Best Kitchen Remodelers in San Diego (2026): 11 Licensed Companies Compared

Updated 2 November 2026. Published by Eco Home Builders, which is one of the companies listed. The method and every company’s numbers, including ours, are shown below.

Counting us, the most-reviewed licensed kitchen remodelers in a 2 November 2026 Google search of San Diego are Lars Remodeling & Design (137 Google reviews), Eco Home Builders (101, that’s us), Sheiner Construction (72), Murray Lampert (69) and Affordable Design and Remodel (63). Murray Lampert and Lars have held their state licenses the longest, since 1984 and 1991.

On this page, “best” means three things you can check yourself: an active California license with the right classification, no complaint disclosure on the state license record, and a long, consistent record of Google reviews. Below are eleven companies that meet that bar, with each one’s license number, the year that license was first issued, its rating and review count, and what its own customers mention most. Use the list to build a shortlist of three, then use the checks underneath to choose between them.

Quick picks by what matters to you

Not sure which permit path your kitchen is on? Send us a photo or a rough sketch through our contact page and we will tell you whether it is likely a same-layout permit or a plan-check project, and what that means for budget and timing. No obligation to hire us.

Four checks before you sign with any kitchen remodeler

1. Look the license up yourself, and read past the word “active”

Any contractor taking on work over $500 in California must be licensed by the Contractors State License Board (CSLB). The free lookup takes a minute. Check four lines on the record:

• Status: “This license is current and active.”
• Classification: B (General Building) for a kitchen that involves more than one trade.
• Workers’ compensation: an insurance policy, not an exemption, if a crew will work in your house.
• Complaint disclosure: the record links to any complaint the CSLB makes public. The board only discloses complaints that lead to a citation or legal action, so this is a floor, not a full history.

Every company on this list passed all four when we checked on 2 November 2026. None showed a complaint disclosure on its CSLB record that day.

Also note that the name on the license is not always the brand name. Several companies here operate under a “doing business as” name, so the license belongs to a corporation with a different name. That is normal and legal. Just make sure the license number and the licensed business name on your contract match what the CSLB shows.

2. Know the deposit limit before anyone asks for money

California caps the down payment on a home improvement contract at $1,000 or 10 percent of the contract price, whichever is less. On a $60,000 kitchen, the most a contractor can collect at signing is $1,000. After that, payments should follow work that is actually finished, not dates on a calendar.

3. Find out which permit path your kitchen is on

In the City of San Diego, a kitchen that keeps its layout and replaces cabinets, counters and fixtures in place can usually go through a no-plan permit for $440.82. Move a wall or add a plumbing fixture and the project enters plan check, where base fees start at $3,512.92 for plan review plus $2,228.29 for inspections, before trade permits.

Plan check also adds time. In Information Bulletin 100, the City targets a first review of a remodel under 3,000 square feet in 5 business days, and each round of corrections adds a recheck targeted at 8 to 15 business days. In our experience most projects need at least one recheck, so a realistic City review is roughly 13 to 20 business days with one round of corrections, or 21 to 35 with two. That is City time only, before design and after it. The City describes these as estimates, not guarantees. Our guide to kitchen remodel permits in San Diego covers what triggers each path.

4. Compare bids line by line, not by the bottom number

Ask every contractor to separate labor, materials, permit fees and allowances. Kitchen bids that look far apart usually differ in three places: the cabinet line, the countertop allowance, and whether design and permits are included. A bid with one total and no breakdown cannot be compared with anything.

San Diego details that change a kitchen budget

• Homes 45 years or older: under San Diego Municipal Code §143.0212, the City may require historical screening before issuing a permit. That covers large parts of North Park, Kensington, Mission Hills, Golden Hill, Point Loma and South Park. Inside a designated historic district, even small changes get extra review, and the City’s quick Simple Permit is not available.
• Coastal neighborhoods: an interior kitchen remodel in La Jolla, Pacific Beach or Mission Beach usually does not need a Coastal Development Permit. Improvements to an existing single-family home are generally exempt under SDMC §126.0704, with exceptions listed in the code.
• Older wiring and pipes: pre-1980 San Diego homes often hide undersized electrical panels, galvanized supply lines, cast-iron drains, and sometimes asbestos or lead. Ask each bidder how they price what they find behind the walls.
• Condos: HOA approval, elevator access for slabs and cabinets, and work-hour rules all affect the schedule. Ask about them up front.

