Service Area · Los Angeles County
General Contractor in Tarzana, CA
Custom homes, ADUs, additions and second stories for Tarzana, from fire-zone hillside lots above Ventura Boulevard to the level mid-century blocks below it, planned for LADBS review from the first meeting.
- Licensed California general contractor
- Custom homes, ADUs & additions
- Permits with LADBS
- Written, line-item estimates
Tarzana, CA
Building and Remodeling in Tarzana
Simply Construction is a licensed California general contractor in Tarzana, focused on custom homes, ADUs, room additions, second stories and new garages. The neighborhood takes its name from Tarzana Ranch, the estate that Tarzan author Edgar Rice Burroughs owned here, and it now runs from the level streets around Ventura Boulevard up into the foothills of the Santa Monica Mountains.
That change in terrain shapes nearly every project. A level lot north of the boulevard is a conventional LADBS permit, while a hillside lot to the south brings slope, grading, access and fire rules into the plan. We work out which case applies, what floor area the lot allows and what engineering the site needs before design is locked, then build under one contract.
Local Knowledge
Tarzana's Two Terrains: Valley Floor and Hillside
Tarzana sits between Encino and Woodland Hills, with Reseda to the north. Ventura Boulevard runs through its middle and splits the neighborhood into two very different places to build. North of the boulevard, streets are level and lined largely with single-story mid-century houses, many since enlarged or replaced. South of it, Reseda Boulevard and the side streets off it climb past Braemar Country Club toward Marvin Braude Mulholland Gateway Park, and larger custom homes sit on sloped, irregular lots.
Those hillside lots fall under the Baseline Hillside Ordinance rather than the flat-lot rules, so allowable floor area and grading are tied to the slope of the site. Much of that terrain is also mapped as a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone, which brings wildfire construction standards and ongoing brush clearance. Hillside work commonly calls for a soils and geology report, and narrow, winding streets can limit what equipment and deliveries reach the site.
The west Valley's summer heat is the other constant here. We pay close attention to insulation, shading and roof ventilation on every new room, and we size heating and cooling to the house rather than to a rule of thumb.
Services
Construction & Remodeling Services in Tarzana
From ground-up homes to kitchens, here is how each of our services applies to Tarzana properties.
Custom Home Building in Tarzana
Custom homes in Tarzana tend to fall into two groups. On the hillside south of Ventura, a new house usually involves a geotechnical report, retaining walls or deep foundations, a grading plan and a design that fits the Baseline Hillside Ordinance's floor area and height envelope. On the level blocks, it more often means replacing a mid-century ranch with a larger two-story house under the Baseline Mansionization Ordinance. In both cases we coordinate the architect, engineers and LADBS plan check, and the finished home includes the solar PV that California requires on most new single-family houses.
ADU Construction in Tarzana
Tarzana lots vary widely, so ADU planning starts with the site itself. On level lots north of Ventura, a detached unit usually fits behind the house within the state's 4-foot side and rear setbacks. On hillside parcels, the flattest pad, the driveway and fire department access often decide whether a detached ADU, an attached unit or a conversion is the better route, and in the fire zone, street access and fire safety can limit what the city approves. State law protects an ADU of at least 800 square feet, and once an application is complete, the city has 60 days to act.
Garage Conversions in Tarzana
In Tarzana's hillside homes, converting the garage is often the most direct path to extra living space, since a new structure on a slope brings retaining walls and grading. A conversion uses the existing footprint, and the city cannot ask you to replace the garage parking once it is an ADU. On the level blocks, older detached garages at the rear of the lot are the usual candidates. Either way, we inspect the slab, framing and drainage before pricing, and we plan insulation, egress windows and utilities for a room people will actually live in.
Room Additions in Tarzana
On the level lots north of Ventura Boulevard, a ground-floor addition typically pushes a ranch house into the rear yard for a primary suite or family room. On hillside lots, an addition can mean building out over the slope on a raised floor with deeper footings, which calls for a soils report and structural design. We confirm how much floor area the Baseline Mansionization or Baseline Hillside rules leave on your lot before sketching, because that number often decides whether to build out or build up.
Second-Story Additions in Tarzana
A second story can double a single-story Tarzana house without giving up the yard, and on the level blocks north of Ventura it is often the most efficient way to add bedrooms. The existing slab and footings usually need engineering review and new foundation work to carry the added floor. On hillside lots, height is measured against the slope under the Baseline Hillside Ordinance, so we check the envelope before drawing the upper level. Views across the Valley are often part of the brief, and we place windows to capture them while respecting neighbors' privacy.
