Custom Home Building · Altadena
Custom Home Building in Altadena, CA
New homes on Altadena lots, designed around LA County zoning, the Eaton Fire rebuild rules and wildfire construction standards, and built under one contract.
- Licensed California general contractor
- Permits with LA County Public Works
- Written, line-item estimates
- Design, engineering & construction
Altadena, CA
Custom Home Building for Altadena Homeowners
Custom home building in Altadena has become, for many owners, a question of whether to rebuild the house they had or design a new one on the same lot. Both are reasonable. A like-for-like rebuild moves faster through LA County review, while a new design can fix what never worked: a cramped kitchen, one bathroom for a whole family, or a floor plan that turned its back on the mountains. We help you weigh the two, then manage design coordination, County permits and construction through final inspection.
Local Knowledge
Designing a New Home in Altadena
Altadena sits at the foot of the San Gabriel Mountains in unincorporated Los Angeles County. A new custom home here is reviewed by LA County Regional Planning for zoning and by Public Works Building and Safety for construction, with County Fire and Public Health also looking at rebuild applications. A house that exceeds the like-for-like allowance has to meet current County zoning, including setbacks, height and lot coverage.
The County set the Eaton Fire allowance at 10 percent or 200 square feet, whichever is greater, because a majority of the homes lost here were smaller than 2,000 square feet. That makes the like-for-like lane more generous in Altadena than a plain percentage would be, and a design is worth testing against it before stepping outside it.
Whatever the size, a new Altadena home in a fire hazard zone is built to Chapter 7A of the California Building Code, which reaches the roof, exterior walls, eaves, vents, windows, decks and gutters. Energy compliance is set by the code edition in force on your application date, and the current edition took effect for applications filed from January 1, 2026.
What's Included
What Our Altadena Custom Home Service Includes
- A lot review covering County zoning, setbacks, fire hazard designation, slope and existing utility connections
- A side-by-side look at like-for-like and full-zoning designs, including the Eaton Fire 200 square foot allowance
- Coordination of the architect, structural engineer, soils engineer and energy consultant through County plan check
- Permit submittals and correction responses with LA County Public Works and Regional Planning
- Chapter 7A construction: Class A roof, ember-resistant vents, ignition-resistant siding, tempered windows and compliant decks
- Solar PV and all-electric options sized to the home, with utility coordination for the service and meter location
- Regular schedule and budget updates from foundation through final inspection and occupancy
For the full scope, process and options, see our main custom home building page, or browse everything we build on our Altadena service area page.
Planning Considerations
Planning Considerations for an Altadena Custom Home
Use the allowance before going bigger
Because the County's Eaton Fire rule allows the greater of 10 percent or 200 square feet, a small house can grow meaningfully without leaving the like-for-like lane. For a home that was 1,000 square feet, 200 square feet is a 20 percent increase. We test a design against that limit first, since staying inside it avoids current zoning review and keeps the project on the County's expedited track.
Foothill lots and drainage
Lots closer to the mountains often slope, and a fire can leave retaining walls, drainage structures and hillside vegetation in poor condition. A soils report and a grading and drainage plan may be needed before the foundation is designed. We bring the geotechnical engineer in early and design footings, walls and site drainage together, so water leaves the lot the way the County and the neighbors expect.
Budget, insurance and draws
Many rebuild budgets are set by an insurance settlement and, for some families, by loans or assistance programs with their own inspection requirements. We break the construction budget into clear phases, document progress with photos and invoices, and coordinate draw inspections so payments line up with work that is actually in place. That record also helps if your insurer asks questions later.
Why Choose Us
Why Altadena Homeowners Choose Simply Construction
Licensed, Bonded and Easy to Verify
Simply Construction inc. is a licensed California general contractor, CSLB [CSLB LICENSE # PLACEHOLDER]. State law requires a license for any job of $1,000 or more in labor and materials, and anyone can check a contractor's license, bond and workers' compensation status on the CSLB website in about a minute. We encourage every Altadena homeowner to do exactly that before signing with anyone, including us.
Permits Handled With LA County Public Works
Most delays on large residential projects start at the permit counter. We prepare the drawing set, coordinate structural and Title 24 energy calculations, answer plan-check comments and schedule inspections with LA County Public Works, so you are not the one chasing corrections. For ADUs, state law requires the agency to act on a complete application within 60 days, and a complete, well-coordinated submittal is what starts that clock.
Care for Your Street and Your Neighbors
Large projects happen next door to people who live there. We plan staging, dumpster placement, deliveries and working hours around Altadena rules, keep the site secured at the end of each day, and give you notice before loud or disruptive phases such as demolition, concrete pours or crane lifts, so you can give your neighbors a heads-up too.
FAQ
Custom Home Building in Altadena: Common Questions
Can we build a larger home than the one we lost in Altadena?
Yes. Up to the greater of 10 percent or 200 square feet, the project can stay in the County's like-for-like lane, which does not require current zoning compliance. Beyond that, the home must meet current County zoning for setbacks, height and lot coverage. We check your lot's zoning capacity before your architect starts drawing so plan check holds fewer surprises.
How long does County plan review take for a rebuild?
For complete like-for-like applications, LA County committed to a first review within 10 business days and 5 business days for later rounds. Projects that go beyond like-for-like follow standard review with more steps. We keep submittals complete and answer corrections promptly, because an incomplete set cannot start the review clock at all.
Do we need solar on a new custom home?
In most cases, yes. California's energy code has required solar PV on most new single-family homes since January 1, 2020, and permit applications submitted on or after January 1, 2026 fall under the 2025 Energy Code. We size the system with your energy consultant and plan the roof so the panels and the Class A roofing work together.
Start Your Project
Planning a Custom Home in Altadena?
Tell us about your property and goals. We will walk the site, flag anything LA County Public Works will care about, and give you a written, line-item estimate.
Licensed California General Contractor · CSLB [CSLB LICENSE # PLACEHOLDER]