Service Area · Los Angeles County
General Contractor in Malibu, CA
Rebuilding after the Palisades Fire or the earlier Woolsey Fire, or planning a new coastal home: we handle City of Malibu permits, septic and flood-zone questions and the build itself.
- Licensed California general contractor
- Custom homes, ADUs & additions
- Permits with the City of Malibu
- Written, line-item estimates
Malibu, CA
Building and Remodeling in Malibu
Simply Construction is a general contractor in Malibu for owners rebuilding after the January 2025 Palisades Fire, families still completing a Woolsey Fire rebuild, and anyone planning a new home or a major addition on this stretch of coast. Our license is as a California general contractor, our focus is large residential construction, and we carry each project from the first lot review through City inspections and final sign-off.
Building in Malibu asks more of a project than most places in Los Angeles County. The City runs its own permitting, many lots depend on an onsite wastewater system instead of a sewer, beachfront parcels face federal flood-zone rules, and exteriors in fire hazard zones must meet wildfire construction standards. We work through those constraints before design gets expensive.
Local Knowledge
Rebuilding in Malibu After Two Major Fires
The Palisades Fire reached Malibu's eastern end in January 2025. Large parts of Big Rock, La Costa and Carbon Beach were destroyed or damaged, homes were lost in Las Flores Canyon, Rambla Pacifico and Carbon Canyon, and nearly all of the beachfront houses on the east side of the city burned. The City's own lawsuit over the fire describes roughly 700 homes destroyed.
For many residents this is the second rebuild in a decade. The 2018 Woolsey Fire destroyed 488 homes in the City of Malibu, and around the fire's sixth anniversary fewer than 40 percent had been fully rebuilt, according to city data. That record is a sober reminder that a Malibu rebuild rewards early, thorough planning.
For Palisades Fire properties, the City has said that rebuilds staying within 110 percent of the prior structure are relieved of CEQA and Coastal Act review. It also waives planning and building fees for like-for-like or like-for-like plus 10 percent rebuilds when the owner shows the property was their primary residence. Single-family homes and duplexes qualify; commercial rebuilds do not.
Services
Construction & Remodeling Services in Malibu
From ground-up homes to kitchens, here is how each of our services applies to Malibu properties.
Custom Home Building in Malibu
A new custom home in Malibu is shaped by its site as much as by its design. Beachfront lots may sit in a coastal high-hazard flood zone that requires an elevated house with open space below, canyon and bluff lots need geologic review, and many parcels need an onsite wastewater system sized for the bedrooms planned. We resolve those constraints with your architect and consultants before the drawings are final, then build to Chapter 7A wildfire standards.
ADU Construction in Malibu
An ADU in Malibu adds to what the onsite wastewater system has to handle, so on septic lots the system's capacity can decide whether an ADU is practical before zoning does. The state's minimum ADU allowances still apply in Malibu, but a legal size on paper does not help if the lot cannot absorb the extra wastewater. We bring the OWTS designer in early, then build the unit with rated roofing, vents and cladding appropriate to its fire zone.
Garage Conversions in Malibu
Converting a garage in a Malibu home that survived the fires can create a guest suite or a rental unit without enlarging the building. When a Malibu garage becomes a legal ADU, the parking it provided does not need to be replaced elsewhere on the lot. The practical questions here are whether the septic system can take a new bathroom, whether the slab and walls can accept insulation and finishes, and how to bring the exterior, especially vents and the old door opening, up to ember-resistant standards.
Room Additions in Malibu
Room additions on Malibu homes are reviewed by the City and, depending on size and location, may need coastal review as well. Adding a bedroom also affects the onsite wastewater system, which may need an upgrade before the addition is approved. The new construction follows Chapter 7A. We look at the septic system, the coastal status and the geology together before recommending how large an addition should be and where it should go.
Second-Story Additions in Malibu
Building up is sometimes the only way to add space on a Malibu lot hemmed in by slopes, setbacks or a septic dispersal field. An engineer reviews the original foundation and framing first, and City height limits apply. Once the engineering supports it, we build the upper level with fire-rated roofing and vents and keep the house protected from coastal wind and moisture while the roof is open.
Garage Construction in Malibu
A new garage in Malibu is usually part of a larger rebuild, and it is often where an owner wants to add a studio or an ADU. On beachfront lots in coastal flood zones, what can go beneath an elevated home is limited, so parking layouts need care. We plan the garage together with the house, the driveway and the septic area so each one fits the site and the City's review.
