Boston, Massachusetts
Kitchen, Bath & ADU Remodeling in Boston
Boston KBA plans and builds kitchens, bathrooms, ADUs and whole-home renovations across Boston, from Back Bay brownstones and South End row houses to triple-deckers in Dorchester and single-family homes in West Roxbury.
Representative photograph of Boston. Not a Boston KBA project.
Remodeling in Boston
Remodeling a Boston home takes city-specific planning.
Boston homes are some of the oldest and most varied in the country. Brownstones and row houses share party walls. Triple-deckers stack three households over one foundation. Condominiums bring associations, building rules and neighbors above and below.
Each of those affects how a kitchen or bathroom can be planned: where plumbing can run, how a range hood can vent, when deliveries can happen and how materials get up a narrow stair.
We plan for the building as well as the room, so the design works in your home and the project runs smoothly for you and your neighbors.
Services in Boston
What we build in Boston.
Condo kitchens and bathrooms are some of the most common projects in the city, alongside whole-unit renovations, basement conversions and ADUs.
- Kitchen RemodelingComplete kitchens planned around how you cook, gather and live.
- Bathroom RemodelingFull bathroom renovations, from powder rooms to primary suites.
- ADU ConstructionDetached, attached and conversion ADUs, planned for Massachusetts rules.
- Whole Home RemodelingMulti-room renovations designed and built as one coherent project.
- Basement RemodelingFinished lower levels for living, working and guests.
- Home AdditionsAdditions that feel original to the house, inside and out.
Local planning
What to know before remodeling in Boston.
Boston has its own permitting system, its own zoning code and many historic districts.
Inspectional Services
Building permits in Boston are issued by the Inspectional Services Department. Smaller interior projects may qualify for a short form permit, while larger or structural work needs a long form permit with plans.
Historic districts
Exterior changes in areas such as Beacon Hill, Back Bay and the South End are reviewed by their district commissions. Interior remodeling usually is not, but windows, doors and rooflines can be.
Condominium rules
Most condo associations require approval, a certificate of insurance and set work hours. Some also limit noisy work or elevator use.
Street and access
A dumpster or storage container on a city street needs a permit, and parking and deliveries need planning on narrow, busy blocks.
Older buildings
Many Boston buildings predate 1978. Lead-safe work practices apply, and older wiring, plumbing and framing are common.
Boston and ADUs
Boston follows its own ADU rules.
Boston has its own zoning code, so the 2025 state ADU law does not apply in the city the same way it does in surrounding towns.
- Internal ADUs
- Boston zoning allows an accessory unit within an existing owner-occupied home in most of the city, typically by converting a basement, attic or part of a larger house.
- Detached ADUs
- Detached units and accessory units in newer areas of the code follow separate rules that the city has been expanding.
- Our approach
- Rules in Boston change as the zoning code is updated, so we confirm the current requirements for your address before design begins.
General information, not legal advice.
Neighborhoods
Working across Boston’s neighborhoods.
Each neighborhood has its own building types. These are some of the homes we plan for.
- Back Bay and Beacon HillBrownstones and row houses, often in condo buildings and historic districts.
- South End and CharlestownBow-front row houses, townhouses and converted units.
- Jamaica Plain and RoslindaleVictorians, two-families and triple-deckers.
- Dorchester and South BostonTriple-deckers, two-families and condo conversions.
- West Roxbury and Hyde ParkSingle-family Colonials, capes and bungalows.
- Brighton and AllstonCondos, two-families and multi-unit buildings.
Questions
Remodeling in Boston: common questions
Do I need a permit to remodel my kitchen or bathroom in Boston?
Most kitchen and bathroom remodels in Boston need permits from the Inspectional Services Department, including electrical and plumbing permits. Smaller projects may qualify for a short form building permit. Larger or structural projects need a long form permit with plans.
Can I build an ADU in Boston?
Boston has its own zoning code and its own ADU rules, separate from the 2025 state law. Internal units in owner-occupied homes are allowed in most of the city, and rules for other ADU types have been changing. We confirm what applies to your address before design begins.
Do you work in condo buildings?
Yes. We plan around association approvals, insurance certificates, work hours and building access, and we coordinate with building management.
My home is in a historic district. Can I still remodel?
Yes. Interior remodeling generally is not reviewed by Boston district commissions. Exterior changes, such as windows, doors or rooflines, may need approval first.
How much does remodeling cost in Boston?
It depends on the project type, building, scope and finishes. Use the project planner to describe your project, and we will follow up with a personalized estimate.
Plan your Boston remodel.
Tell us about your home, your building and what you want to change. We will follow up to talk through scope, approvals and budget.