Custom Home Building · Sherman Oaks
Custom Home Building in Sherman Oaks, CA
New homes on the flats north of Ventura and on the canyon lots toward Mulholland, sized to the city's floor area rules and engineered for the ground they stand on.
- Licensed California general contractor
- Permits with LADBS
- Written, line-item estimates
- Design, engineering & construction
Sherman Oaks, CA
Custom Home Building for Sherman Oaks Homeowners
Custom home building in Sherman Oaks usually begins with a tear-down, either a post-war ranch house on the flats or an older hillside home on a lot with a view. Simply Construction manages the process as a licensed California general contractor, from parcel research and the consultant team to LADBS plan check, construction and final inspection. The first real question is how much house the lot allows, and in Los Angeles that answer comes from the zoning, the slope and any overlays on the parcel, not from the size of the house being replaced.
Local Knowledge
What Decides the Size of a New Sherman Oaks Home
On the flats, the Baseline Mansionization Ordinance sets the maximum residential floor area from the lot size and zone, and some parcels in the city carry an R1 variation zone that changes the calculation further. We read the exact zoning from the city's parcel record before an architect draws anything. These lots are generally level, so the design effort goes into massing, natural light and outdoor space rather than foundations, and into staying inside the encroachment plane that limits bulk along the sides of the lot.
South of Ventura, the Baseline Hillside Ordinance counts steeper parts of a lot for less floor area and limits how much soil can be graded, and large exports can need an approved haul route. Much of this area is in the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone, so the house is built to wildland-urban interface standards, and parcels near Mulholland Drive may need review under the Mulholland Scenic Parkway Specific Plan. The soils report usually drives the foundation, which on steep lots can mean caissons and grade beams.
What's Included
What We Manage on a Sherman Oaks Custom Home
- Parcel research covering zoning, hillside status, fire zone and any specific plan before design begins
- Coordination of architect, structural and civil engineers, soils engineer and land surveyor
- LADBS plan check submittal, correction responses and clearances from other city departments
- Demolition, grading, shoring and foundation work, including caissons on steep hillside lots
- Title 24 energy compliance, with the solar PV system most new homes now require
- Scheduling, inspections and daily site supervision through the certificate of occupancy
For the full scope, process and options, see our main custom home building page, or browse everything we build on our Sherman Oaks service area page.
Planning Considerations
Choices That Shape Cost and Schedule
Flat lot or hillside lot
A hillside site can absorb a large share of the budget before any living space exists, through grading, retaining walls, deep foundations and the engineering behind them. A flat lot puts more of the money into the house itself. If you are still choosing a property, we can review the parcel record and walk the lot with you, so the purchase reflects the real construction scope rather than the listing photos.
Protected trees on the lot
Native oaks, western sycamores, Southern California black walnuts and California bay trees are protected under a Los Angeles city ordinance. Removing one, or building within its root zone, requires review and can require replacement planting. We have protected trees located on the survey early, because their position can move a footprint or a driveway more than any zoning rule.
Why Choose Us
Why Sherman Oaks 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 Sherman Oaks homeowner to do exactly that before signing with anyone, including us.
Straight Answers on Feasibility
Some lots cannot fit the project an owner has in mind. We check zoning, setbacks, height limits, easements, slope and utility capacity early, and we tell you plainly what is achievable before you spend money on full drawings. When state law opens a path that the local code seems to block, as ADU and SB 9 rules often do, we explain how it applies to your property.
Built to Current California Energy Code
New homes and ADUs in California are built to the Title 24 energy code, which has required solar PV on most new single-family homes since 2020, and permit applications filed on or after January 1, 2026 fall under the 2025 Energy Code. We plan insulation, windows, mechanical systems and solar into the design from the start instead of treating compliance as a late fix.
More in Sherman Oaks
Other Services in Sherman Oaks
Nearby
Custom Home Building Near Sherman Oaks
FAQ
Custom Home Building in Sherman Oaks: Common Questions
How big can a new house be in Sherman Oaks?
It depends on the lot. On the flats, the Baseline Mansionization Ordinance and the parcel's zone set the cap, and on hillside-designated lots the Baseline Hillside Ordinance adjusts it for slope. We calculate the allowance from a current survey and the parcel's zoning before design, so your architect starts with a real number rather than an estimate.
What makes hillside plan check different from a flat lot?
Hillside projects usually need a soils and geology report reviewed by the city, grading plans, and drainage design, and in the fire zone the plans must show ignition-resistant construction. Large soil exports may need an approved haul route. Each review adds steps, so we submit complete packages and track every department's comments.
Can I keep the old foundation to save money?
Occasionally, if the existing foundation is in good condition, sits where the new house needs it, and can carry the new loads. In practice, most full rebuilds in Sherman Oaks need new foundations, because older footings were sized for smaller, lighter houses and may show earthquake damage. The structural engineer makes the call after testing and observation.
Start Your Project
Planning a Custom Home in Sherman Oaks?
Tell us about your property and goals. We will walk the site, flag anything LADBS will care about, and give you a written, line-item estimate.
Licensed California General Contractor · CSLB [CSLB LICENSE # PLACEHOLDER]