Whole-House Remodeling in Malibu
Homes that survived the Palisades or Woolsey fires can still need serious work, from smoke-affected interiors to decades-old plumbing and wiring. A whole-house remodel in Malibu is also the moment to harden the exterior with ember-resistant vents, a Class A roof and noncombustible materials where walls meet the ground. If the plan adds bedrooms, the onsite wastewater system becomes part of the scope, so we assess it at the start.
Kitchen Remodeling in Malibu
A Malibu kitchen remodel that replaces windows or sliding doors has to meet wildfire glazing rules for the new units, which affects both the product and the lead time. We coordinate those openings with electrical upgrades for induction or other appliances, range ventilation and cabinetry, and keep the City permit current as the design changes. Near the beach, salt air affects hardware and fixture choices, which we review with you before ordering.
Bathroom Remodeling in Malibu
In Malibu, adding a bathroom is a different project from replacing one, because new fixtures add load to the onsite wastewater system. For a straightforward remodel, we focus on waterproofing, exhaust ventilation and fixtures suited to coastal air. For a new bath, we confirm the septic system can handle it before the design moves forward, which avoids redesigning a finished plan after City review.
Fire Rebuilds in Malibu
Malibu rebuilds after the Palisades Fire can follow the 110 percent like-for-like path, which the City has said is relieved of CEQA and Coastal Act review, and owners rebuilding a primary residence may qualify for waived planning and building fees. Properties lost in the Franklin and Broad fires need a Planning Verification to rebuild back to 110 percent. We help you document the prior structure and choose the path that suits your lot.
Junior ADUs (JADU) in Malibu
Because a JADU stays within the existing house and tops out at 500 square feet, it suits Malibu lots where the septic field and setbacks leave little room for another building. The unit must include at least a basic efficiency kitchen, and the owner must live in the house or the JADU itself. We check whether the added plumbing affects the onsite wastewater system before any design work begins.
SB 9 Lot Splits & Duplexes in Malibu
SB 9 projects are hard to make work across much of Malibu. Parcels in the state's top fire hazard class are generally ineligible without added fire mitigation, and on septic lots a second primary unit also needs wastewater capacity the site may not have. We review fire zoning, lot size, onsite wastewater and coastal status before advising whether a duplex or lot split is realistic.
Patios, Decks & Outdoor Living in Malibu
Decks are part of Malibu living and part of its fire exposure. A deck attached to a house in a fire hazard zone must meet Chapter 7A, and beachfront decks also contend with salt air and, on some lots, flood-zone rules. We choose materials and fasteners suited to both conditions, design footings for the soils and wind, and leave the underside of the deck clear of anything that could catch.
Why Choose Us
Why Malibu 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 Malibu homeowner to do exactly that before signing with anyone, including us.
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 Malibu project.
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 Malibu 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.
Nearby Service Areas
We Also Build Near Malibu
FAQ
Building in Malibu: Common Questions
Does Malibu waive permit fees for fire rebuilds?
The City Council directed the City Manager to waive planning and building permit fees for like-for-like and like-for-like plus 10 percent rebuilds after the Broad, Franklin and Palisades fires, when the owner shows the property was their primary residence. The waiver covers single-family homes and duplexes, not commercial buildings. City staff confirm eligibility and prepare the affidavit.
What happens with my septic system when I rebuild in Malibu?
Before an existing onsite wastewater treatment system is used for a permanent rebuild or even a temporary trailer, a City-registered OWTS practitioner has to inspect it and verify that it works. Some systems pass, others need repair or replacement. On beachfront lots in coastal flood zones, finding a legal location for the system can be the hardest part of the design.
Is my Malibu property permitted by the City or by LA County?
Parcels inside the city limits are permitted by the City of Malibu, which handles its own planning and building review. Some nearby canyon and mountain addresses with a Malibu mailing address sit in unincorporated county territory and are permitted separately. We confirm the jurisdiction for your parcel before anything else.
We are still rebuilding from the Woolsey Fire. Can you help?
Yes. We take on Woolsey Fire rebuilds that are still in progress, whether you need a contractor to build from approved plans or help moving a stalled permit forward. The City of Malibu has offered free pre-submittal consultations to owners whose homes were damaged or destroyed in the Woolsey Fire, which can be a useful first step if a project has been paused.
Start Your Project
Start Your Malibu 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]