The fee figures on this page apply to the City of San Diego (Information Bulletin 501, effective August 2026, and Information Bulletin 103). Other cities in the county, like Chula Vista, Carlsbad and Escondido, set their own fees.

How this list was put together

On 2 November 2026 we ran a Google Maps search for “kitchen remodeling” centered on San Diego and kept businesses whose primary Google category is Kitchen remodeler. We ordered them by number of Google reviews. We then searched each name in the CSLB database and kept only companies we could match to an active license with no complaint disclosure. No company was removed for a complaint disclosure; none of the businesses we matched had one.

Three high-review businesses were left out because we could not match an active license to the name on their Google listing. That does not mean they are unlicensed, only that we could not confirm it from the public record. We do not name them for that reason. If you are one of them, email us your license number and we will re-check.

The “customers mention” notes come from the review topics Google shows on each listing, with the number of reviews Google tags with each topic. They describe what customers talk about, not our opinion. A topic not appearing does not mean customers never mention it.

Eco Home Builders appears first because this is our page. Our primary Google category is General contractor, so we would not have qualified for this search on its own terms. After us, the order is by Google review count.

Eco Home Builders (publisher)

Google 4.8 (101 reviews)
CSLB #1074166 · B, General Building · licensed since 2021 · 5560 Ruffin Rd, Suite 4, San Diego, CA 92123

Best for: kitchens that change shape, where a wall comes out, the sink moves to an island, or the kitchen opens into the dining room.

We are a design-build general contractor, so design, structural engineering, City permits and construction are coordinated under one contract. That matters most on plan-check kitchens, where a design drawn by one firm and built by another tends to go wrong.

Kitchens also tend to grow out of smaller plans. One example from our reviews: “Initially we wanted just to extend the dining entrance and build a pantry, but Eco Home Builders made a good offer and we added flooring and kitchen remodeling as well” (Viktor K., Google, November 2025). The same reviewer is candid that the kitchen phase had delays, communication issues and some mistakes, which they say we resolved. We would rather you read that from us than find it yourself.

Clients choose cabinets, counters, tile and fixtures with our designers at Amaro Design Center, our own showroom. “Amazing customer service by Luci with patience for the changes on molding the cabinets to our desired kitchen” (Liz M., Google, August 2026). Kitchens come up in 29 of our 101 Google reviews. We also build additions and ADUs, which helps when the kitchen is one part of a bigger change to the house.

Worth knowing: our Google average is 4.8. Several smaller firms below have a perfect 5.0, and the full table shows it.

Lars Remodeling & Design

Google 4.7 (137 reviews) · larsremodel.com
CSLB #616035 (Larscor Inc, doing business as Lars Remodeling & Design) · B, General Building · licensed since 1991 · 5925 Kearny Villa Rd, San Diego

The most-reviewed kitchen remodeler in our search, and the second-longest licensed. The most common review topics are knowledgeable staff (21 reviews), interior design (8), kitchen remodels (7) and the project consultant (7). Four reviews mention no sales pressure and three mention an informative workshop. Google also lists Lars under Architect and Custom home builder.

Best for: homeowners who want a large, long-established firm and a lot of review history to read through.

Sheiner Construction

Google 4.9 (72 reviews) · sheinerconstruction.com
CSLB #1083621 · B, General Building · licensed since 2021 · 1080 Eighth Ave, San Diego

Kitchens are the project customers mention most: 16 reviews are tagged kitchen remodel and 14 bathroom remodel. Primary bathrooms (6) and condo remodels (2) also come up, along with a knowledgeable team (7) and a polite crew (6).

Best for: kitchen and bathroom projects, including condos.

Murray Lampert Design, Build, Remodel

Google 4.8 (69 reviews) · murraylampert.com
CSLB #458038 (Murray Lampert Construction Company) · B, General Building · licensed since 1984 · 2851 Camino del Rio S, Suite 310, San Diego

The oldest license on this list, first issued in 1984. Review topics lean toward the process: interior design (7), warranty (6), subcontractors (5), staying on budget (3) and finishing on time (3). Kitchen remodels (4) and ADU construction (3) also come up.

