# Backyard Remodeling & Outdoor Living in San Pedro, CA [Browser-friendly HTML version](https://www.remodelyourvibe.com/website-guide/pages/services/exterior-remodeling/san-pedro/index) Source: https://www.remodelyourvibe.com/services/exterior-remodeling/san-pedro Last modified: 2026-09-24T00:00:00.000Z Text part: 1 of 1 [Full website text index](https://www.remodelyourvibe.com/llms-full.txt) | [Services by city](https://www.remodelyourvibe.com/llms/services-by-city-004.txt) | [Previous page](https://www.remodelyourvibe.com/llms/pages/services/exterior-remodeling/rolling-hills-estates/index.txt) | [Next page](https://www.remodelyourvibe.com/llms/pages/services/exterior-remodeling/long-beach/index.txt) --- Image: Lawn and built-in outdoor bar with stools beside a modern home at dusk 1. [Home](https://www.remodelyourvibe.com/) 1. [Services](https://www.remodelyourvibe.com/services) 1. [Backyard & Outdoor Living](https://www.remodelyourvibe.com/services/exterior-remodeling) 1. San Pedro Design · Permit · Build ### Backyard & Outdoor Living in San Pedro We design the whole backyard as one, so patio, kitchen and shade fit together. [Book a Consultation](https://www.remodelyourvibe.com/contact-us) [Call 818-300-2393](tel:+18183002393) #### Built for San Pedro Homes San Pedro was annexed by Los Angeles in 1909, and much of it still follows the grid of streets, blocks and alleys laid out in 1882, framed by the harbor to the east, ocean bluffs to the south and hill slopes along the Rancho Palos Verdes border. Coastal and central neighborhoods such as Point Fermin, the Palisades and Vista del Oro were essentially built out by the mid 1960s, while much of the single-family housing in the northwest went up between 1960 and 1980. Along the ocean edge the ground sets the terms: a 2011 landslide destroyed a 600-foot section of Paseo del Mar, and within the coastal zone the San Pedro Specific Plan adds height limits, public view protections and, in mapped hazard areas, geologic reports to the standard City permits. The oldest neighborhoods sit close to the waterfront on a traditional street grid, mixing single-family and multi-family housing, while Point Fermin, between the Middle and Upper Reservations of Fort MacArthur, carries California Craftsman and bungalow architecture. Most other single-family neighborhoods, concentrated in the south and west, were developed after World War II and are predominantly modern and ranch-style homes on larger lots. The 2017 Community Plan notes that single-family activity has largely taken the form of remodeling and enlarging original tract homes. We are a design-build team, which means the people who draw your project are the people who build it. Design, engineering, permits and construction run through one project manager and our own crews, so nothing gets lost in a handoff between a salesperson and a subcontractor. We are licensed, bonded and insured, [CSLB license #1119054](https://www.cslb.ca.gov/OnlineServices/CheckLicenseII/LicenseDetail.aspx?LicNum=1119054) . Permits in San Pedro: Private pools in the City of Los Angeles are permitted through a Combined Building-Mechanical permit, while pools serving more than two dwelling units need separate building, electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits. Using a City of Los Angeles standard plan on file with LADBS reduces plan check time. The City's Hillside Grading Area covers most of San Pedro, from the northwest hills to the bluff-top blocks near Point Fermin, and a pool excavation inside it needs its own LADBS grading permit. The older grid east of Gaffey Street between about 6th and 22nd Streets, Vinegar Hill included, lies outside that mapped area. Within the coastal zone, the San Pedro Specific Plan (Ordinance No. 166,352) requires LADBS to confirm compliance before issuing a grading or building permit, and it limits residential buildings to two stories or 26 feet, with no extra height allowed for sloping lots. In the plan's mapped Geologically Hazardous Areas, a building permit also waits on an LADBS-approved report from a registered geologist or soils engineer and a recorded disclosure of the hazards that report identifies. In the Vinegar Hill Historic Preservation Overlay Zone, adopted in 2001 and expanded in 2015, rehabilitation and new development are reviewed to protect the district's historic character. Permit details checked September 2026 against [LADBS](https://dbs.lacity.gov/sites/default/files/efs/forms/pc17/design-and-construction-of-swimming-pools-ib-p-bc2017-014.pdf) and [LA City Planning](https://planning.lacity.gov/odocument/06cdf5fd-888b-4412-b5b4-2a69a35f500c/San_Pedro_Specific_Plan_.pdf) . Rules change, so we confirm them again for your parcel. What We Build - Hillside grading permits for pools - Geologic reports in mapped hazard areas - Specific Plan height and viewsite limits - Vinegar Hill HPOZ preservation review - Full backyard transformations - Paver patios, driveways and walkways - Outdoor kitchens and BBQ islands - Pergolas, patio covers and shade structures - Fire pits, fire tables and fireplaces - Retaining walls and seat walls - Artificial turf and drought-tolerant planting - Drainage correction and grading - Landscape and architectural lighting - Front yard and curb appeal remodels Local Conditions #### What to Know in San Pedro These local conditions change the scope, the schedule and the budget. 