs no permit, says the City. |
| Moving fixtures | A sink where there was none, or any change to the pipes, needs a building permit. |
| Distance | The Oakville office is about 51 km away as the crow flies, and the 407 covers most of the drive. |
| Thornhill | The Markham side of Thornhill is covered on our Vaughan page. |
The plumbing line
Why the sink spot matters so much
This one choice decides how simple a Markham job stays. Leaving the sink where it is keeps the work simple and permit free.
Move it to an island, or add a prep sink, and the pipes change. Then the City wants a permit and an inspection before the floor closes.
Neither is a problem for us. It just has to be in the plan and the quote from day one.
A gas range moved to the island raises the same kind of question for the gas line and the vent. We sort it out on paper before any order goes in.
Booking Markham's inspector
How inspections run on a Markham kitchen permit
Markham takes inspection requests through ePLAN, its online permit system. These rules shape the days your kitchen sits open.
The morning cutoff
Requests made up to 7:30 a.m. can be seen that same day. That helps when the plumber finishes a new island drain early.
Cancelling has a cost
After 7:30 a.m. on the booked day a visit cannot be cancelled, and a fee may apply if the work is not ready. We book only when the rough in is truly done.
Your inbox
The City emails each confirmation to the owner listed on the permit. You will know about every visit as soon as it is set.
If something fails
An inspector who wants a change writes a Field Inspection Report. We fix that item and ask for a second look before any cabinet goes on the wall.
Heritage streets
Unionville and the other old villages
Markham protects four heritage conservation districts: Unionville, Markham Village, Buttonville and Thornhill.
What is covered
Changes to the outside of a home, additions and new building need a Minor or Major Heritage Permit from the City.
What it means inside
Cabinets and counters inside the house are not the target of these rules. A new back window or a bump out is.
How to check
The City keeps a heritage register you can search by address. We look it up before drawing anything.
Unionville in particular
Its district plan has guidelines for additions and changes to both heritage and newer buildings. A rear kitchen addition there starts with that plan.
A kitchen downstairs
Building a secondary suite kitchen
A basement unit needs its own kitchen. The City's suite guide sets out a few musts.
- A building permit before work starts.
- A kitchen sink in each unit, plus a bathroom and laundry.
- Registration of the suite with Markham Fire and Emergency Services.
- Inspections as the work goes, the same as any other permit job.
How we work here
One crew, one lead, one price sheet
Our own crew does the job, led by one person you can call. Licensed plumbers and electricians handle the pipes and circuits.
If your budget sits near $30,000, we start by sorting the wish list into must haves and nice to haves. Then we price both lists so you can see the gap.
Cabinet doors, counter stone and the backsplash are where most of the choices hide. A simpler door or a standard counter edge often frees money for better drawers.
We cover floors, build dust walls and book the inspections. Your price arrives on paper, with every piece listed by itself.
Close to Markham
Neighbouring kitchen pages
These photos show example kitchens for ideas only. None of them is a Markham job of ours.
Sources we checked for this page
- City of Markham, guide building permits
- City of Markham, heritage districts
- City of Markham, heritage protection
- City of Markham, secondary%20Suites%20Guide%20for%20Homeowners%202025
- City of Markham, registration basement apartments and second suites
- City of Markham, eplan steps success inspect
- City of Markham, ePLAN Quick Reference InspectionRequest r4NP