Backyard & Outdoor Living in North Hollywood
Full backyard transformations, pavers, outdoor kitchens, fire features, shade structures and turf. Designed, permitted and built by our own crews.
Backyard & Outdoor Living built for North Hollywood properties
Most of what we build in North Hollywood happens on tight 1920s-to-1950s lots where the house sits close to the street and the whole project lives in the back forty feet. Access is the constant: narrow side yards, alley approaches, and neighbors on both sides. We size equipment to the gate we actually have, and we look hard at the existing panel and sewer before committing to an ADU or a pool.
Most parcels are compact rectangles of roughly 5,500 to 7,000 square feet with the house pushed toward the street, leaving a modest but workable rear yard. Detached rear garages are common and are frequent conversion candidates.
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 and insured, LIC #1119054.
Permits in North Hollywood: LADBS is the permitting authority, and Valley projects are plan-checked and inspected through the Van Nuys Development Services Center. No coastal or hillside overlay applies on this section of the valley floor, though portions fall within state-mapped liquefaction zones where a soils report is required before foundation approval. The city's protected tree and shrub ordinance covers oak, western sycamore, black walnut, California bay, Mexican elderberry and toyon at four cumulative inches of trunk diameter, and removal or encroachment needs an Urban Forestry permit. Pool barrier height, self-closing and self-latching gates and drowning-prevention features are verified at final inspection, and review durations vary.
What We Build
- Garage-to-ADU conversions
- Small-lot pool and courtyard layouts
- Restricted-access excavation planning
- 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 building in North Hollywood actually involves
Every city in Southern California builds differently. These are the things that change the scope, the schedule or the budget on North Hollywood projects.
Lots were platted narrow and long, so side yards of five to eight feet decide whether an excavator reaches the rear or the dig becomes a conveyor-and-hand-load operation.
Alley access behind many blocks is the practical staging route for gunite, concrete and material deliveries, and overhead utility clearance has to be checked before scheduling.
Housing from the 1920s through the 1950s often has raised perimeter foundations with under-reinforced stem walls that need attention before a large addition ties in.
Mature street trees and dense rear-yard canopy limit crane picks and shade pool areas enough to change heater sizing and planting selection.
Investment
What this costs in North Hollywood
Real Southern California ranges, not a teaser number. Every project is priced line by line after we have seen the site.
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, aluminium 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
How We Build
Your North Hollywood project, step by step
Site Review
We measure the yard, check drainage and grade, and find the constraints before design starts.
Design & 3D
You walk the whole yard in 3D, so layout and materials are settled before we build.
Plans & Permits
Structures, walls and electrical get drawn and permitted where the work requires it. In North Hollywood that submittal goes to Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS).
Demo & Grading
Old surfaces come out, levels are set and drainage is corrected properly.
Build
Hardscape, structures, kitchen, features and lighting go in, sequenced by our own crews.
Planting & Handover
Planting, turf and final detail, then a full walkthrough of the finished yard.
North Hollywood Questions
Common questions from North Hollywood homeowners
Who issues the permits for this work in North Hollywood?
Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS). LADBS is the permitting authority, and Valley projects are plan-checked and inspected through the Van Nuys Development Services Center. No coastal or hillside overlay applies on this section of the valley floor, though portions fall within state-mapped liquefaction zones where a soils report is required before foundation approval. The city's protected tree and shrub ordinance covers oak, western sycamore, black walnut, California bay, Mexican elderberry and toyon at four cumulative inches of trunk diameter, and removal or encroachment needs an Urban Forestry permit. Pool barrier height, self-closing and self-latching gates and drowning-prevention features are verified at final inspection, and review durations vary. We prepare the drawings, make the submittal and handle plan-check corrections ourselves, so you are not the one chasing the city.
What makes building in North Hollywood different?
Most parcels are compact rectangles of roughly 5,500 to 7,000 square feet with the house pushed toward the street, leaving a modest but workable rear yard. Detached rear garages are common and are frequent conversion candidates. In practice that means lots were platted narrow and long, so side yards of five to eight feet decide whether an excavator reaches the rear or the dig becomes a conveyor-and-hand-load operation..
Which parts of North Hollywood do you work in?
All of it, including NoHo Arts District, North Hollywood West, Toluca Woods, Valley Village. We are based in Los Angeles at Cahuenga Pass, so North Hollywood is a short run for our crews rather than a job we service from out of the area.
What does backyard & outdoor living cost in North Hollywood?
Full backyard transformation in this market generally runs $50,000 to $250,000+. 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 North Hollywood
North Hollywood Guides
Planning guides for North Hollywood homeowners
Costs, materials and process notes from our own projects.
North Hollywood Backyard Transformation: NoHo Lots, Real Budgets
North Hollywood backyard transformations run $55,000 to $175,000. The lots are modest, the housing stock is older, and the smartest money goes into shade, drainage and a properly sized panel.
Read guideBuilding an ADU in North Hollywood and Van Nuys: The Practical Guide
ADUs in North Hollywood and Van Nuys run $95,000 for a garage conversion to $380,000 for a detached two-bedroom. The lots are tight, the housing stock is old, and the utilities are the story.
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 guidePlanning backyard & outdoor living in North Hollywood?
Sit down with your project manager, go through the details, and get an accurate estimate for your property.
Licensed & Insured · LIC #1119054