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Kitchen Renovation in French-Speaking Switzerland

Kitchen renovation in French-speaking Switzerland: works, trade coordination, cantonal rules, quotes and legal warranties. Describe your project online.

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A renovated kitchen is rarely just about the units. The existing kitchen has to be dismantled, the water and electricity reworked, the fitted units installed, the appliances connected and the extraction of air carefully handled. On SOS Travaux, you describe your project online; your request is passed on to craftspeople and companies in French-speaking Switzerland, who contact you to prepare a free, no-obligation quote.

What kitchen renovation involves

A kitchen renovation brings several trades together on one site. The most common items:

  • Dismantling: removal of the old units, the worktop, the appliances and, depending on the condition of the premises, the floor and wall coverings.
  • Plumbing: moving or replacing water supply and drainage, sink, taps, dishwasher connection.
  • Electrical work: new sockets, dedicated circuits for appliances, worktop lighting, bringing the installation up to standard if it is old.
  • Fitted units: base and wall units, worktop, fronts, hardware, measured and adjusted to the room.
  • Appliances: oven, hob, fridge, dishwasher, chosen before the units are made so that the dimensions match.
  • Tiling or splashback: protection of the wall behind the sink and hob, sometimes including the floor.
  • Ventilation or extractor hood: extraction to the outside or air recirculation, depending on what the building allows.

Situations vary a great deal. In a small urban apartment, everything is decided to the centimetre, with little storage space and sometimes restricted access to the site because of the stairwell. In an older building, the pipes, walls and floors hold surprises once opened up. In a house, the project often extends to opening onto the living room or adding a central island.

When to call a professional for your kitchen

Replacing a front or a handle is a do-it-yourself job. As soon as water, electricity or gas is involved, a professional is the better choice: a connection error results in water damage, a safety defect or an insurer refusing to cover the loss. The same applies to ventilation, which depends on the layout of the building, and to fitting heavy or custom-cut worktops.

Hiring a professional is also justified when several trades have to follow one another in the right order: plumbing and electrical work before the fitted units, tiling before the final fitting of the wall units, appliances last. Poor sequencing costs time and means redoing elements already installed.

Training and rules for kitchen renovation in Switzerland

In Switzerland, several of the trades involved in a kitchen come under vocational training with a Federal Certificate of Proficiency (CFC): sanitary installation, electrical work, carpentry, tiling. Ask the company who will do what, and who carries out the work on the electrical installation, which is subject to federal rules on low-voltage installations. A quote that remains vague on this point deserves an extra question.

Another feature of the market: many rental buildings are managed by property management agencies. When renting, the landlord’s written consent is required before any work in the kitchen. Also plan to inform the neighbours and the management agency of noisy periods and water or power cuts.

French-speaking cantons: permits, energy and heritage

Replacing a kitchen inside a dwelling is not necessarily subject to a permit, but the rule changes if the project alters the structure, the building envelope or a protected building. Procedures differ from one canton to another; always confirm with the municipality or the relevant cantonal department.

  • Geneva: building permits are issued by the canton (Office des autorisations de construire). On energy, the cantonal energy law (LEn) and the cantonal energy office (OCEN) govern the subsidies of the Buildings Programme. The old town and protected districts call for particular attention. See the canton of Geneva page.
  • Vaud: the permit is issued by the municipality, with the file going through the cantonal permit centre (CAMAC) when cantonal departments have to give an opinion. Old towns and the Lavaux vineyards, a World Heritage site, call for caution. See canton of Vaud.
  • Valais: within the building zone, the permit is a municipal matter; outside it, a cantonal commission is responsible. Chalets and second homes are common, with the federal law on second homes applying in the municipalities concerned. See canton of Valais.
  • Fribourg: applications go through the cantonal platform FRIAC, with the permit issued by the prefecture or the municipality depending on the type of work. The canton is bilingual and its old towns are protected. See canton of Fribourg.
  • Neuchâtel: the cantonal desk SATAC receives applications, and the decision is made by the municipality. The watchmaking heritage of La Chaux-de-Fonds and Le Locle, listed by UNESCO, can weigh on projects visible from the outside. See canton of Neuchâtel.
  • Jura: the permit is issued by the municipality or by the canton depending on the scale of the project; Delémont, Porrentruy and Saint-Ursanne have old towns to be respected. See canton of Jura.
  • Biel/Bienne (canton of Bern): the permit is a matter for the municipality or the prefecture depending on the project. Biel/Bienne is officially bilingual, French and German: documents may be requested in either language. See canton of Bern.

