Remodeling and Construction in Brentwood, Los Angeles

Brentwood is one of the Westside's most established residential neighborhoods, and its homes reflect nearly a century of building. Within a few minutes of each other you can find 1930s Colonials on wide lots in Brentwood Park, postwar ranches south of Sunset, mid-century post-and-beam homes in Crestwood Hills, and new houses tucked into canyons that run up toward the Santa Monica Mountains.

Mr Build designs, permits and builds projects across all of it. This page explains what shapes construction in Brentwood and links to our detailed pages for each type of work.

What it's like to build and remodel in Brentwood

Two things define most Brentwood projects. The first is the split between flat lots and hillside lots. South of Sunset and in Brentwood Park, lots are level or gently sloped, and the main constraint is the city's floor-area limit for flat lots. North of Sunset, in the canyons and hills, lots are steep, streets are narrow and the Baseline Hillside Ordinance limits floor area and grading.

The second is fire. Large parts of Brentwood north of Sunset are in the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone, and residents remember the 2019 Getty Fire. New roofs, siding, windows, vents and decks in the zone must meet the state's wildland-urban interface construction standards, and homeowners must keep up brush clearance. These rules affect remodels, additions and new homes alike.

Add mature trees, some of them protected native species, and close neighbors on busy streets, and you have a place where site planning matters as much as design.

Brentwood's neighborhoods

• Brentwood Park. Large lots, wide streets and traditional estates north of San Vicente. Common projects: whole-home remodels, additions and occasional teardowns.
• South of Sunset and Brentwood Glen. Flat blocks of ranch and traditional homes, many with room left under the floor-area limit. Common projects: second stories, primary suite additions and ADUs.
• Crestwood Hills. A hillside enclave known for mid-century modern homes with exposed beams and glass. Owners usually remodel carefully to preserve the architecture.
• Mandeville, Kenter, Sullivan and Bundy canyons. Wooded, steep and in the fire zone, with long access roads. Foundations, retaining walls and fire-resistant construction dominate the budget.
• Westridge and the upper hills. View lots with hillside rules and limited level ground.
• South of San Vicente. Condominiums and townhomes, where remodels need HOA approval and work around shared plumbing.

Housing stock

Most single-family homes in Brentwood fall into a few groups. Traditional houses from the 1920s to 1940s, in Colonial, Tudor, Spanish and Cape Cod styles, have character and plaster walls but often need new wiring, plumbing and seismic bracing. Postwar ranches from the 1950s and 1960s have simple structures that adapt well to additions. Mid-century hillside homes need sensitive remodels because their structure is exposed. And many houses from the 1980s onward are large but dated inside.

Each type points to a different first step. For an older traditional, that is often an inspection of the foundation, electrical panel and sewer line. For a ranch, it is a floor-area study to see how much can be added. For a mid-century hillside house, it is a look at the beams, posts and foundations that the design depends on.

Permits and approvals in Brentwood

Brentwood is part of the City of Los Angeles, so:

• LADBS issues building, demolition and grading permits and performs inspections.
• LA City Planning handles zoning and any discretionary approvals, such as variances or adjustments.
• Flat lots fall under the Baseline Mansionization Ordinance; hillside lots under the Baseline Hillside Ordinance.
• Fire zone projects need wildland-urban interface construction and fire department access review.
• Protected trees need a separate permit if they will be removed or affected.
• ADUs follow state ADU law as applied by the city.

Our article on grading permits in Los Angeles covers one of the extra steps hillside projects often face.

Projects Brentwood homeowners take on

Most of our Brentwood work falls into these categories, each with its own detailed page:

• Kitchen remodeling in Brentwood, often opening a closed traditional kitchen to the family room
• Bathroom remodeling in Brentwood, from original tile baths to primary suites
• Whole-home remodeling in Brentwood that updates layout, systems and finishes together
• Room additions in Brentwood, including second stories and ground-floor suites
• ADUs in Brentwood, from guest houses to garage conversions
• Custom homes in Brentwood on flat and hillside lots
• Demolition and rebuild in Brentwood when a house is past saving
• General contracting in Brentwood for structural and multi-trade projects

Working with Mr Build in Brentwood

Mr Build is a design-build general contractor based in North Hollywood, in business since 1984, with California license #439166, 130+ homes transformed and a 4.9/5 average client rating. We handle design, architectural plans, engineering and permits through our in-house team and partners, provide a fixed, detailed written scope and assign a dedicated project manager. The first step is a free consultation at your Brentwood home, where we walk the property and talk through what is possible. For the wider region, see our Los Angeles page.