Home Remodeling Company Chanhassen, MN
College City Design-Build Remodel is a home remodeling company Wayzata, MN homeowners have hired since 1969. We design and build lower levels, kitchens, bathrooms, and additions, and we keep the design work and the construction work under one contract.
Wayzata is small and unusual. The 2020 census counted 4,434 residents across 4.7 square miles, a third of which is water, and yet the city’s own figures put its tax base on par with a community of about 30,000. What that means in practice: a lot of high-value housing stock on a short stretch of shoreline, much of it decades old and none of it simple to work on.
The complication is regulatory. A Wayzata lakeshore project can touch the City of Wayzata, the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District, state shoreland rules, and for anything at the water’s edge, the Lake Minnetonka Conservation District. Getting that sequence wrong is the single most common reason a Wayzata remodel slips a season. Our design-build remodeling services start by mapping which approvals your specific address triggers, before anyone draws a floor plan.
Most of what we do here is lower level work and whole house remodels. Wayzata homes tend to have the square footage already. What they need is for it to work.
Services:
- Bathroom Remodeling
- Kitchen Remodeling
- Lower Level Remodels
- Whole House Remodels
- Addition and porch
- New Homes
What kinds of homes do you remodel in Chanhassen?
Four groups, and almost all of them are newer than people assume.
1990s subdivisions. The first big wave. These homes are structurally sound and badly dated: closed kitchens, oak everywhere, small primary baths, and an unfinished basement under the whole footprint. This is the bulk of our Chanhassen work.
2000s builds in the PUDs. Arbor Glen, Camden Ridge, Liberty on Bluff Creek, Preserve at Bluff Creek, Springfield and the rest. Better layouts, bigger lots, and a hard-cover limit written into that specific PUD’s design standards, which ranges widely between developments. The limit is yours to live with, and it determines whether an addition is even possible.
Lakeshore around Lotus Lake, Lake Susan, Lake Riley and Lake Minnewashta. Shoreland overlay rules, tighter impervious limits, and a higher water table in the lower level.
Pre-1990 and Carver Beach. The older end of Chanhassen’s stock, smaller and more varied. These are the candidates for a whole house remodel rather than a room-by-room update.
We loved the entire process with finishing our basement at College City! The design process was very efficient and Kali was amazing to work with-she took into consideration my idea books and made the process of selection very easy & fun! The contractors were all very courteous and even kind to our dogs:) We get a ton of compliments on the work that was done-it’s remarkable what they did in our space and we LOVE using it!!
Remodeling services we provide in Chanhassen
Lower level and basement finishing in Chanhassen
The biggest category of remodeling demand in the city, and the best value per square foot. The foundation, roof and footprint already exist, so you are paying for finishes and systems rather than structure.
What our lower level remodels usually include:
- Family and media rooms
- Wet bars and beverage service
- Guest suites with full baths
- Home offices and gyms
- Egress windows for any below-grade bedroom
- Walkout and patio door reconfiguration on sloped lots
Worth knowing: the City of Chanhassen lists finished basements explicitly among the projects that require a building permit. It is not an interior finish you can quietly do over a winter. Nearby example of the finished product, a basement remodel in Victoria.
Kitchen remodeling in Chanhassen
Second-biggest cluster and the one that changes how a 1990s Chanhassen house feels. These kitchens were built closed, with a wall between the cook and the family room, and opening it is usually structural.
A recent Chanhassen kitchen remodel of ours used custom cabinetry in enameled and stained alder, a brick herringbone backsplash, glass display cabinets, and upholstered banquette seating.
What we build most often:
- Load-bearing wall removal with engineered beam and post design
- Custom and semi-custom cabinetry with full-height pantry banks
- Islands sized to the room, with seating
- Quartz, granite and honed stone counters
- Layered lighting plans
- Butler’s pantries and secondary prep zones
Whole house remodeling in Chanhassen
When the list runs to four or five rooms, one plan beats five projects. Our whole house remodeling in Chanhassen starts with a single master design across the full scope, then runs at once or in phases depending on whether you are living there throughout.
Home additions and porches in Chanhassen
In Chanhassen an addition is a lot-cover question before it is a design question. Impervious surface is capped by city ordinance and reviewed at building permit, and inside a PUD the cap comes from that development’s own design standards rather than the general rule. Shoreland lots are tighter again, and anything touching the Bluff Creek corridor needs a conditional use permit.
We establish your actual buildable envelope first and design inside it. That is usually faster than designing freely and then chasing a variance.
