Luxury Remodeling in Riverside
Wood Streets homes and other historic properties need city approval for exterior work.
Building Here
Citrus Groves, Arroyos and Hillsides
Voters drew many of the lines here. Proposition R in 1979 and Measure C in 1987 protected the Arlington Heights Greenbelt with residential-agricultural zoning and placed hillsides steeper than 15 percent under the Residential Conservation Zone, which is why citrus groves still run through the south-central city and the arroyos crossing the Greenbelt and Alessandro Heights remain largely natural.
Elsewhere, historic districts such as the Wood Streets and Mount Rubidoux add Certificate of Appropriateness review to exterior work. We check zoning, arroyo mapping and fire hazard status before a design starts.
Unusually varied for one city: period homes in the designated historic districts, larger residential-agricultural parcels zoned RA-5 in the Arlington Heights Greenbelt, and hillside lots on the city's uplands, where the RC Zone applies to slopes over 15 percent.
The team that plans your Riverside project is the team that builds it.
Part of our service area in Riverside County.
Local Conditions
The Ground Rules in Riverside
Permits in Riverside
City of Riverside Community & Economic Development Department, Building & Safety Division
The Building & Safety Division of the Community & Economic Development Department issues permits from the One Stop Shop at 3900 Main Street, 3rd Floor, with applications and permit records available through the city's Public Permit Portal. The division targets a 20-business-day first review for most new projects and 10 business days for resubmittals and smaller projects, with expedited review available for an added fee.
Plan check expires one year after fees are paid unless a 180-day extension is requested in writing, and a residential permit becomes invalid if work has not started within 12 months of issuance. Hillside parcels answer to Proposition R (1979) and Measure C (1987), which applied the Residential Conservation (RC) Zone to hillside areas based on slopes over 15 percent, and exterior changes to designated cultural resources or properties in historic districts need a Certificate of Appropriateness under Title 20.
Permit details checked September 2026 against City of Riverside. Rules change, so we confirm them again for your parcel.
What We Plan For
- RC Zone and Hillside/Arroyo grading review
- Certificate of Appropriateness submittals
- Defensible space and ignition-resistant planning
On hillside lots the RC Zone and the Grading Code's hillside standards govern how much a site can be reshaped, so the grading approach for a pool, terrace or accessory structure is settled before the design is.
The Woodcrest, Prenda, Alessandro and Mockingbird arroyos remain largely natural south of the 91 Freeway through the Arlington Heights Greenbelt and the Alessandro Heights area, and the Grading Code's arroyo protections apply to the mapped portions, which affects any grading or structure near them.
Parcels in High and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones must maintain 100 feet of defensible space around structures, though not beyond the property line, with dead vegetation removed and noncombustible landscaping within 30 feet, and the city scheduled wildfire safety inspections in those zones to begin in spring 2026.
Designated historic districts including the Wood Streets, Mount Rubidoux, Prospect Place and Heritage Square route exterior alterations through Certificate of Appropriateness review, and several districts have their own published design guidelines.
Neighborhoods We Serve
- Wood Streets
- Mount Rubidoux
- Alessandro Heights
- Hawarden Hills
- Arlington Heights
- Orangecrest
Services
What We Build in Riverside
Each page covers permits, costs and the build process in Riverside.
Pool & Spa Remodeling in Riverside
Build a new pool and spa, or give yours fresh tile and plaster.
Backyard & Outdoor Living in Riverside
We build patios, outdoor kitchens and fire pits for long evenings outside.
ADUs & Additions in Riverside
Convert the garage, build a backyard ADU or add a second story.
Also Available in Riverside
Before You Build
Riverside Remodeling Guides
Costs, planning and design ideas for Riverside homes.
Pool Design for Inland Empire Heat: Shade & Sun Strategies
Pools in the western Inland Empire face long, hot summers. From Chino and Rancho Cucamonga to Corona and Riverside, these design strategies keep the water swimmable and the equipment protected.
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Corona's hot summers require outdoor kitchens designed for heat management. Here's how to build for comfort and durability.
Read guideWhole-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 guideIndoor-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 guideNearby Service Areas
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Plan Your Riverside Project
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