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Custom Home Building in Los Angeles, CA
Knock down and rebuild, or build new from the ground up, sized to what LA zoning, soils, and fire rules allow on your lot.
- Lot survey and zoning check first
- Soils report and engineered foundation
- Plans sized to your floor-area limit
- One contract from demo to final
CSLB Lic. [#000000] | Bonded & Insured | Written Workmanship Warranty
Book a Free Consultation
We walk the lot, pull the zoning, and tell you what you can build. No charge, no obligation.
Form fields: Full name, Email, Phone, Project address, Scope (Custom home or rebuild, Whole-home remodel, Design-build project, Open concept / wall removal, Attic or basement conversion, Not sure yet), Preferred date, Tell us about your house and plans. Submit button: Book My Free Visit (red #E12228).
Free Consultation
We walk your lot, read the zoning, and tell you how big a new house can get. Book a slot.
Zoning Before Design
Your floor-area and height limits get checked before any sketch. See how it works.
A New Home Built for Your Los Angeles Lot
Serving: Los Feliz, Hancock Park, Cheviot Hills, Brentwood, Pacific Palisades, Mar Vista, and Manhattan Beach.
Los Angeles Home Remodelers is the custom home builder Los Angeles owners call when the old house can’t be saved or the lot deserves more. We run ground-up construction under one contract: survey, soils, design, engineering, permits, and the build.
Every custom home starts with what the lot allows. Zoning, slope, soil, and fire zone set the size and shape of the house before anyone draws a floor plan.
LA lots carry rules you can’t see from the street. A flat Valley lot, a Westside lot in an R1 Variation Zone, and a hillside lot in Silver Lake can each hold a very different house on the same square footage.
- Boundary and topo survey first
- ZIMAS zoning pulled on day one
- Soils report before foundation design
- Floor area checked at every design round
- All-electric plan to current Title 24
- Warranty terms in writing [confirm]
Certified Service
CSLB Lic. [#000000]
Not Ready to Rebuild? Compare the Options
Some houses are worth keeping. If yours has good bones, a whole-home remodel, an open plan, or an attic conversion may get you the space without a teardown.
Not sure where to start?
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Whole-Home Remodeling in Los Angeles
Every room, system, and permit on one schedule, with one team from design to final.
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Design-Build Remodeling
One contract for design, engineering, permits, and construction, with a budget set early.
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Open-Concept Remodels & Wall Removal
Take out walls safely, with an engineered beam, posts, and footings where the load lands.
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Basement & Attic Conversions
Turn an attic or crawlspace into a legal bedroom, office, or suite with headroom and egress.
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Choosing a Custom Home Builder in Los Angeles
Ask who runs the survey, the soils report, and plan check, and who answers LADBS corrections. Check the CSLB license, and confirm it’s a general building (B) license.
Compare what each bid includes, line by line. Early custom-home bids often leave out grading, shoring, utility work, or fire-zone upgrades, then add them later. Your contract prices each line below.
- Boundary and topographic survey
- Zoning and floor-area study
- Structural engineering
- Demolition and utility caps
- Framing, roof, and windows
- Finishes, fixtures, and landscape
- Soils and geology reports
- Architectural design and plans
- Title 24 energy calculations
- Grading, shoring, and foundation
- All-electric systems and panel
- Final inspection and CofO
What Working With Us Looks Like
One point of contact
Your project manager runs design, permits, and the build, and answers your calls. You never referee a designer and a contractor over whose fault a problem is.
Written scope, written changes
Everything in the contract is a line item. Any change gets priced and signed before a crew touches it, so nothing shows up on a final invoice as a surprise.
A clean site, every evening
Dust walls, floor protection, and a locked site at the end of each day. If you're living in the house, we phase the work so you always have a kitchen or a bathroom.
Five Decisions That Size Your Los Angeles Home
Five decisions set how big your new house can be and what it takes to build. Settle the survey and the zoning first, because they cap everything drawn after them.
Lot Survey & Setbacks
A licensed surveyor maps your property lines, grades, trees, and utilities. Setbacks are the required open yards at the front, sides, and rear [verify], and the survey shows exactly where the new walls can go.
