Rebuilding and Remodeling in Pacific Palisades

Pacific Palisades sits between the Santa Monica Mountains and the ocean, a neighborhood of canyons, bluffs and quiet flat streets around the Village. In January 2025, the Palisades Fire destroyed thousands of homes here. Today, much of our work in the neighborhood is helping families rebuild, alongside remodels and additions on homes that came through the fire.

This page explains what shapes construction in the Palisades now and links to our detailed pages for each kind of project.

What it's like to build in Pacific Palisades today

Three conditions shape almost every project. The first is the fire and its aftermath. Rebuilding lots need clearance confirmation, new surveys, soils work and utility reconnection before construction, and the city and state have adopted special rebuild rules that have changed over time. Confirm the current rules and expedited-permit options for your address with LADBS.

The second is terrain. Many lots are on slopes, canyon sides or coastal bluffs, some in areas with a history of landslides. Geotechnical reports, caissons, retaining walls and drainage plans are common, and burned slopes can shed more water and soil for several rainy seasons.

The third is regulation. Most of the Palisades is in the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone, so new exterior construction must meet the state's wildland-urban interface standards. Hillside lots fall under the Baseline Hillside Ordinance, flat lots under the Baseline Mansionization Ordinance, and some lots near the coast are in the coastal zone.

On top of these, the neighborhood is one large construction zone. With so many projects underway at once, street access, deliveries, utility reconnection and inspection scheduling all take more coordination than usual. Insurance shapes many scopes too: dwelling limits, extended replacement cost and coverage for code upgrades often determine what gets built and in what order. We plan for both from the first meeting.

Palisades neighborhoods

• The Alphabet Streets and the Village area. Flat blocks of ranch and traditional homes close to the commercial center.
• The Huntington and the Riviera. Larger lots and many 1920s and 1930s Spanish and Monterey Colonial homes, near Rustic Canyon and the Riviera Country Club.
• Castellammare and the bluffs. Steep view lots above Pacific Coast Highway, with complex geology and coastal-zone considerations.
• Marquez Knolls and the canyons. Hillside homes in and around Santa Ynez and Temescal canyons, where slope and access drive design.
• Palisades Highlands. Newer hillside communities, some with HOAs that review exterior changes.

Housing stock and what it means for your project

The Palisades grew in stages. Early Spanish and Monterey Colonial homes from the 1920s and 1930s, postwar ranches from the 1950s, mid-century hillside houses with glass and beams, and planned communities from the 1970s and later all sit within a few miles. Homes that survived the fire may need structural assessment, smoke remediation or exterior hardening. Older homes in spared areas often need new wiring, plumbing, insulation and windows. New homes going up are built to current fire codes and include sprinklers.

The coastal climate matters for every type. Salt air near the bluffs corrodes ordinary fasteners, hardware and appliance finishes, and morning fog keeps crawl spaces and poorly ventilated bathrooms damp. We specify coastal-rated windows and hardware, durable exterior materials such as stucco and fiber cement that also meet fire standards, and proper ventilation and drainage throughout.

Permits and approvals

• LADBS handles building, demolition and grading permits and inspections.
• LA City Planning handles zoning, discretionary approvals and, for coastal-zone lots, local coastal permits.
• The California Coastal Commission also has a role on some lots close to the shore.
• Fire department review covers access, hydrants and sprinklers on hillside projects.
• South Coast AQMD rules govern asbestos surveys before demolition of remaining structures.

Projects Palisades homeowners take on

Rebuilding

Most owners who lost homes start with custom home building in Pacific Palisades, deciding whether to rebuild close to the original or redesign. Lots with remaining slabs, chimneys or damaged structures need demolition and rebuild work in Pacific Palisades first. Many add an ADU in Pacific Palisades to the plan.

Repair, remodel and harden

For homes still standing, a whole-home remodel in Pacific Palisades can combine repairs, layout changes and fire-resistant upgrades. Multi-trade and structural projects benefit from one general contractor in Pacific Palisades.

Kitchens, bathrooms and additions

Owners in spared areas continue with kitchen remodeling in Pacific Palisades, bathroom remodeling in Pacific Palisades and room additions in Pacific Palisades, with materials chosen for coastal air and fire-zone rules.

Working with Mr Build

Mr Build is a design-build general contractor, in business since 1984, with California license #439166 and a 4.9/5 average client rating. We coordinate surveys, soils, design, 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 on-site consultation, on your lot or in your surviving home, to look at conditions and talk through options. Neighboring Brentwood shares many of the same hillside and fire-zone conditions.