Screen porches, three-season rooms, mudrooms, primary suite additions, and second stories.
Bathroom remodeling in Chanhassen
A standard bathroom remodel runs 3 to 6 weeks. Primary suites with custom tile run 6 to 10.
- Walk-in tile showers with glass enclosures
- Tub-to-shower conversions
- Freestanding soaking tubs
- Double vanities
- Heated tile floors
- Primary bath expansion inside the existing footprint
We also build new homes for Chanhassen clients who decide the lot is worth more than what is on it.
Do you need a permit to remodel in Chanhassen?
Usually yes, and the city is strict about the process.
All permits must be applied for online, a policy in effect since 1 January 2022. Chanhassen has adopted the 2020 Minnesota State Building Code. Permits are required for new construction, additions, alterations, decks, finished basements, pools, demolition, roofing, siding and window replacement, among others.
Two numbers worth planning around. Many projects need a detailed plan review, and the city asks you to allow at least ten working days. On permit valuations over $3,000, a plan review fee of 65% of the permit fee is added.
Residential contractors must be licensed by the State of Minnesota. We are, and we handle the applications and inspections.
Beyond the city, your lot may fall under the Riley-Purgatory-Bluff Creek Watershed District, the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District, the Lower Minnesota River Watershed District, or the Carver County Water Management Organization. Four different bodies cover different parts of Chanhassen. Knowing which one governs your address is step one, not step four.
How do you choose a home remodeling company in Chanhassen?
Check four things: state license, local permitting experience, whether design and construction sit under one contract, and whether the crew is the same week to week.
License and insurance. Licensed and insured for residential remodeling in Minnesota, which the City of Chanhassen requires of any residential contractor pulling a permit.
Local experience. We know which Chanhassen projects trigger plan review, which trigger watershed review, and which run into a PUD hard-cover cap. That determination sets your real start date.
One contract. Our designers and build crew work for the same company. Read how our process works.
A consistent crew. Same trades, project to project. Judge the output in our project gallery and the experience in our client reviews.
Numbers first. Our Pricing Tool returns a ballpark by project type before you talk to anyone.
About Chanhassen, MN
Chanhassen sits about 15 miles southwest of Minneapolis, mostly in Carver County with a small eastern portion extending into Hennepin County. The population was 25,947 at the 2020 census, with a 2024 estimate of 26,469, across roughly 20.4 square miles.
It grew up fast. Settled in 1852 and incorporated as a city only in 1967, when a merger with Chanhassen Township brought it to 4,200 people. The first school in both Chanhassen and Carver County opened in 1855 at Susan Hazeltine’s home near Hazeltine Lake.
Today the city is known for the Chanhassen Dinner Theatres, the largest professional dinner theatre in the country, and for Paisley Park, Prince’s former estate, now a museum. Life Time Fitness is headquartered here. The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum sits on the edge of the city.
One practical note for families: Chanhassen is split between two school districts. Eastern Carver County School District 112 serves about 72% of the city’s school-age children, and Minnetonka School District 276 serves roughly 28% in northern Chanhassen. Which one applies depends on your address, and the city publishes a boundary map.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a home remodel cost in Chanhassen, MN?
Lower level finishing is the most common Chanhassen project and varies widely with scope. Mid-range kitchen refreshes start around $35,000, with full custom kitchen renovations at $80,000 to $120,000 and up. Whole house projects sit above that. Our Pricing Tool gives a project-specific ballpark.
Do I need a permit to finish my basement in Chanhassen?
Yes. The City of Chanhassen lists finished basements among the projects requiring a building permit, alongside additions, alterations, decks, roofing, siding and window replacement. All permits must be applied for online, a policy in effect since 1 January 2022. Allow at least ten working days where a detailed plan review is needed.
How much does a Chanhassen building permit cost?
Fees are paid when the permit is issued and depend on project valuation. On valuations over $3,000, the city adds a plan review fee of 65% of the permit fee. The current fee schedule is published by the city and updated annually.
My lot is near Bluff Creek or a lake. What else do I need?
Possibly a watershed district permit and an overlay review. Chanhassen is covered by four water management bodies: the Riley-Purgatory-Bluff Creek Watershed District, the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District, the Lower Minnesota River Watershed District, and the Carver County Water Management Organization. Separately, development in the Bluff Creek Corridor requires a conditional use permit, and shoreland lots carry tighter impervious surface limits. We determine which apply to your address before design begins.
Why does my neighbor have a bigger addition than I'm allowed?
