Remodeling and Home Building in Beverly Hills

Beverly Hills is a small city with a lot of rules, and most of them exist to protect what makes its streets look the way they do. Building or remodeling here means working with an independent city government, a design review process for most exterior changes, strict construction hours and, in the hills, grading and fire safety standards. None of that is a reason not to build. It is a reason to plan before drawing.

Mr Build Co. is a design-build general contractor, California license #439166, in business since 1984. Our office is in North Hollywood, and we work across Los Angeles and Orange County, including Beverly Hills.

What building and remodeling in Beverly Hills is like

Three things set Beverly Hills apart from neighboring parts of Los Angeles. First, the city reviews how projects look, not just whether they are safe, so a second story or a new facade is judged against the street. Second, construction is tightly managed, with limited work hours, rules on noise at the property line and special hauling rules in some neighborhoods. Third, homes vary widely by era and neighborhood, so the same project can be simple in one part of the city and complex in another.

Neighborhoods and housing stock

The Flats

Between Santa Monica Boulevard and Sunset, wide streets are lined with 1920s and 1930s Spanish Colonial, Mediterranean, Tudor and Georgian Revival homes, many with rear alleys and detached garages. Most have been remodeled several times, so layers of earlier work are common behind the plaster.

South of Wilshire

Smaller lots hold one- and two-story homes from the 1930s to the 1950s, duplexes and apartment and condo buildings. Second stories, compact kitchens and condo remodels are typical projects here.

Trousdale Estates

Developed in the 1950s and 1960s on the hills north of Sunset, Trousdale is known for midcentury modern homes, view protection and generally single-story limits. Additions here go outward or down rather than up.

The hillside north of Sunset

Canyon and ridge lots bring slopes, retaining walls, long driveways and narrow streets. Much of this area is in a very high fire hazard severity zone, which shapes materials and construction details.

The permit office and design review

All permits inside city limits go through the City of Beverly Hills Community Development Department. Building and Safety handles plan check and inspections, and the Planning Division handles zoning, design review and historic preservation. Current forms and contacts are on the city's website at beverlyhills.org.

Design review applies to new homes and most exterior changes to single-family houses. Depending on the project, review may be handled by staff or by the Design Review Commission, and larger hillside projects can need a Planning Commission hearing. Designated landmarks and homes with possible historic significance involve the Cultural Heritage Commission. ADUs that meet the objective standards are approved ministerially, without a hearing.

HOAs, hillside and other local rules

• HOAs. Single-family homes are rarely in associations, but condo buildings almost always require HOA approval, insurance certificates and adherence to building work rules.
• Hillside. Expect soils reports, grading limits, haul route planning, drainage design and ignition-resistant construction. Trousdale Estates adds its own hauling and height standards.
• Construction hours. Permitted work is limited to weekday daytime hours, and early arrival by crews is not allowed.
• Jurisdiction. Some 90210 addresses are in the City of Los Angeles and are permitted by LADBS.
• Public right-of-way. Dumpsters on the street, driveway aprons and sewer work need separate Public Works approval.

Projects Beverly Hills homeowners take on

Most of our Beverly Hills conversations start with one room. Kitchen remodeling in Beverly Hills usually means opening a period home's service wing or updating a midcentury kitchen without disturbing its beams and glass. Bathroom remodeling in Beverly Hills ranges from saving original 1930s tile to rebuilding a large primary bath with waterproofing done right.

Larger projects follow from there. A whole-home remodel in Beverly Hills replaces wiring, piping and HVAC along with finishes. Room additions in Beverly Hills add primary suites, second stories and bump-outs that match the original house. An ADU in Beverly Hills can turn an alley garage or old guest house into a legal unit.

When the existing house is not worth saving, demolition and rebuild in Beverly Hills starts with historic and hazardous-material checks, and a custom home in Beverly Hills begins with what the lot and design review will allow. For structural or multi-trade work that needs one accountable party, our general contractor services in Beverly Hills cover permits, trades and inspections.

How we work in Beverly Hills

Every project starts with a free on-site consultation, followed by design and permits, selections, construction and a final walkthrough. We handle design, architectural plans, engineering and approvals in-house and through partners, provide a fixed, detailed written scope and price, and assign a dedicated project manager. With more than 130 homes transformed and a 4.9 out of 5 average client rating, we know that a well-planned start is what makes a Beverly Hills project go smoothly.