On energy, each canton has a dedicated department and a subsidy programme. These grants generally target the building envelope or heating rather than kitchen equipment; if your project also includes an energy component, find out more before signing.

Preparing your kitchen request

The more precise your description, the more comparable the quotes you receive. Gather:

  • the type of home (apartment, older building, house), the floor and the access (lift, stairs);
  • the current condition of the kitchen and what you want to keep, move or replace;
  • the appliances already chosen, or your expectations if you have not yet selected them;
  • an idea of the style and materials (worktop, fronts, splashback);
  • your status (owner, co-owner, tenant with the landlord’s consent);
  • the preferred coordination mode: a single point of contact or several companies contracted separately;
  • your scheduling constraints, in particular if the kitchen is the only one in the home.

A few photos and a sketch with the dimensions of the room prevent many misunderstandings. In addition, a co-ownership should check the community’s rules before working on shared pipes.

What a reliable kitchen renovation quote details

A useful quote is not limited to a total. It lists each item (dismantling, plumbing, electrical work, fitted units, appliances, tiling or splashback, ventilation) with materials and labour, states what is included or not (waste removal, restoration of walls, protection of floors in shared areas), and specifies how long the offer is valid and the terms if changes are made during the work.

The cost depends above all on the scale of the work: simple replacement versus moving the water supply and electrical circuits; the range and dimensions of the units and worktop; the choice of appliances; the area to be tiled; the hidden condition of the walls and pipes in an older building; difficulty of access to the site; coordination between the trades. No two kitchens are alike: only a quote drawn up for your case tells you what you are paying for.

The Code of Obligations applies to the company carrying out the work. For a work on immovable property, such as a kitchen fixed to the building with its connections, the warranty for defects runs for 5 years under art. 371 CO. For a work on movable property, it is 2 years. If the contract refers to the SIA 118 standard, its provisions apply in addition; check that the reference appears in the signed quote.

On handover, check the finishes, run the appliances, the water and the lighting, and note any reservation in writing. A defect discovered later must be reported without delay, also in writing.

Kitchen renovation near you

The following pages present kitchen renovation city by city:

Is your project ready to be described? You can request a quote: the request is free and without obligation, and craftspeople and companies in the region will contact you for the next steps.

Updated 29 October 2026

Kitchen renovation: pages by town

Kitchen renovation – BienneKitchen renovation – BulleKitchen renovation – CarougeKitchen renovation – DelémontKitchen renovation – FribourgKitchen renovation – GenevaKitchen renovation – La Chaux-de-FondsKitchen renovation – LancyKitchen renovation – LausanneKitchen renovation – MartignyKitchen renovation – MontheyKitchen renovation – MontreuxKitchen renovation – MorgesKitchen renovation – NeuchâtelKitchen renovation – NyonKitchen renovation – SierreKitchen renovation – SionKitchen renovation – VernierKitchen renovation – VeveyKitchen renovation – Yverdon-les-Bains

Practical guides

Renovating a kitchen

Free, no-obligation quote request

Describe your project: your request is passed on to tradespeople in your area.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a building permit to renovate a kitchen?
Replacing units and appliances like for like generally does not require a permit. As soon as the project affects the structure, the facades, a chimney or a protected building, the question arises. Check with the municipality or the relevant cantonal department before ordering anything.
Who coordinates the different trades?
There are two set-ups: a single point of contact who handles the coordination and gives you one quote, or coordination by yourself, contracting each trade separately. The first makes follow-up simpler, while the second takes time and a good overview of the schedule. State your preference in your request.
Can I renovate the kitchen of an apartment I rent?
Only with the written consent of the landlord or the property management agency. Without it, you may have to restore the premises to their original state. Also ask who bears the cost of the work and what happens to the fittings you installed when you leave.
What should a kitchen quote contain?
It should separate dismantling, plumbing, electrical work, fitted units, appliances, tiling or splashback, and ventilation, with materials and labour for each item. It also states what is excluded and the terms for changes. A quote that is too global makes comparison impossible.
How long does the warranty on a renovated kitchen last?
The Swiss Code of Obligations (CO) provides for 5 years for a defect in a work on immovable property (art. 371 CO), which covers elements fixed to the building, and 2 years for a work on movable property. If the contract refers to the SIA 118 standard (the Swiss Society of Engineers and Architects' general conditions for construction work), its rules apply in addition. Have any defect recorded in writing as soon as you notice it.
Can a kitchen renovation qualify for a subsidy?
It depends on the canton and the nature of the work. Subsidy programmes mainly concern energy, meaning the building envelope or heating, and more rarely kitchen fittings. Check with the cantonal energy department before starting the work.