Service Area · Los Angeles County
General Contractor in Granada Hills, CA
ADUs, additions, second stories and new homes across Granada Hills, from post-war ranch tracts to the Balboa Highlands Eichlers, planned around LADBS rules and historic review where it applies.
- Licensed California general contractor
- Custom homes, ADUs & additions
- Permits with LADBS
- Written, line-item estimates
Granada Hills, CA
Building and Remodeling in Granada Hills
Simply Construction is a licensed California general contractor in Granada Hills, building ADUs, room additions, second stories, garages and custom homes on the neighborhood's single-family lots. Granada Hills was largely built out after World War II, when farm and orchard land gave way to ranch-house tracts, and it climbs from the valley floor into the Santa Susana foothills.
The neighborhood also holds one of the San Fernando Valley's best-known mid-century enclaves, the Eichler homes of Balboa Highlands, which are protected by a historic overlay. We start each project by confirming which rules apply to your lot, whether standard single-family zoning, hillside limits or HPOZ review, then plan design, permits and construction under one contract.
Local Knowledge
Ranch Tracts, Eichlers and Foothills in Granada Hills
Granada Hills sits in the north San Fernando Valley, with Porter Ranch to the west and Northridge to the southwest. Chatsworth Street serves as its main commercial strip, and the Ronald Reagan Freeway crosses the neighborhood. South of the freeway, most blocks are level and lined with single-story ranch houses from the post-war building boom. Knollwood grew up around the golf course that shares its name, and north of the freeway the streets climb toward O'Melveny Park and the mountains.
Balboa Highlands, in the northern foothills, is an early-1960s tract of Eichler homes known for post-and-beam framing, low-pitched roofs and walls of glass. It is protected as a Historic Preservation Overlay Zone, so exterior changes go through HPOZ review under the district's preservation plan in addition to LADBS permits.
Granada Hills also carries a vivid reminder of seismic risk: during the 1994 Northridge earthquake, ruptured gas and water mains on Balboa Boulevard produced one of the disaster's best-known scenes. We plan foundations, connections and utility shutoffs with that history in mind, and on northern hillside lots we check fire hazard mapping before design.
Services
Construction & Remodeling Services in Granada Hills
From ground-up homes to kitchens, here is how each of our services applies to Granada Hills properties.
Custom Home Building in Granada Hills
Most custom homes in Granada Hills replace a post-war ranch on a level lot south of the freeway, or rework a larger property on the foothill streets to the north. On level lots, the Baseline Mansionization Ordinance sets the floor area. On hillside lots, the Baseline Hillside Ordinance applies, along with soils reports and, where mapped, wildfire construction standards. Inside Balboa Highlands, replacing a contributing Eichler is a preservation question before it is a construction one. We sort out which rules govern your lot, then coordinate design, engineering, LADBS plan check and the state's solar PV requirement.
ADU Construction in Granada Hills
On the level ranch lots across Granada Hills, a detached ADU in the rear yard is often straightforward, with state law guaranteeing at least an 800 square foot unit and 4-foot side and rear setbacks. Detached ADUs are generally limited to 16 feet in height, which suits the neighborhood's single-story character. In Balboa Highlands, an ADU visible from the street goes through HPOZ review, so we design it to echo the Eichler roofline and materials. Keeping the unit below 750 square feet also avoids impact fees.
Garage Conversions in Granada Hills
Converting the garage of a Granada Hills ranch house into an ADU, office or guest suite is one of the more practical ways to add space without building new. No replacement parking can be required once the garage becomes an ADU. The garage slab usually needs leveling or a raised floor, and the walls need insulation, egress windows and new electrical. In Balboa Highlands, where many garages face the street, changes to the garage door opening are an exterior alteration that the HPOZ reviews.
Room Additions in Granada Hills
Ranch houses on the level streets of Granada Hills usually take a ground-floor addition well, extending into the backyard for a primary suite or larger family room. We match the low roofline, eave depth and exterior finish so the new space looks original. For an Eichler in Balboa Highlands, an addition is possible but has to respect the post-and-beam rhythm and flat or low-slope roof, and it is typically placed where it is least visible from the street to satisfy HPOZ review.
Second-Story Additions in Granada Hills
Second stories suit the level ranch lots south of the Ronald Reagan Freeway, where they add bedrooms without giving up the yard. The existing foundation usually needs engineering review and new footings or shear walls to carry the upper floor. On the northern hillside streets, the Baseline Hillside Ordinance sets a height envelope that follows the grade. In Balboa Highlands, a second story is difficult to reconcile with the tract's one-story Eichler profile and faces close HPOZ scrutiny.
Garage Construction in Granada Hills
A new garage in Granada Hills may replace an older single-car structure or pair parking with an ADU above or behind it. We plan the slab, framing and electrical capacity for vehicle charging and future loads, and we design the exterior to match the house, whether that is stucco and shingle on a post-war ranch or the clean lines of an Eichler. On sloped lots in the foothills, retaining walls and drainage are part of the design from the start.
