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Kitchen remodeling in Wilmington

In Philadelphia, the closest market Cost vs. Value covers, a minor midrange kitchen remodel cost $28,1301 in 2025 and a major midrange one $81,1211. Around Wilmington the type of house shapes the job most: 54%2 of city homes are attached rowhouses, while 53%2 of homes across New Castle County are detached.

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Updated October 12, 2026

Illustration of a remodeled small U-shaped kitchen in a 1950s brick Cape Cod north of Wilmington, with cream cabinets and butcher-block counters.
Illustration

What a kitchen costs, by the Philadelphia yardstick

Cost vs. Value has no Wilmington page, so these are its 2025 Philadelphia kitchen figures with the national averages beside them.

Philadelphia marketU.S. average
Minor kitchen remodel, midrange, job cost$28,1301$28,4583
Major kitchen remodel, midrange, job cost$81,1211$82,7933
Major kitchen remodel, upscale, job cost$165,7211$164,1043

The local and national figures stay close for all three jobs. What you decide to change, from refacing cabinets to moving walls, matters far more than which side of the state line you're on.

Rowhouses in the city, detached houses outside it

The Census Bureau counts homes by how they're built. Inside Wilmington, most homes share side walls with a neighbor; in the county as a whole, most stand on their own.

City of WilmingtonNew Castle County
One-unit attached homes (rowhouses and townhouses)54%221%2
One-unit detached homes10%253%2

The Census Bureau counts a rowhouse as a one-unit attached home when a wall running from ground to roof separates it from the house next door.4 In a rowhouse kitchen, the hood duct generally has to leave through the rear wall or the roof, so settle the route before choosing the hood.

How New Castle County homes are heated

Heating fuel from the Census survey shows how many homes already have gas service, which decides how simple a gas range will be.

New Castle County
Homes heated with utility gas54%5
Homes heated with electricity32%5
Homes heated with fuel oil or kerosene9%5

Delaware requires a master plumber license to provide plumbing services, but a homeowner may do plumbing other than gas piping in a home they live in that isn't for sale or rent, after applying for a permit.6 Running gas to a new range is work for a licensed plumber, and a house heated by oil or electricity may have no gas service to tap at all.

When the homes were built

Census counts by year built for the city and for the county around it.

City of WilmingtonNew Castle County
Homes built before 194043%711%7
Homes built 1950–196918%727%7
Homes built 1990 or later16%733%7

A 1950s Cape Cod or ranch kitchen is often small and closed off. Before opening it to the next room, ask whether that wall carries weight from above, because a bearing wall changes both the permit and the price.

Weighing a kitchen against the house

Median value of owner-occupied homes in the city and the county, from the same Census survey.

City of WilmingtonNew Castle County
Median value, owner-occupied homes$231,4008$352,2008

An upscale major kitchen at $165,7211 in the Philadelphia figures is close to half the county's median home value of $352,2008, and a larger share of a typical city home. A midrange plan fits most houses here better.

Kitchen trade wages in the metro

The cabinets, the wiring and the plumbing each bring their own trade. BLS reports these median hourly wages for the Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington metro, with no separate figure for Delaware:

Philadelphia metroUnited States
Carpenters, median hourly wage$29.70/hr9$29.12/hr9
Cabinetmakers and bench carpenters, median hourly wage$25.21/hr9$22.44/hr9
Electricians, median hourly wage$35.86/hr9$30.38/hr9
Plumbers, median hourly wage$35.99/hr9$30.67/hr9

Carpenters here earn close to the national rate, while plumbers and electricians earn several dollars an hour more. Plans that relocate the sink or add circuits are where that difference lands.

Heat and frost at New Castle County Airport

The airport just south of Wilmington is the area's long-running weather station. Summer heat adds to the case for a ducted hood, and freezing nights are a reason to keep a sink's supply lines off an uninsulated outside wall.

Wilmington New Castle County Airport
Days a year with a high of 90°F or more22 days10
Days a year with a low at or below freezing92 days10

What Wilmington's water leaves behind

Each of the city's two treatment plants reports an average hardness. Homes on another supplier can find their figure in that supplier's annual report.

Wilmington city water
Water hardness, Brandywine Filter Plant, average136 mg/L11
Water hardness, Porter Filter Plant, average154 mg/L11

The USGS classes water at 61 to 120 mg/L of hardness as moderately hard.12 Wilmington's water is a little harder than that, enough to leave scale in a dishwasher, on a faucet aerator and in an ice maker's line. Ask about a filter while the sink plumbing is apart.

Permits

Start with the address. City of Wilmington homes get building permits from the city's Department of Land Use and Planning, and in a historic or conservation district any change to the outside waits on review. In the rest of New Castle County, new cabinets and counters are exempt finish work, while plumbing and HVAC go on separate utility permits. The county doesn't handle electrical permits at all; those go through the state and licensed inspection agencies.

