In most municipalities, a permit is required if the remodel involves plumbing, electrical, gas line, or structural changes - a cosmetic refresh (new cabinet fronts, paint, countertops with no layout change) usually doesn't need one, but the rules vary enough by city that a generic national answer isn't fully trustworthy.
This is exactly the kind of question worth answering on a location page rather than a single generic post - a homeowner in your specific city searching "do I need a permit for a kitchen remodel in [city]" is a warm, high-intent lead, and most remodelers leave that search completely uncontested.