Hanford roughly doubled in population between 1970 and 1990, and homes built in the 1970s and 1980s still make up about a third of the city’s housing. If yours has oak cabinets, a tile counter, or a fiberglass tub surround, it likely dates from that stretch. We remodel kitchens and bathrooms in the city from our shop in southeast Fresno, about 50 minutes away, and this page explains how a project works.

The city’s housing at a glance

American Community Survey estimates put the population near 59,400, with about 62% of homes owner-occupied and a median home built around 1986. The roots go back further. Southern Pacific tracks came through in 1877, the town took the name of railroad executive James Madison Hanford, and it incorporated in 1891. When Kings County was created from western Tulare County in 1893, the city became its seat, and downtown still has the Taoist Temple in China Alley, built in 1893, and the Fox Theatre, built in 1929.

About 9% of homes predate 1950, and those tend to have plaster, small baths, cast-iron tubs, and galvanized lines that need evaluation by licensed plumbing trades. Roughly 30% went up from 1950 through 1979, with galley or closed kitchens, soffits, original tile, and paint covered by federal lead-safe rules when it predates 1978. The largest group, about 34%, comes from the 1980s and 1990s: oak, tile counters, cultured marble, fiberglass surrounds, and builder-grade fixtures at the end of their life. The remaining 27% was built after 2000, often with primary baths centered on a garden tub.

What that means for your project

In a 1980s or 1990s house, the plumbing and wiring often stay put, and the work centers on surfaces, cabinets, fixtures, and a better shower. Older homes need more time at the consultation looking at what is behind the walls. Newer homes are often about rethinking a layout that never worked, like a garden tub nobody uses or an island in the way. Either way, the consultation is where those differences turn into a scope and a schedule.

Heat and soft water

July highs here average about 98 degrees, so kitchens with west-facing glass take a hard afternoon, which affects flooring and finish choices. Options are compared in our guide to materials for Central Valley heat. The water, on the other hand, is easy on fixtures. The city draws strictly from deep wells, and its 2025 water quality report lists average hardness of about 11 parts per million, which is soft, so mineral scale on faucets and shower glass builds slowly.

Hanford’s Building Division

Inside the city, permits are handled by the City of Hanford Building Division, part of Community Development at 315 to 321 North Douty Street, which reviews plans, issues permits, and inspects construction. Since May 2024, building inspections have been scheduled through the city’s Citizen Self Service portal. Scope decides whether a permit is needed, and we confirm that during the in-home consultation. See our Hanford permit guide for the process.

About 50 minutes from our shop

The city sits about 34 miles from our shop at 4143 E Madison Ave, roughly 50 minutes of driving, and we do not have an office in Kings County. We hold consultations Monday through Saturday, 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Coverage is confirmed from the ZIP code you enter in the estimator, both here and across our Kings County service area.

Comparing your options

If you are collecting more than one bid, compare scope line by line rather than bottom numbers. Our guide on how to compare remodeling bids shows what to look for, including license class, insurance, and exclusions. For the record, our license is California #1111311 for B-2 Residential Remodeling, the company is insured and bonded, and we take on kitchens and bathrooms only. Ask each bidder how permits, inspections, and changes found behind the walls are handled, and get the answers in writing.

Starting a project

Head to Get My Renovation Estimate, choose the kitchen or bathroom questions, and add your contact details and ZIP code to see a personalized planning range. Planning bands help frame it: kitchen work generally starts around $25,000, typical kitchen remodels land around $40,000, and larger kitchens with layout changes or premium selections run $50,000 to $60,000. Bathroom work starts around $15,000, typical bathroom remodels land around $25,000, and larger bathrooms run $30,000 to $40,000. That range is a planning tool, and the free in-home consultation is where measurements, conditions, permits, and selections are confirmed.