01 The coastal bluffs have a record of movement: a 2011 landslide destroyed a 600-foot section of Paseo del Mar beside the White Point Nature Preserve, and the former 600 block of Paseo del Mar, now known as Sunken City, began sliding into the sea in 1929, so geotechnical findings lead any bluff-side design. 02 Much of San Pedro is hilly, with coastal bluffs and hill slopes along the Rancho Palos Verdes border, and most of it lies inside the Hillside Grading Area, so grading, retaining and drainage belong in the first round of design. 03 The Community Plan flags liquefaction-prone areas along Paseo del Mar, where new discretionary development must prepare a geotechnical report. 04 Near the Lookout Point, Korean Bell and Osgood-Farley Battery public viewsites, the Specific Plan caps new construction and remodeling at 24 feet unless the Director of Planning finds that more height will not block the view. Areas we serve in San Pedro:Point FerminVinegar HillThe PalisadesVista del OroSouth Shores Investment #### What It Costs in San Pedro Real Southern California price ranges, not teaser numbers. ##### Full backyard transformation $50,000 to $250,000+ What moves it: how much hardscape is involved, whether a pool or outdoor kitchen is included, grading and retaining, and the level of lighting and planting ##### Paver patio and hardscape from about $13,000 What moves it: square footage, paver type, base preparation, drainage, and any steps or retaining involved ##### Outdoor kitchen and BBQ island $10,000 to $50,000+ What moves it: counter length, appliance package, countertop material, and whether gas, water and power need to be run a long distance ##### Pergola and shade structure from about $9,500 What moves it: span, material (wood, aluminum or louvered), footing requirements, and integrated lighting or heating ##### Artificial turf from about $9,900 What moves it: area, turf grade, base depth, drainage, and any pet-specific infill Your lot, access and finishes set the price. We walk the site, then show you where every dollar goes. [Get a line-item price for your San Pedro property](https://www.remodelyourvibe.com/contact-us) The Process #### How We Work in San Pedro 01 ##### Site Review We measure the yard, check drainage and grade, and find the constraints before design starts. 02 ##### Design & 3D You walk the whole yard in 3D, so layout and materials are settled before we build. 03 ##### Plans & Permits Structures, walls and electrical get drawn and permitted where the work requires it. In San Pedro that submittal goes to Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS). 04 ##### Demo & Grading Old surfaces come out, levels are set and drainage is corrected properly. 05 ##### Build Hardscape, structures, kitchen, features and lighting go in, sequenced by our own crews. 06 ##### Planting & Handover Planting, turf and final detail, then a full walkthrough of the finished yard. Questions #### What San Pedro Homeowners Ask Who issues the permits for this work in San Pedro? Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS). Private pools in the City of Los Angeles are permitted through a Combined Building-Mechanical permit, while pools serving more than two dwelling units need separate building, electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits. Using a City of Los Angeles standard plan on file with LADBS reduces plan check time. The City's Hillside Grading Area covers most of San Pedro, from the northwest hills to the bluff-top blocks near Point Fermin, and a pool excavation inside it needs its own LADBS grading permit. The older grid east of Gaffey Street between about 6th and 22nd Streets, Vinegar Hill included, lies outside that mapped area. Within the coastal zone, the San Pedro Specific Plan (Ordinance No. 166,352) requires LADBS to confirm compliance before issuing a grading or building permit, and it limits residential buildings to two stories or 26 feet, with no extra height allowed for sloping lots. In the plan's mapped Geologically Hazardous Areas, a building permit also waits on an LADBS-approved report from a registered geologist or soils engineer and a recorded disclosure of the hazards that report identifies. In the Vinegar Hill Historic Preservation Overlay Zone, adopted in 2001 and expanded in 2015, rehabilitation and new development are reviewed to protect the district's historic character. We prepare the drawings, make the submittal and handle plan-check corrections ourselves, so you are not the one chasing plan check. What makes building in San Pedro different? The oldest neighborhoods sit close to the waterfront on a traditional street grid, mixing single-family and multi-family housing, while Point Fermin, between the Middle and Upper Reservations of Fort MacArthur, carries California Craftsman and bungalow architecture. Most other single-family neighborhoods, concentrated