Best for: homeowners who want warranty, budget and schedule discussed up front, the topics its customers raise most.

Affordable Design and Remodel

Google 4.8 (63 reviews) · affordabledesignandremodel.com
CSLB #1076074 · A, General Engineering and B, General Building · licensed since 2021 · 4241 Jutland Dr, Suite 205, San Diego

Customers mention a professional team (22 reviews), kitchen remodels (15), bathroom remodels (11) and finishing on budget (11). Kitchen and bathroom remodeler are the only categories on its Google listing.

Best for: kitchen and bathroom remodels where staying on budget is the priority.

Golden Shore Design and Build

Google 5.0 (60 reviews) · no website on its Google listing
CSLB #1097918 · B, General Building · licensed since 2022 · 5694 Mission Center Rd, San Diego

A perfect rating across 60 reviews. Bathrooms are the most-mentioned project (16 reviews), followed by new tile (9), budget-friendly pricing (8), full home remodels (6) and help with material selection (6).

Best for: a kitchen that is part of a wider interior refresh. Ask for kitchen-specific references, since Google’s top topics here are bath and tile work.

Cali Bath And Kitchen

Google 4.8 (49 reviews) · calibathandkitchen.com
CSLB #1022034 (All Security Needs Corp, doing business as Cali Bath and Kitchen) · B, General Building · licensed since 2016 · 9619 Chesapeake Dr, San Diego

Reviews mostly talk about remodeling in general (21), then bathroom remodels (6), attention to detail (5), a seamless process (3) and a clean job site (3). The license is held by All Security Needs Corp, so that is the name to expect on the contract.

Best for: projects where attention to detail and a tidy job site matter most.

CairnsCraft Design & Remodel

Google 4.8 (49 reviews) · cairnscraft.com
CSLB #908472 (Tru-Value Enterprises Inc, doing business as Cairns Craft Remodeling) · B, General Building · licensed since 2007 · 4660 Voltaire St, San Diego

Nearly two decades licensed. Customers single out how subcontractors are managed (15 reviews) and scheduling (14), along with kitchen remodels (9) and detailed project proposals (3).

Best for: homeowners whose biggest worry is a schedule that drifts.

In N Out Builders & Home Remodeling

Google 4.9 (46 reviews) · innoutremodeling.com
CSLB #1070755 (In N Out Builders Inc) · B, General Building · licensed since 2020 · 2621 Denver St, San Diego

Kitchen remodels (6) and the project manager (6) are the top review topics, followed by a smooth process (4) and timeliness (4). Two reviews mention garage conversions.

Best for: kitchen projects where clear day-to-day project management matters most.

JMM Construction and Remodeling

Google 4.9 (44 reviews) · jmmconstructionsd.com
CSLB #1034691 (JMM Construction & Remodeling Inc) · B, General Building · license first issued 2018 · 4009 Park Blvd, San Diego

Customers mention a professional team (18 reviews), bathroom remodels (11), attention to detail (10), knowledgeable staff (9) and kitchen remodels (6).

Best for: kitchen and bath work where finish detail is the priority.

Oasis Renovation & New Construction

Google 5.0 (39 reviews) · myoasisrenovation.com
CSLB #1046675 · B, General Building and D28, Doors and Gates · licensed since 2018 · 1455 Frazee Rd, Suite 500, San Diego

A perfect rating on 39 reviews. Whole-home remodels are the most-mentioned project (26), then kitchens (11) and bathrooms (10). Three reviews mention helpful design suggestions.

Best for: a kitchen done as part of a whole-home remodel.

Comparison table

Google ratings, review counts and review topics captured 2 November 2026. License status, classification, first-issue year and complaint disclosure from the CSLB public record on the same date. “None” means no complaint disclosure was shown; the CSLB discloses only complaints that lead to a citation or legal action. *Eco’s listing was not in the same Google topic data. A text count of our own reviews finds kitchens mentioned in 29 of 101.