Soils & Foundation
A geotechnical engineer drills test borings and writes a soils report. It tells the structural engineer whether you need spread footings, a mat slab, or deep piles.
Size & Height Limits
Residential floor area (RFA) is the square footage zoning counts toward your cap. Your zone, lot size, and any R1 Variation Zone set the RFA and the height limit [verify].
Framing & Structure
Most LA custom homes use wood framing with engineered shear walls, the plywood panels that brace a house against earthquakes. Steel moment frames let you open a wall of glass without losing lateral strength.
Energy & All-Electric
New homes in the City of LA are expected to be all-electric [verify]. Heat pumps handle heat and hot water, and solar goes on the roof under Title 24.
Custom Home Styles We Build in Los Angeles
Pick a style that fits your street as well as your family. In historic districts and some R1 Variation Zones, the style also has to pass design review.
Modern
Flat roofs, big glass, and clean stucco or wood siding. Modern homes fit tight Westside lots because flat roofs keep the house under the height limit.
Spanish Colonial Revival
White plaster, clay tile roofs, arches, and a courtyard. The style fits Los Feliz and Hancock Park streets, and the tile roof needs framing sized for its weight.
Traditional & Cape
Pitched roofs, dormers, lap siding, and shutters. Traditional homes suit Cheviot Hills and the Palisades, where many original houses followed the same pattern.
Craftsman
Low-pitched gables, deep eaves, tapered porch columns, and wood trim. A new Craftsman fits Eastside streets full of 1910s bungalows and still meets current code.
Contemporary Farmhouse
Board-and-batten siding, metal roofs, and big open living rooms. It pairs a simple gable with modern glass, and it’s quick to frame.
Remodel, Major Remodel, or Rebuild in Los Angeles?
Your choice between remodeling and rebuilding hangs on the foundation, the zoning, and how much of the house you’d change. Compare the five paths before you commit to design.
Your path
Best for
Watch out for
Permit path
Keep & refresh
Sound houses that just need updates
Old systems hidden behind plaster
Trade permits only
Major remodel
Good foundation, wrong layout
Scope that quietly grows into a rebuild
Building permit, plan check
Partial teardown
Saving part of the house for zoning
May get treated as new construction [verify]
Plan check as new work [verify]
Knock down & rebuild
Failed foundations, bad layouts
Today’s floor-area and height caps
Demo, grading, building permits
SB 9 split & build
Large lots with room for two homes
Fire zone and historic limits [verify]
Lot split, then permits
Construction loans
Many custom homes get built on a construction loan that pays out in draws as work passes inspection. Talk to your lender early; we plan the schedule around its draw steps.
Insurance rebuilds
After a fire, your adjuster and your builder need the same scope. We price line items your insurer can read and track what the policy covers versus your upgrades.
Demo and utilities
Tearing down takes its own permit. Gas, power, water, and the sewer line get capped or cut first, and older homes need asbestos and lead checks before demo.
Zoning caps
A rebuild follows today’s rules, not the old house’s size. If your old home was bigger than current floor-area limits allow, a new one may have to shrink [verify].
What Your Los Angeles Lot Means for a New Home
Where your lot sits decides which rules shape the house. Here’s what each part of LA usually brings to a custom build.
Valley
Flat Valley Lots
Wide, flat lots in Encino and Sherman Oaks give you the most room to build. The Baseline Mansionization Ordinance still caps floor area, and summer heat makes insulation and shade part of the plan.
Westside
R1 Variation Zones
Many Westside streets sit in R1 Variation Zones that set their own floor-area and massing rules [verify]. Two lots side by side can carry different limits, so we check ZIMAS before design.
Hillside
Hillside Lots (BHO)
The Baseline Hillside Ordinance ties floor area to slope and caps grading [verify]. Expect a geology report, deep piles or caissons, and a street-access review before plans go in.
Fire rebuild
Pacific Palisades
We’re sorry for what your family lost in the January 2025 fire. Rebuilds start with a new survey, a soils check on the burned pad, and the city’s rebuild permit track [verify].
Eastside
HPOZ Historic Districts
Lots in historic districts such as an HPOZ need design review before demolition or new construction [verify]. The board looks at height, roof shape, and materials against the street.