in the south and west, were developed after World War II and are predominantly modern and ranch-style homes on larger lots. The 2017 Community Plan notes that single-family activity has largely taken the form of remodeling and enlarging original tract homes. One local condition that shapes the work: The coastal bluffs have a record of movement: a 2011 landslide destroyed a 600-foot section of Paseo del Mar beside the White Point Nature Preserve, and the former 600 block of Paseo del Mar, now known as Sunken City, began sliding into the sea in 1929, so geotechnical findings lead any bluff-side design. Which parts of San Pedro do you work in? All of it, including Point Fermin, Vinegar Hill, The Palisades and Vista del Oro. Our crews run every job out of our Cahuenga Pass base in Los Angeles, with our own people on site. What does a backyard or outdoor living project cost in San Pedro? Full backyard transformation: generally $50,000 to $250,000+ across Southern California. What moves it is how much hardscape is involved, whether a pool or outdoor kitchen is included, grading and retaining, and the level of lighting and planting. We give line-item pricing after seeing the site rather than quoting a number over the phone. How long does a backyard remodel take? A patio and turf refresh often finishes in three to five weeks. A full transformation with hardscape, an outdoor kitchen, structures and lighting typically runs ten to sixteen weeks, and longer if a pool is part of the same phase. Pavers or poured concrete? Pavers cost more up front but flex with ground movement instead of cracking, and individual units can be lifted and replaced. Poured concrete is cheaper initially, but a crack means cutting out and repouring a section that rarely matches. On most Southern California soil we recommend pavers for anything you will look at every day. Can you fix drainage at the same time? Yes, and on most projects we insist on it. Correcting grade and adding proper drainage while the yard is already open is far cheaper than retrofitting it after new hardscape is down. Do you handle the whole yard in one project? Yes. Design, permits, hardscape, structures, kitchen, lighting and planting run through one team and one project manager, so nothing gets lost between trades. #### More Services in San Pedro [Pool & Spa Remodeling in San Pedro](https://www.remodelyourvibe.com/services/swimming-pool-spa/san-pedro) [ADUs & Additions in San Pedro](https://www.remodelyourvibe.com/services/adus-additions/san-pedro) [Everything we build in San Pedro](https://www.remodelyourvibe.com/service-areas/san-pedro) #### Backyard & Outdoor Living Nearby [Backyard & Outdoor Living in Rancho Palos Verdes](https://www.remodelyourvibe.com/services/exterior-remodeling/rancho-palos-verdes) [Backyard & Outdoor Living in Palos Verdes Estates](https://www.remodelyourvibe.com/services/exterior-remodeling/palos-verdes-estates) [Backyard & Outdoor Living in Torrance](https://www.remodelyourvibe.com/services/exterior-remodeling/torrance) [Backyard & Outdoor Living in Redondo Beach](https://www.remodelyourvibe.com/services/exterior-remodeling/redondo-beach) [Backyard & Outdoor Living in Long Beach](https://www.remodelyourvibe.com/services/exterior-remodeling/long-beach) Planning Guides #### Before You Build in San Pedro Costs, materials and process notes from our own projects. [Whole-Home Remodel Sequencing: What to Do First A whole-home remodel done in the wrong order costs 15 to 25 percent more. Here is the correct sequence, from structural and roof through to paint, and why each stage has to precede the next. Read guide](https://www.remodelyourvibe.com/articles/whole-home-remodel-sequencing-guide) [Indoor-Outdoor Living Conversions in Southern California A 16-foot multi-slide door runs $18,000 to $45,000 installed. Here is how the full indoor-outdoor conversion works, from structural header to flush threshold to covered patio tie-in. Read guide](https://www.remodelyourvibe.com/articles/indoor-outdoor-living-conversion-guide) [Tarzana Outdoor Living: Costs by Lot Type Tarzana backyards run hot and deep. A working outdoor living build here (shade, hardscape, kitchen, lighting) typically lands between $85,000 and $220,000, and the ground drives most of the number. Read guide](https://www.remodelyourvibe.com/articles/tarzana-outdoor-living-guide) [Porter Ranch Backyards: Wind, Slope and Fire Zones A full backyard transformation in Porter Ranch runs $95,000 to $280,000. Wind exposure, slope, HOA review and fire-zone material rules shape the design before anything about style enters the conversation. Read guide](https://www.remodelyourvibe.com/articles/porter-ranch-backyard-transformation) #### Planning a Backyard in San Pedro? Sit down with your project manager and get an accurate estimate. We call you back within one business day. [Book a Consultation](https://www.remodelyourvibe.com/contact-us) [818-300-2393](tel:+18183002393) Licensed, bonded & insured · [CSLB license #1119054](https://www.cslb.ca.gov/OnlineServices/CheckLicenseII/LicenseDetail.aspx?LicNum=1119054) --- End of text part 1 of 1. This page is complete.