Backyard & Outdoor Living in Pacific Palisades
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 Pacific Palisades properties
Much of our work here now sits alongside fire rebuilding, and the practical questions are about slope, access and utilities before they are about style. We verify whether a lot falls in the coastal zone, how hillside rules cap cut and fill, and whether soil export will require a haul route hearing. On bluff and canyon parcels, caissons and shoring usually come before a pool or terrace can be framed at all.
A mix of flat, generous grid lots on the bluff-top plateau and steep canyon and hillside parcels with descending rear yards and long driveways.
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 Pacific Palisades: This is City of Los Angeles territory, so building, grading and pool permits come from LADBS, while discretionary coastal entitlements are handled by Los Angeles City Planning. Parcels inside the coastal zone require a coastal development permit, and in the mapped dual permit jurisdiction area between the shoreline and the first public road a separate California Coastal Commission permit is also required. Hillside grading is governed by the Baseline Hillside Ordinance (No. 184,802), and importing or exporting more than 1,000 cubic yards of earth in a hillside grading area requires a haul route hearing before the Board of Building and Safety Commissioners. Nearly all of the community is mapped Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone, bringing Chapter 7A ignition-resistant material requirements; fire rebuilds run through the city's dedicated rebuild permitting path and one-stop center, with durations varying by project.
What We Build
- Haul route and grading quantity planning
- Chapter 7A fire-hardened outdoor construction
- Coastal zone entitlement coordination
- 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 Pacific Palisades actually involves
Every city in Southern California builds differently. These are the things that change the scope, the schedule or the budget on Pacific Palisades projects.
Steep pads above the canyons commonly need caissons, shotcrete shoring and retaining structures before a pool shell or level terrace is even possible.
The Castellammare and Via de las Olas bluffs have a long documented landslide history, and geotechnical review there governs foundation type, drainage and setback.
Fire-affected parcels can present altered soils, stripped slope vegetation and rebuilt service laterals, all of which change grading, drainage and utility tie-in scope.
Narrow canyon streets with few turnarounds limit truck size and force detailed staging plans for concrete, steel and soil export.
Investment
What this costs in Pacific Palisades
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 Pacific Palisades 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 Pacific Palisades 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.
Pacific Palisades Questions
Common questions from Pacific Palisades homeowners
Who issues the permits for this work in Pacific Palisades?
Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS). This is City of Los Angeles territory, so building, grading and pool permits come from LADBS, while discretionary coastal entitlements are handled by Los Angeles City Planning. Parcels inside the coastal zone require a coastal development permit, and in the mapped dual permit jurisdiction area between the shoreline and the first public road a separate California Coastal Commission permit is also required. Hillside grading is governed by the Baseline Hillside Ordinance (No. 184,802), and importing or exporting more than 1,000 cubic yards of earth in a hillside grading area requires a haul route hearing before the Board of Building and Safety Commissioners. Nearly all of the community is mapped Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone, bringing Chapter 7A ignition-resistant material requirements; fire rebuilds run through the city's dedicated rebuild permitting path and one-stop center, with durations varying by project. 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 Pacific Palisades different?
A mix of flat, generous grid lots on the bluff-top plateau and steep canyon and hillside parcels with descending rear yards and long driveways. In practice that means steep pads above the canyons commonly need caissons, shotcrete shoring and retaining structures before a pool shell or level terrace is even possible..
Which parts of Pacific Palisades do you work in?
All of it, including Huntington Palisades, The Alphabet Streets, Rustic Canyon, Castellammare. We are based in Los Angeles at Cahuenga Pass, so Pacific Palisades 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 Pacific Palisades?
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 Pacific Palisades
Pacific Palisades Guides
Planning guides for Pacific Palisades homeowners
Costs, materials and process notes from our own projects.
Pacific Palisades Pool Remodel Cost and Permit Path
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Read guidePlanning backyard & outdoor living in Pacific Palisades?
Sit down with your project manager, go through the details, and get an accurate estimate for your property.
Licensed & Insured · LIC #1119054