Permits for Building a New Home in Los Angeles
Every new house needs a building permit from LADBS after plan check, the city’s review of your drawings against code. LA City Planning rules set the size, and other agencies sign off on fire, sewer, and streets [verify].
Reviews every new house faces
- Demolition permit for the old house
- Grading permit on sloped lots
- Building permit after LADBS plan check
- Electrical, plumbing, and mechanical permits
- Fire department review in hazard zones
Checked before you design
- Zoning and overlays on ZIMAS
- Lot survey and property lines
- Soils and geology reports
- Sewer and utility capacity [verify]
- Easements and recorded covenants
Floor area has a hard ceiling
The Baseline Mansionization Ordinance limits how much residential floor area you can build on a flat lot in single-family zones. Garages, covered porches, and tall rooms may count toward it, so we measure every design round [verify].
Fire zones change the materials
If your lot sits in a Very High fire hazard severity zone, the house needs ignition-resistant siding, ember-resistant vents, and a Class A roof [verify code section]. We check the map first.
Title 24 shapes the energy plan
California’s Title 24 energy code sets insulation, windows, solar, and heat-pump rules for new homes. Your energy consultant runs the numbers during design, and the inspector checks them at final [verify].
Why Homeowners Pick Us Over the Lowest Bid
The lowest whole-house bid in Los Angeles usually leaves out the beam, the panel, or the permit. We price the real scope during design, so your change-order column stays close to empty.
- Line-item scope, including structure and systems
- One project manager answers your calls start to finish
- Materials get ordered only after you sign off on the plan
- Site fencing, dust control, and neighbor notice from demo day
- Payments tied to milestones, never to a calendar
- A written workmanship warranty you can hold us to
- Crews who work on our jobs only, not day labor
Licensed & Insured
CSLB Lic. [#000000]
Free On-Site Estimates
Measured, not guessed
Written Warranty
On our workmanship
Local LA Crews
No day labor on site
How a Custom Home Gets Built in Los Angeles
A custom build runs in six phases. Zoning, plan check, and inspections set the pace more than the framing does.
Phase 01
Lot & feasibility
We order the survey and soils report and pull your zoning. In [4–8] weeks, you’ll know the size, height, and setbacks your house can have.
Phase 02
Design & engineering
You approve floor plans, then elevations and finishes. Engineers size the foundation and shear walls while the Title 24 energy report gets done over [3–6] months.
Phase 03
Plan check & permits
We submit to LADBS and answer every correction. Plan check and agency clearances usually take [3–9] months, and your lender reviews the plans too.
Phase 04
Demo & foundation
Utilities get capped, the old house comes down, and grading starts. Footings, piles, or a slab go in after the city inspects the forms and steel.
Phase 05
Framing & rough-in
Walls, roof, and shear panels go up, then wiring, plumbing, and ducts. Each trade passes rough inspection before insulation and drywall close it in.
Phase 06
Finishes & occupancy
Floors, fixtures, and paint take [3–5] months. After final inspection, LADBS issues your certificate of occupancy and you can move in.
Know What Your Lot Allows Before You Design
One visit tells you your zoning, rough floor-area limit, slope issues, and whether rebuilding beats remodeling. The consult is free, and you won’t sign anything.
- Lot, slope, and zoning checked on site
- Remodel versus rebuild explained
- No obligation and no pushy follow-up calls
or send the form and we’ll call you back.
Book a Free Consultation
We walk the lot, pull the zoning, and tell you what you can build. No charge, no obligation.
Form fields: Full name, Email, Phone, Project address, Scope (Custom home or rebuild, Whole-home remodel, Design-build project, Open concept / wall removal, Attic or basement conversion, Not sure yet), Preferred date, Tell us about your house and plans. Submit button: Book My Free Visit (red #E12228).
Custom Home Builder Across Los Angeles County
We build new homes from Silver Lake to Palos Verdes, on flat lots, hillside lots, and fire-rebuild sites. Don’t see your neighborhood below? Call and ask.