  • New Castle County requires a permit for all construction activity, including interior improvements, alterations and most repairs, unless the County Code specifically exempts the work; if a project isn't on the county's list of exempt work, assume it needs a permit.13
  • New Castle County doesn't require a permit for painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, countertops and similar finish work, though the work must still meet the building and zoning codes.14
  • New Castle County doesn't permit or inspect electrical work: Delaware-licensed electricians must have their work inspected by a licensed inspection agency, and an owner-occupant doing their own electrical work gets the permit from the State of Delaware.13
  • New Castle County's residential addition and renovation permit covers renovations, and the county issues separate utility permits for plumbing and HVAC work.13
  • The City of Wilmington says to get a permit before starting any work; for a job valued at $10,000 or less the owner or an authorized agent can pull it, from $10,001 to $25,000 it takes a city-licensed general contractor, and above $25,000 a city-licensed general contractor with plans sealed by a licensed architect or engineer.15
  • Wilmington building permit plans go to the Department of Land Use and Planning by email, and work must follow the 2018 International Building and Residential Codes along with the city's own codes.15
  • If a Wilmington property is in a city historic district, neighborhood conservation district or urban renewal area, the city may issue permits only for interior work or emergencies without the appropriate review board's approval or recommendation.15

Checked October 12, 2026

Before you hire

Delaware has no general contractor license to ask for, so check that the company shows up on the state's Contractor Registry and that whoever does the electrical, plumbing or HVAC work holds a Delaware license.

How to check a contractor's license in Delaware

Talk to a pro who handles kitchen remodels in Wilmington

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Kitchens in Wilmington rowhouses and postwar Cape Cods

Inside the city, 43%7 of homes were built before 1940, many of them brick rowhouses with the kitchen at the back. With neighbors on both sides, a hood duct, a new window or the sink drain usually has to go out the rear wall, up through the roof or down to the basement.

Out in the county, 27%7 of homes were built between 1950 and 1969. In a kitchen that age, ask whether the circuits can carry today's appliances. The 2021 International Residential Code calls for at least two 20-ampere branch circuits for kitchen and dining-area receptacle outlets, and allows an outlet for a specific appliance to have its own circuit.16

For homes built before 1978, the EPA advises hiring contractors who use only lead-safe certified renovators.17 The EPA lists vinyl floor tile, vinyl sheet backing and flooring adhesives among products that may contain asbestos, which is released mainly when the material is disturbed.18

Hood and outlet rules to ask about

The 2021 International Residential Code says a kitchen range exhaust must discharge outdoors through its own airtight duct with a backdraft damper, never into an attic, crawl space or other indoor area; listed ductless hoods are the exception.19 Where a home has a fuel-burning appliance that is neither direct-vent nor mechanically vented, the 2021 International Residential Code requires makeup air for any exhaust system able to move more than 400 cubic feet per minute.20

The same code requires ground-fault (GFCI) protection on receptacles that serve kitchen countertop surfaces.21 Those national rules come from the 2021 code. Wilmington building permit plans go to the Department of Land Use and Planning by email, and work must follow the 2018 International Building and Residential Codes along with the city's own codes.15 Ask the company which edition applies at your address.

Planning a kitchen you can keep using

More than one in four adults 65 and older fall each year.22 The National Institute on Aging suggests keeping frequently used pots, pans and utensils where they are easy to reach, and preparing food while seated to prevent fatigue or loss of balance.23

In a small Cape Cod or rowhouse kitchen, storage height and a spot to sit while working make a real difference. If you plan to stay, say so on the call. NAHB's Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS) credential trains remodelers in home modifications for aging in place.24

What happens when you call

The number on this page reaches one independent company that handles kitchen remodels in the Wilmington area, and the call is recorded. You and that company work out the plan, the timing and the price.

The company, not you, pays us for the connection. We charge you nothing and never call or text you. How we make money

After you're connected

Before a contract or deposit, look the company up. Delaware's public Contractor Registry lookup lists contractors that properly registered and are considered compliant with Department of Labor laws, searchable by name, ZIP code, certification number, NAICS code or industry; a contractor that drops off the list may not have re-registered, may be under review, or may have been suspended or revoked.25 Delaware's Business License Search lists businesses currently licensed in Delaware by name, business activity (including resident and non-resident contractor), address, city, state and ZIP, and each result shows the license number, activity and the dates the license is valid.26 Check a Delaware license

Questions people ask

How much does a kitchen remodel cost near Wilmington?

In the 2025 Cost vs. Value report's Philadelphia figures, the nearest it publishes, a minor midrange kitchen remodel cost $28,1301, a major midrange one $81,1211 and a major upscale one $165,7211. Size, cabinets, appliances and any moved walls or plumbing set your price.