Almost always the PUD. Many Chanhassen subdivisions were platted as Planned Unit Developments with their own hard-cover standards written into the development’s design guidelines, and those limits vary significantly between neighborhoods. Two houses a street apart can have different caps. We check yours before designing.
Areas Our Home Remodeling Company Serves:
- Lakeville
- Eagan
- Apple Valley
- Eden Prairie
- Chaska
- Wayzata
- Chanhassen
- Inver Grove Heights
- Minnetonka
- Edina
- Prior Lake
- Deephaven
- Dundas
- Burnsville
- Bloomington
- Woodbury
- Richfield
- Lake Elmo
- Northfield
- Shakopee
- Stillwater
- St. Louis Park
- Elko
- Mendota Heights
- Cannon Falls
- Minneapolis
- Savage
- Plymouth
- Hopkins
- New Market
- New Prague
- Golden Valley
- St. Paul
- Oakdale
- Maple Grove
- Farmington
THINKING OF BUILDING?
Get inspired with our hand-picked collection of home design ideas and current trends. This book is made to help you imagine what’s possible for your space—from big-picture plans to the small finishing touches. Whether you’re starting fresh or upgrading your current home, our expert team brings your vision to life with top-quality work and care in every detail. Let us help you create a space that feels both beautiful and personal.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I get design inspiration for my project?
Getting started is easier than you think!
We recommend visiting our Gallery to explore completed home designs and available homes.
You’ll find plenty of ideas and inspiration to spark your vision.
How can I contact College City?
We’re always happy to hear from you!
You can visit our Contact page to send us a message, or schedule a call directly with one of our remodeling specialists.
What areas do you build?
We proudly serve Lakeville, Minnesota, helping homeowners across the region with expert custom home design and remodeling services.
For a full list of the cities and neighborhoods we cover, be sure to visit our Service Area page.
How much does a remodeling typically cost?
Remodeling costs can vary depending on the size, scope, and finishes you choose.
To help you plan, we offer an easy-to-use Pricing Tool that provides a ballpark estimate based on your project type.
How can I schedule a consultation with College City Design-Build Remodel?
Scheduling a consultation with us is straightforward. You can contact us through our website, phone, or email. During the consultation, we’ll discuss your project, needs, and expectations, providing you with an opportunity to ask questions and learn more about our services.
What can I expect from an estimate provided by College City Design-Build Remodel?
Our estimate will give you a detailed breakdown of the costs associated with your home improvement project. We aim to provide transparent pricing to help you understand all the factors that influence the final cost, ensuring there are no surprises down the line.
Are you licensed and insured for residential construction in Minnesota?
Yes, we are fully licensed and insured for residential construction in Minnesota. Our license and insurance coverage ensure that every project we undertake is compliant with local regulations and standards, giving our clients peace of mind.
What types of home improvement projects does College City Design-Build Remodel specialize in?
We specialize in a wide range of home improvement projects, including kitchen and bathroom renovations, basement finishes, and whole-house remodels. Our experienced team is equipped to handle projects of any size, delivering quality and craftsmanship in every job.
Can you tell me about your experience and rating in the construction industry?
With years of experience in the construction industry, we have established a reputation for quality and reliability. Our high rating reflects our commitment to delivering exceptional results for our clients, with an emphasis on craftsmanship and customer satisfaction.
How does College City Design-Build Remodel ensure the quality of its construction work?
Quality is at the core of everything we do. We use only high-quality materials and employ skilled builders and craftsmen. Our work is meticulously planned and executed, with regular inspections to ensure it meets our stringent standards for quality and durability.
What should I consider when selecting a builder or contractor?
When selecting a builder or contractor, consider their license status, insurance coverage, experience, and client reviews. Choose a company like College City Design-Build Remodel, known for its quality work, transparency, and strong local presence in Lakeville, Minnesota.
How does College City Design-Build Remodel address client concerns during a construction project?
We prioritize open and consistent communication with our clients to address any concerns as they arise. Our team is dedicated to ensuring your project meets your expectations, and we make it a part of our process to resolve any problems promptly and effectively.
What sets College City Design-Build Remodel apart from other construction businesses in Minnesota?
What sets us apart is our commitment to quality, craftsmanship, and client satisfaction. Our experienced team, transparent pricing, and high rating in the local industry make us a preferred choice for residential construction projects in Minnesota.
Can I see examples of your past work?
Absolutely! We have a gallery of our past projects available on our website. This gallery showcases the range and quality of our work, from family home renovations to large-scale construction projects, reflecting our craftsmanship and attention to detail.