Garage Construction in Tarzana
New garages in Tarzana range from a detached two-car building behind a level-lot ranch to a garage cut into a hillside with retaining walls on three sides. Hillside garages often serve as the structural base for living space above, which means engineered foundations and careful drainage. In the fire zone, garage doors, vents and siding are chosen to meet California's wildfire building standards. We also work out driveway slope and turning space early, because on steep streets they can shape the entire layout.
Whole-House Remodeling in Tarzana
Whole-house remodels in Tarzana often involve a mid-century house that has kept its original layout, windows and systems for decades. We replace aging electrical, plumbing and ductwork, open the plan where engineering allows, and bring insulation and glazing up to current energy rules, which pays off in west Valley summers. On hillside homes in the fire zone, a full remodel is also a sensible moment to upgrade roofing, vents, eaves and windows toward current wildfire standards.
Kitchen Remodeling in Tarzana
In Tarzana's larger hillside homes, a kitchen remodel is often about turning the room toward the view and opening it to an outdoor terrace, which can mean new beams, wider openings and upgraded glazing. On the level side of the neighborhood, the work more often centers on opening a closed mid-century kitchen to the family room. Either way, we plan electrical capacity, gas, ventilation and custom cabinetry together so the finished kitchen is built once and built right.
Bathroom Remodeling in Tarzana
Bathroom remodels in Tarzana range from updating a mid-century hall bath on the level blocks to building a spa-style primary bath in a hillside home. We replace drain and supply lines, install full waterproofing behind tile, and size exhaust fans to clear moisture properly. Where a primary bath sits over a raised floor on a slope, we check the framing and subfloor for past leaks and movement before any new tile goes down.
Fire Rebuilds in Tarzana
Tarzana's hillside borders open land in the Santa Monica Mountains, and much of it is mapped for very high wildfire hazard. Rebuilding there after a fire means building to California's wildfire standards: ignition-resistant exterior materials, ember-resistant vents, tempered glazing and a defensible space plan. We work through the insurance scope, debris removal and demolition, then take the rebuild through LADBS plan check. For a level-lot home damaged by a house fire, the process is similar but usually without the wildfire provisions.
Junior ADUs (JADU) in Tarzana
For a Tarzana household that wants a parent or grown child close without building on a slope, a junior ADU inside the house is often the simplest answer. A JADU of up to 500 square feet fits inside the house or an attached garage, comes with its own entrance and an efficiency kitchen at minimum, and requires the owner to occupy either the house or the unit. Hillside homes with a lower level or a bedroom wing beside the garage often lend themselves to this layout.
SB 9 Lot Splits & Duplexes in Tarzana
SB 9 allows a second primary unit or an urban lot split on qualifying single-family lots, but Tarzana's hillside parcels face a specific hurdle: sites in a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone are excluded unless they adopt the required fire mitigation measures. On the level blocks north of Ventura, the lot-split rules apply more directly, with each new parcel at least 1,200 square feet and at least 40 percent of the original. We review eligibility, access and utilities before any design work starts.
Patios, Decks & Outdoor Living in Tarzana
Tarzana's summers make shade a priority. On level lots, that usually means a solid or louvered patio cover off the family room, an outdoor kitchen and a pool terrace. On hillside lots, it more often means a structural deck posted or cantilevered over the slope, which needs engineering and, in the fire zone, decking and framing suited to wildfire exposure. We build drainage and lighting into the plan so the space works after dark and through winter storms.
Why Choose Us
Why Tarzana 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 Tarzana 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 Tarzana
FAQ
Building in Tarzana: Common Questions
What extra steps does a hillside lot in Tarzana add to a project?
Most hillside projects in Tarzana need a soils and geology report, a grading and drainage plan, and structural design for retaining walls or deeper foundations. Floor area and height are governed by the Baseline Hillside Ordinance, and many lots are in a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone, which adds wildfire construction standards. We line up these reports early so they shape the design instead of revising it.
Can I build an ADU on a hillside lot in a fire hazard zone?
Often, yes, but the site decides how. Street width, fire department access, slope and the location of a buildable pad all matter, and the unit has to be built to wildfire standards. On some hillside lots, converting a garage or creating a junior ADU inside the house is more practical than a new detached building. We review your parcel before recommending a route.
Is a second story or a ground-floor addition better for my Tarzana home?
On a level lot, the answer usually comes down to remaining floor area, yard space and how well the existing foundation can carry a new floor. On a hillside lot, slope and height rules often make one option clearly better. We compare both with engineering input and the applicable Baseline Mansionization or Baseline Hillside limits before you commit to design.
Start Your Project
Start Your Tarzana 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]