Do I need a permit to remodel a kitchen near Wilmington?

New Castle County requires a permit for all construction activity, including interior improvements, alterations and most repairs, unless the County Code specifically exempts the work; if a project isn't on the county's list of exempt work, assume it needs a permit.13 New Castle County doesn't require a permit for painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, countertops and similar finish work, though the work must still meet the building and zoning codes.14 Inside city limits, the City of Wilmington handles permits instead. The City of Wilmington says to get a permit before starting any work; for a job valued at $10,000 or less the owner or an authorized agent can pull it, from $10,001 to $25,000 it takes a city-licensed general contractor, and above $25,000 a city-licensed general contractor with plans sealed by a licensed architect or engineer.15

Can I put in a gas range?

Many homes here already have gas: 54%5 of New Castle County homes heat with it. Delaware requires a master plumber license to provide plumbing services, but a homeowner may do plumbing other than gas piping in a home they live in that isn't for sale or rent, after applying for a permit.6

What should the remodeling contract say?

Delaware's Consumer Protection Unit home improvement regulations, effective November 1, 2023, require a written contract listing all material terms, bar asking homeowners to sign incomplete contracts or calling a binding contract an estimate, require a completion date unless clearly disclosed, and bar getting a certificate of completion before the work is done; contractors must give buyers a copy of the unit's summary of the rules before the contract is signed.27 Look the company up on the state's registry before you sign. Delaware's public Contractor Registry lookup lists contractors that properly registered and are considered compliant with Department of Labor laws, searchable by name, ZIP code, certification number, NAICS code or industry; a contractor that drops off the list may not have re-registered, may be under review, or may have been suspended or revoked.25

Sources

Page updated October 12, 2026. How we source our numbers

  1. Zonda / Journal of Light Construction, Cost vs. Value 2025, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Released 2025. Philadelphia, PA (Cost vs. Value market). Industry source.
  2. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year, table B25024. Released January 29, 2026. Wilmington city, Delaware, New Castle County, Delaware.
  3. Zonda / Journal of Light Construction, Cost vs. Value 2025, national. Released 2025. United States. Industry source.
  4. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 Subject Definitions, Units in Structure. Released 2024. View source.
  5. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year, table B25040. Released January 29, 2026. New Castle County, Delaware.
  6. Delaware General Assembly, Delaware Code Title 24, Chapter 18, Subchapter II. Released 2026. View source.
  7. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year, table B25034. Released January 29, 2026. Wilmington city, Delaware, New Castle County, Delaware.
  8. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year, table B25077. Released January 29, 2026. Wilmington city, Delaware, New Castle County, Delaware.
  9. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Released May 15, 2026. Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro, Carpenters, United States, Cabinetmakers and bench carpenters, United States, Electricians, United States, Plumbers, United States.
  10. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020. Released 2021. Wilmington New Castle County Airport (station USW00013781).
  11. City of Wilmington (Wilmington Water), Water Quality Report 2025 (Spring 2026), PWS ID DE0000663. Released 2026. City of Wilmington public water (Brandywine Filter Plant).
  12. U.S. Geological Survey, Water Science School: Hardness of Water. No publication date. View source.
  13. New Castle County Department of Land Use, Figure Out What Permits You Need. No publication date. View source.
  14. New Castle County Department of Land Use, Work Exempt from Permit (County Code Sec. 06.03.012), rev. 1/1/2026. Released January 1, 2026. View source.
  15. City of Wilmington, Department of Land Use and Planning, Application for Building Permit and General Wilmington Building Guidelines, revised 11/04/2025. Released November 4, 2025. View source.
  16. International Code Council, 2021 International Residential Code, Section E3703.2. Released 2021. View source. Industry source.
  17. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Remodeling Your Home and Indoor Air Quality. Released February 17, 2026. View source.
  18. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Learn About Asbestos. Released July 13, 2026. View source.
  19. International Code Council, 2021 International Residential Code, Section M1503.3. Released 2021. View source. Industry source.
  20. International Code Council, 2021 International Residential Code, Section M1503.6. Released 2021. View source. Industry source.
  21. International Code Council, 2021 International Residential Code, Section E3902.6. Released 2021. View source. Industry source.
  22. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Facts About Older Adult Falls. Released September 4, 2026. View source.
  23. National Institute on Aging, Preventing Falls at Home: Room by Room. Released September 12, 2022. View source.
  24. National Association of Home Builders, Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS). No publication date. View source. Industry source.
  25. Delaware Department of Labor, Contractor Registry Public Lookup. No publication date. View source.
  26. Delaware Division of Revenue, Business License Search. No publication date. View source.
  27. State of Delaware News, DOJ's Consumer Protection Unit hammers out contractor regs. Released November 1, 2023. View source.
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