Service Area · Los Angeles County
General Contractor in Northridge, CA
ADUs, additions, second stories and new homes for Northridge's post-war ranch houses, with structural engineering shaped by the lessons of 1994 and LADBS permits handled from start to finish.
- Licensed California general contractor
- Custom homes, ADUs & additions
- Permits with LADBS
- Written, line-item estimates
Northridge, CA
Building and Remodeling in Northridge
Simply Construction is a licensed California general contractor in Northridge, building ADUs, room additions, second stories, new garages and custom homes on the neighborhood's single-family lots. Northridge grew up around the post-war ranch house and later around the university now known as CSUN, and both still shape what owners here build.
The neighborhood's name is also tied to the 1994 earthquake, and that history is part of how we approach every project. We look at how the existing house is anchored and braced before planning anything new on top of or beside it. From there we manage design coordination, engineering, LADBS permits and construction under one contract.
Local Knowledge
Building in Northridge After 1994
Northridge sits in the north-central San Fernando Valley, bordered by Granada Hills, Porter Ranch, Chatsworth and Reseda. California State University, Northridge anchors the neighborhood along Nordhoff Street, and Northridge Fashion Center is its main shopping district. Most houses date from the post-war decades and are single-story ranch homes on level lots, with later remodels, second stories and some newer custom homes mixed in.
The 1994 Northridge earthquake damaged apartment buildings, freeways and the CSUN campus, and the lessons it taught engineers shaped later seismic codes and retrofit requirements across Los Angeles. For a homeowner, the practical result is that new work is designed with stronger connections, hold-downs and shear walls than the original houses had, and older houses that were never strengthened deserve a look before new load is added.
Permits run through LADBS, and level lots fall under the Baseline Mansionization Ordinance. Near campus, an ADU or junior ADU might house family or a long-term tenant, and that choice affects layout and privacy decisions from the start.
Services
Construction & Remodeling Services in Northridge
From ground-up homes to kitchens, here is how each of our services applies to Northridge properties.
Custom Home Building in Northridge
Custom homes in Northridge are usually tear-down rebuilds, replacing a post-war ranch with a larger two-story house. On these level lots, the Baseline Mansionization Ordinance caps floor area, and the new structure is engineered to current seismic standards from the foundation up, a meaningful change from the original construction. We coordinate the architect and structural engineer, handle demolition and new utility services, meet the energy code and its solar PV requirement, and manage LADBS plan check and inspections under one contract.
ADU Construction in Northridge
An ADU in Northridge might house extended family or, with CSUN nearby, a long-term tenant. California guarantees room for an ADU of at least 800 square feet on 4-foot side and rear setbacks, and a detached one can generally go up to 1,200 square feet. Height is normally limited to 16 feet for a detached unit. We lay out entries, windows and outdoor space so the ADU and the main house each keep their privacy, and we plan the sewer lateral and electrical service for two households from the start.
Garage Conversions in Northridge
The attached or detached garage on a Northridge ranch house is often a strong candidate for conversion into an ADU, studio or home office. Once the garage is an ADU, the city cannot demand that the lost parking be replaced. The work includes a new or leveled floor, insulation, egress windows, a bathroom, a kitchenette where planned, and electrical and plumbing tie-ins. We also check how the garage walls are anchored to the slab, since older garages were often built with lighter connections than a living space should have.
Room Additions in Northridge
A ground-floor addition is a natural fit for a Northridge ranch house, extending into the rear yard for a primary suite, family room or larger kitchen. The new foundation and framing are built to current seismic standards and tied into the existing structure with engineered connections. We check remaining floor area under the Baseline Mansionization Ordinance, then design the roof so it continues the house's low profile instead of meeting it at an awkward angle.
Second-Story Additions in Northridge
Adding a second story to a Northridge house is a structural project first. A post-war ranch was built to carry a light roof, so the engineer typically calls for new footings, shear walls and hold-downs to support a full upper floor and resist seismic forces. We plan the stair location carefully, since it takes space from the ground floor, and we design the upper level with a roof pitch and window pattern that suit the house below and respect the privacy of neighboring yards.