Whole-House Remodeling in Granada Hills
Whole-house remodels in Granada Hills often center on post-war ranch houses that still have original wiring, galvanized plumbing and closed floor plans. We replace the systems, open the layout where engineering allows and bring insulation and windows up to current energy rules. Eichler owners in Balboa Highlands face a different set of issues: many Eichlers were built with radiant heating in the slab and roofs with little insulation, so we plan heating, roofing and glazing upgrades that keep the architecture intact.
Kitchen Remodeling in Granada Hills
Kitchen remodels in Granada Hills ranch houses usually open a closed kitchen to the family room with an engineered beam, add circuits for current appliances and replace gas and plumbing lines. In an Eichler, the kitchen is often already open to the living area, so the work focuses on cabinetry, counters and lighting that suit the post-and-beam interior while updating the systems behind them. We design custom cabinetry to fit each house's scale and period.
Bathroom Remodeling in Granada Hills
Bathrooms in Granada Hills post-war homes are often compact, and a remodel is a chance to replace aging drain lines, add proper waterproofing and install a ducted exhaust fan. In Eichler homes, bathrooms may sit on a slab with plumbing below, so we check the condition of drain lines before new tile goes in. We also plan for accessibility, such as curbless showers and blocking for grab bars, for owners who plan to stay long term.
Fire Rebuilds in Granada Hills
Fire rebuilds in Granada Hills range from restoring a ranch house after a structure fire on the valley floor to rebuilding a hillside home near the foothills, where wildfire standards may apply. We coordinate with the insurer, assess what can be saved, and rebuild to current code, including seismic connections and updated utilities. In Balboa Highlands, a rebuild also goes through HPOZ review, so we document the original Eichler design early to guide reconstruction.
Junior ADUs (JADU) in Granada Hills
A junior ADU inside a Granada Hills home can house a parent or adult child without adding a new building to the lot. The space can reach 500 square feet inside the house or an attached garage, must include an efficiency kitchen and a private entry, and the property owner has to live in the house or the JADU itself. In an Eichler, where the plan is open and the walls are glass, the placement of the JADU needs careful thought for privacy.
SB 9 Lot Splits & Duplexes in Granada Hills
Under SB 9, a qualifying single-family lot can take a second primary unit or an urban lot split, and the level ranch parcels in Granada Hills are the likeliest candidates. Balboa Highlands, as a historic district, is generally off the table, and foothill lots in a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone qualify only with the state's fire mitigation measures. A split needs two parcels of 1,200 square feet or more, neither under 40 percent of the original, plus a three-year owner-occupancy affidavit.
Patios, Decks & Outdoor Living in Granada Hills
Granada Hills summers are hot, and a covered outdoor room can make a backyard usable for much of the year. Our scope covers attached covers and freestanding pergolas sized by an engineer, outdoor kitchens plumbed for gas and wired for power, and paving sloped to shed water away from the foundation. For Eichler homes, where indoor and outdoor space already flow through walls of glass, we design shade structures with flat or low-slope roofs that extend the original architecture.
Why Choose Us
Why Granada Hills Homeowners Choose Simply Construction
Contracts Written the Way California Law Requires
California caps a home improvement down payment at $1,000 or 10 percent of the contract price, whichever is less, and after that a contractor may only bill for work completed or materials delivered. Our contracts follow that structure: a line-item scope, a payment schedule tied to finished milestones, and written change orders before any extra work begins. You always know what you are paying for and why.
One Team From Plans to Final Inspection
Design, engineering, permitting and construction sit under one contract and one project lead, so nobody points fingers between the designer, the engineer and the builder when a detail changes. You get one schedule, one point of contact and regular progress updates from the first site visit through the final inspection and sign-off on your Granada Hills project.
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.
Nearby Service Areas
We Also Build Near Granada Hills
FAQ
Building in Granada Hills: Common Questions
What does the Balboa Highlands HPOZ mean for my Granada Hills project?
If your home is inside the Balboa Highlands Historic Preservation Overlay Zone, exterior changes such as additions, window replacements, garage door changes or new structures visible from the street go through HPOZ review in addition to LADBS permits. The review follows the district's preservation plan. We prepare drawings that respect the Eichler design and plan the schedule around that review.
Can I build an ADU on my Eichler in Balboa Highlands?
State ADU law still applies within an HPOZ, but the design is reviewed for compatibility with the historic district. That usually means a low profile, a flat or low-slope roof and materials that echo the Eichler character. A rear-yard ADU that is not visible from the street generally faces fewer design constraints than one near the front of the lot.
Should I worry about earthquake risk when remodeling in Granada Hills?
It is worth planning for. The 1994 Northridge earthquake caused significant damage in this part of the Valley, including the well-known Balboa Boulevard gas main fire. During a remodel or addition, we check foundation anchorage and bracing, design new work to current seismic standards and review gas and water connections so the house is better prepared for the next quake.
Start Your Project
Start Your Granada Hills Project
Tell us what you are planning. We will visit the property, talk through options and costs, and send a written, line-item estimate.
Licensed California General Contractor · CSLB [CSLB LICENSE # PLACEHOLDER]