- Silver Lake
- Los Feliz
- Echo Park
- Atwater Village
- Hancock Park
- Windsor Square
- Larchmont
- Mid-Wilshire
- Miracle Mile
- West Hollywood
- Beverly Hills
- Beverlywood
- Cheviot Hills
- Brentwood
- Pacific Palisades
- Santa Monica
- Mar Vista
- Venice
- Westchester
- Playa del Rey
- Culver City
- Palms
- View Park
- Baldwin Hills
- Leimert Park
- West Adams
- Jefferson Park
- El Segundo
- Manhattan Beach
- Hermosa Beach
- Redondo Beach
- Torrance
- Palos Verdes
Custom Home Building FAQs
Click a question to see the answer. The first one is open to start.
How long does it take to build a custom home in Los Angeles?
Plan on [18–30] months from first survey to move-in for most lots. Design and plan check often take as long as construction. Hillside lots, fire zones, and design review add time, so we map your schedule at the first consult.
Is it cheaper to remodel or rebuild in LA?
Remodeling usually costs less when the foundation and framing are sound. Rebuilding makes sense when you’d replace the foundation, systems, and layout anyway. We price both paths side by side, so you compare real line items, not guesses.
How big a house can I build on my lot in Los Angeles?
Your zone, lot size, slope, and any R1 Variation Zone set the limit. The Baseline Mansionization Ordinance caps floor area on flat lots, and the Baseline Hillside Ordinance does it on slopes [verify]. We pull your ZIMAS report and run the math before design.
Do I need an architect to build a custom home?
You need stamped plans, but you don’t always need to hire an architect on your own. Our design-build team brings the designer, structural engineer, and energy consultant under one contract [confirm licensing]. Some owners bring their own architect, and we build from those plans.
Why do I need a soils report before building?
LADBS usually asks for one before it approves a new foundation [verify]. A geotechnical engineer tests the ground and tells the structural engineer how deep and wide footings must go. Hillside lots often need a geology report too.
How do construction loan draws work?
Most construction loans release money in draws after set milestones, such as foundation, framing, and drywall. The lender often sends an inspector first. Ask your lender how its draws work; we match our payment schedule to it. This isn’t financial advice.
What changes if my lot is in a fire hazard zone?
A fire hazard severity zone brings stricter materials and defensible-space rules [verify]. Expect a Class A roof, ember-resistant vents, ignition-resistant siding, and tempered glass. SB 9 lot splits may not be allowed in the highest zones [verify].
How does a Pacific Palisades rebuild start?
Start with debris clearance sign-off, a new survey, and a soils check on the old pad. The city has offered a faster permit track for fire rebuilds [verify current rules]. We coordinate the scope with your insurance adjuster so the policy and the plans line up.
Does a new home have to be all-electric?
In the City of LA, most new homes must be all-electric [verify]. That means heat pumps for heating and hot water, an induction range, and a bigger panel. Title 24 also calls for solar on most new houses, which we lay out during design.
Can I live on site during construction?
No, not during a knock down and rebuild. You’ll need other housing from demo to the certificate of occupancy. If you’re keeping part of the house, we’ll tell you whether phasing lets you stay for any stretch.
Other Remodels We Handle
Kitchen Remodeling
Cabinets, countertops, islands, and permits under one contract.
Bathroom Remodeling
Walk-in showers, tub conversions, vanities, and accessible baths.
ADU Builders
Detached ADUs, garage conversions, and JADUs, designed and built.
Planning Guides for LA Homeowners
LOT CONSULTS OPEN FOR [MONTH] AND [MONTH]
Find Out What Your Lot Can Hold in One Visit
A custom home sized to your zoning, built on engineered footings, and finished to current code gives you a house that fits for decades. Los Angeles Home Remodelers handles the survey, design, permits, and build. Book your free lot consult today.
- Free lot consults, Mon–Sat
- CSLB Lic. [#000000], bonded and insured
- Written workmanship warranty
Mon–Sat, 8am–6pm
Book a Free Consultation
We walk the lot, pull the zoning, and tell you what you can build. No charge, no obligation.
Form fields: Full name, Email, Phone, Project address, Scope (Custom home or rebuild, Whole-home remodel, Design-build project, Open concept / wall removal, Attic or basement conversion, Not sure yet), Preferred date, Tell us about your house and plans. Submit button: Book My Free Visit (red #E12228).