Garage Construction in Northridge
New garages in Northridge are often built to replace an aging structure or to pair parking with an ADU above or behind it. We design the slab, framing and hold-downs to current standards, plan the electrical service for vehicle charging and a future unit, and finish the exterior to match the house. When an ADU is part of the building, state ADU rules govern its size and setbacks, and we lay out stairs and entries so the unit has its own approach.
Whole-House Remodeling in Northridge
A whole-house remodel in Northridge is often the moment to address everything at once: original wiring, galvanized plumbing, single-pane windows and a closed floor plan. If the house was never seismically strengthened, we fold foundation bolting and bracing into the scope while the walls are open. We then rebuild kitchens, baths and living spaces in a planned sequence so the house is disrupted once, not repeatedly.
Kitchen Remodeling in Northridge
Northridge kitchens in post-war houses were designed as separate work rooms, and opening one to a family room usually requires an engineered beam where a bearing wall comes out. We run new circuits for induction ranges and other current appliances, update gas and venting where needed, and design custom cabinetry around how the household cooks and gathers. In homes with an ADU on the lot, we can plan both kitchens together to simplify ordering and scheduling.
Bathroom Remodeling in Northridge
Bathroom remodels in Northridge commonly start with replacing old supply and drain lines, then rebuilding the shower or tub area with full waterproofing behind tile. We add properly ducted exhaust fans and, where the layout allows, enlarge a primary bath by borrowing space from a closet or hallway. For households planning to age in place, we can add blocking for grab bars, a curbless shower and wider doorways during the same remodel.
Fire Rebuilds in Northridge
Most of Northridge lies on the level valley floor, so a fire rebuild here typically follows a house fire rather than a wildfire. After the insurance review, we assess what can stay, then rebuild to current code, which brings updated electrical, insulation, fire-rated assemblies where required, and seismic connections the original house did not have. We handle demolition, LADBS permits and reconstruction under one contract so the owner has a single point of responsibility.
Junior ADUs (JADU) in Northridge
A junior ADU inside a Northridge home can house a relative, a caregiver or a long-term tenant without new construction in the yard. The unit can be up to 500 square feet inside the house or an attached garage, with a separate entrance and at least an efficiency kitchen, and the owner lives in one side or the other. Ranch floor plans with a bedroom wing near a side door often convert with little structural change.
SB 9 Lot Splits & Duplexes in Northridge
Under SB 9, a qualifying single-family lot can hold two primary units or be divided into two parcels, each at least 1,200 square feet and no less than 40 percent of the original lot. Local rules cannot prevent two units of at least 800 square feet each. For a Northridge owner, the key questions are lot dimensions, access to the rear parcel and utility capacity, and the three-year owner-occupancy affidavit that comes with a split. We review those before design begins.
Patios, Decks & Outdoor Living in Northridge
Northridge summers are hot, and a well-built patio cover can make the backyard usable through the season. We build attached covers engineered to the house framing, freestanding pergolas, outdoor kitchens with gas and power, and hardscape graded to carry water away from the foundation. On lots that also hold an ADU, we plan separate outdoor areas so each household has its own space.
Why Choose Us
Why Northridge 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 Northridge homeowner to do exactly that before signing with anyone, including us.
Permits Handled With LADBS
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 LADBS, 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.
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 Northridge
FAQ
Building in Northridge: Common Questions
My Northridge house survived the 1994 earthquake. Does it still need a retrofit?
Not necessarily, but it is worth checking. A house that came through without major damage may still lack foundation anchor bolts or cripple wall bracing if it sits on a raised floor. We look at those connections before an addition or remodel, and if strengthening is needed, it is usually easiest to include while the structure is already open.
Can I build an ADU to rent near CSUN?
An ADU can be used for family or as a long-term rental, and the city has to allow a unit of at least 800 square feet with 4-foot side and rear setbacks. We plan separate entries, outdoor space and utilities so the ADU works as an independent home. Rental rules and tenant protections are worth reviewing with your own advisor before you finalize plans.
How long does ADU permit review take in Los Angeles?
Under state law, Los Angeles has 60 days to act once an ADU application is complete. The clock starts when the submission is complete, so we prepare drawings, structural calculations and energy documents carefully before filing. Plan check corrections can add review rounds, and we respond to them directly to keep the project moving.
Start Your Project
Start Your Northridge 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]