What a kitchen remodel costs in San Diego

Every company above will price your project differently, so it helps to know the independent benchmarks before the first visit. The 2025 Cost vs. Value Report, Pacific region (JLC / Zonda, the latest edition available) puts a midrange minor kitchen remodel in the Pacific region at about $29,728. That means new cabinet fronts, counters, appliances and finishes in the same layout. A midrange major remodel, with new cabinets and a reworked kitchen, runs about $86,480, and an upscale major remodel about $171,950. A $60,000 to $150,000 kitchen typically falls between the midrange minor and upscale major figures, closer to midrange major at the low end.

What moves a kitchen from the midrange figure toward the upscale one:

• Cabinet tier: stock, semi-custom or fully custom, and how many tall or specialty units.
• Stone: a standard countertop versus full-height slab backsplashes and waterfall island ends.
• Appliances: a standard package versus panel-ready or professional ranges and integrated refrigeration.
• Structural work: removing or opening a wall, which means engineering, a beam and plan check.
• Electrical: a panel upgrade, which many older San Diego homes need for a modern kitchen.

City permit fees come on top: $440.82 on the same-layout path, or about $5,741 in base plan-check and inspection fees once the layout changes. Our San Diego kitchen remodel cost guide breaks down what moves the price.

Frequently asked questions

Who are the best kitchen remodelers in San Diego?

Among licensed kitchen remodelers with no CSLB complaint disclosure, the most-reviewed in our 2 November 2026 search are Lars Remodeling & Design (137 Google reviews), Eco Home Builders (101, the publisher of this page), Sheiner Construction (72), Murray Lampert (69) and Affordable Design and Remodel (63). The right one depends on scope. A same-layout update is a different job from a kitchen that moves walls and plumbing. Shortlist three, check each license, and compare itemized bids.

How much does a kitchen remodel cost in San Diego?

Independent 2025 benchmarks for the Pacific region put a midrange minor kitchen remodel at about $29,728, a midrange major remodel at about $86,480, and an upscale major remodel at about $171,950. Kitchens that change layout, add a plumbed island, or need electrical upgrades in an older home cost more. City permits add $440.82 for a same-layout kitchen, or about $5,741 in base fees once plan check is required.

Does a kitchen remodel need a permit in San Diego?

Usually, but which permit depends on scope. Replacing cabinets, counters and fixtures in their existing locations can typically use the City’s no-plan permit. Moving a wall, adding a sink, or relocating gas or electrical puts the project into plan check. Painting and swapping appliances generally need no permit.

How long does a kitchen remodel take in San Diego?

Our own estimate is four to eight weeks of construction for a midrange kitchen once materials are on site. A layout change adds design time and plan check before work starts: about 13 to 20 business days of City review with one round of corrections, based on the City’s published targets. Custom cabinet lead times are the most common cause of delay, so final selections should be made before demolition.

How much deposit can a kitchen contractor ask for in California?

The lesser of $1,000 or 10 percent of the contract price. On a $60,000 kitchen that is $1,000. After that, payments should match completed work.

How do I check a kitchen remodeler’s license?

Search the company name or license number free on the CSLB website. Confirm the license is current and active and carries a B (General Building) classification for a multi-trade kitchen. Check that workers’ compensation shows an active policy and that there is no public complaint disclosure. Then make sure the licensed business name and number match your contract.

Do I need a Coastal Development Permit for a kitchen remodel near the beach?

Usually not. Under San Diego Municipal Code §126.0704, improvements to an existing single-family home are generally exempt from the Coastal Development Permit requirement, with some exceptions. An interior kitchen remodel in La Jolla, Pacific Beach or Mission Beach normally follows the same building-permit path as anywhere else in the city.

Is a kitchen and bath specialist or a general contractor better?

For a same-layout kitchen, a kitchen-and-bath company is often efficient and competitively priced. When the kitchen changes shape, opens into another room, or is part of a larger remodel, a general contractor or design-build firm that handles structural changes and plan check reduces handoffs between companies.

Planning a kitchen that changes shape?

If your kitchen is moving a wall, relocating the sink, adding an island or opening into the next room, we can tell you at the first visit which permit path it is on, what that does to the budget, and roughly how long City review will add, before you commit to a design. Book a free in-home kitchen consultation or call (619) 489-4184.