Planning a Kitchen Remodel in Harrisburg, PA?
Here Are 5 Local Rules That Your Remodeling Team Should Know.
If you’re dreaming about a new custom kitchen in Harrisburg, Mechanicsburg, Camp Hill, or Lower Paxton, congratulations! You’re about to embark on an exciting journey that will, with proper planning and the right kitchen design team, result in the kitchen of your dreams.
But unlike running a marathon, the journey is most definitely not the reward. For those in Harrisburg considering a major kitchen remodel, here’s a friendly, slightly cheeky guide to 5 local rules that can trip up a remodel. And of course I’ll also share my opinion as to how an experienced NKBA kitchen designer can make the journey less stressful and more efficient.
Are you ready, my home owning friend who has been dreaming about a new kitchen? Here we go!
1) Pennsylvania’s UCC: The Code You Didn’t Know You’re Dating
Pennsylvania enforces the Uniform Construction Code (UCC). As of August 23, 2025, municipalities are still enforcing the code package based primarily on the 2018 International Codes while the state finalizes an update; the Department of Labor & Industry notes that the rulemaking to adopt newer editions is “in process” and the current regulations remain in effect until published.
Translation: there’s a rule for almost everything—framing, wiring, plumbing, and that stylish 1,200+ CFM range hood that secretly demands make-up air.
Why it matters: Get any of the rules wrong and your inspector will look at you the way your grandma looks at store-bought pie.
How an NKBA certified designer helps: NKBA pros live in the space where design meets code. We lay out the kitchen so the pretty stuff (panels, hoods, columns) works with the mechanicals—not against them—so you’re not opening up a finished ceiling to add make-up air three days before move-in.
2) Inside Harrisburg City Limits? Licensed Trades Only
Inside Harrisburg city limits, electrical and plumbing work must be done by licensed pros who pull their own permits—unless the homeowner passes a City competency exam and obtains the specific residential license. Even seemingly modest projects (yes, changing kitchen cabinets) are called out by the City as permit work.
Why it matters: DIY is great for sourdough, but not so much for wiring a new island.
How an NKBA certified designer helps: We sequence the project so licensed trades aren’t tripping over each other—and we detail drawings clearly enough that your electrician doesn’t call you at 7:12 a.m. asking where the microwave circuit goes (because it’s labeled, sized, and shown).
3) Historic Districts & HARB: Beautiful Streetscapes, Bonus Paperwork
A large swath of Harrisburg falls within Municipal Historic Districts. Any exterior changes visible from the street—think new windows, doors, siding, chimney caps, or a range-hood vent termination—often require a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Harrisburg Architectural Review Board (HARB) before permits are issued. HARB meets monthly, so build that lead time into your schedule. Mechanicsburg Borough has a HARB and its own application process, too
Why it matters: “We’ll start next week” becomes “We’ll start after the next agenda,” and nobody wants to cook Thanksgiving on a hot plate.
How an NKBA designer helps: NKBA designers document exterior terminations (hood vents, make-up air inlets) early and coordinate finishes so the HARB conversation is: “Looks appropriate.” Two magic words.
4) Riverfront & Floodplain Parcels Have an Extra Permit Layer
If your property sits in a Special Flood Hazard Area along the Susquehanna or Paxton Creek, the City requires a Floodplain Development Permit. Checking this early keeps your remodel from getting stuck at plan review.
Now you might not think that a kitchen remodel should be covered by the floodplain requirements, but it certainly can be if it is considered a “substantial improvement.”
Why it matters: As a kitchen designer, we don’t make the rules. Our job is to keep the rules from coming back and biting us.
How an NKBA designer helps: If appropriate we can verify flood maps up front, then plan mechanical and electrical heights, appliance locations, and material choices that won’t raise eyebrows—or your premiums.
5) Same Codes, Different Playbooks: Township Twists
Step outside the city and each township (Lower Paxton, Susquehanna, etc.) runs UCC with its own forms, fees, and third-party inspectors. For example, Lower Paxton Township publishes its own fee schedule (including the statewide $4.50 Act 45 fee added to building permits). Susquehanna Township explicitly notes adoption of the 2018 ICC for local enforcement. Your remodeler should know these nuances and build them into your budget and calendar.
Why it matters: Submitting the wrong packet is the permitting equivalent of forgetting to bring proper identification when you show up at the airport.
How an NKBA designer helps: We know what each office wants in a complete submittal—from appliance specs to ventilation cut sheets—so your permit moves instead of marinating.
Ready to Start (Without the Headaches)?
Mother Hubbbard’s Custom Cabinetry pairs NKBA-certified design professionals with meticulous project management tailored to Harrisburg-area rules. We’ll handle the code, the drawings, the submittals—and the stuff that makes your kitchen a joy to use.
Let’s make your remodel the easy kind.
Want us to tailor this guide to your exact address (historic district, floodplain, township requirements) and appliance list? Send those details over and we’ll map your path from first sketch to final inspection.
