Home project tools for Westchester homeowners
Planning a remodel, addition, or repair in Westchester? Design and Biz makes six free tools that help Westchester County homeowners price projects, navigate town-by-town permit rules, and avoid the expensive surprises that derail jobs north of New York City.
Westchester is one of the most complicated places in the country to remodel a house. Every town and village runs its own building department, fee schedule, and review timeline. Historic districts, wetland buffers, steep-slope ordinances, and tree preservation laws all add steps that don't exist in most other markets. Whether you're renovating a Tudor in Bronxville, finishing a basement in Yorktown, or adding a deck in Chappaqua, the tools below give you a real estimate in under two minutes — calibrated for Westchester labor rates and town-specific requirements.
What Westchester homeowners use these for
The most common projects across Westchester are kitchen and bath remodels in pre-war and mid-century homes, basement finishes (often with egress and waterproofing work), additions and dormers to add bedrooms, decks and patios, and electrical service upgrades for EV chargers, heat pumps, and pool equipment. Every tool below is calibrated for those project types and for Westchester County labor and material pricing, which typically runs 30–60% above national averages.
Permits in Westchester County
Westchester does not have a county-wide building department. Each city, town, and village runs its own — Yonkers, White Plains, New Rochelle, Mount Vernon, Scarsdale, Rye, Mamaroneck, Harrison, Greenburgh, Eastchester, Bronxville, Pelham, Larchmont, Chappaqua (New Castle), Bedford, Pound Ridge, Katonah, Yorktown, Cortlandt, Peekskill, Ossining, Briarcliff Manor, and dozens more each have their own rules. Many also have separate Architectural Review Boards, Historic Preservation Commissions, and Wetlands Boards that can add weeks or months to a project. PermitWut tells you which jurisdiction you're in and what's typically required.
CostWut!™
Estimate a Westchester remodel or addition with real 2026 county pricing.
Estimate my projectPermitWut!™
Check Westchester town permit requirements — every village has its own rules.
Check my permitsWattsWut!™
Size an electrical panel for a Westchester home — EVs, heat pumps, pools.
Run my load calcRiskWut!™
Spot the risks in a Westchester project — flooding, ARB, wetlands, and more.
Find my risksCrewWut!™
Figure out which trades you need for a Westchester job — and in what order.
Plan my crewScopeWut!™
Write a clear, contractor-ready scope for your Westchester project.
Build my scopeWestchester homeowner FAQs
Do I need a permit to finish a basement in Westchester?
Yes, in every Westchester municipality. You'll need permits for framing, electrical, plumbing, and any HVAC work, plus code-compliant egress windows for any room used as a bedroom and proper ceiling height (typically 7 feet minimum). Many towns also require a separate certificate of occupancy update. Run your project through PermitWut for the specific list in your town.
How much does a kitchen remodel cost in Westchester in 2026?
Mid-range kitchen remodels in Westchester are running roughly $55,000–$110,000 depending on cabinet quality, layout changes, and whether you're moving plumbing or gas. High-end remodels in towns like Scarsdale, Bronxville, and Rye routinely exceed $150,000. CostWut gives you a line-item estimate based on your actual scope.
Why are Westchester permit fees so much higher than other places?
Most Westchester towns calculate permit fees as a percentage of construction value (often 1–3%), not a flat fee. On a $200,000 renovation that can mean $2,000–$6,000 in permit fees alone, before any architectural review board, wetlands, or historic district fees. CostWut and PermitWut both factor this in.
Do I need approval from an architectural review board?
Many Westchester villages — Bronxville, Scarsdale, Rye, Larchmont, Pelham, and others — require ARB approval for any exterior change visible from the street, including new windows, siding, roofing, additions, and fences. Approval can take 4–12 weeks. PermitWut flags this for your specific address.
Who pulls the permit — me or my contractor?
In most Westchester towns, licensed contractors pull their own trade permits. Homeowners can pull permits for work on their primary residence in many jurisdictions, but you take on inspection coordination and liability. Some towns (like Scarsdale) require a licensed contractor for most work regardless.
How long does permit review take in Westchester right now?
Review times vary wildly by town. Smaller villages with part-time building departments can take 6–12 weeks for a straightforward addition. Larger towns like Greenburgh and Yorktown are typically 3–6 weeks. Add 4–12 more weeks if your project also needs ARB, wetlands, or historic review.