Backyard Remodeling & Outdoor Living in Granada Hills, CA
Source: https://www.remodelyourvibe.com/services/exterior-remodeling/granada-hills
Last modified: 2026-09-24T00:00:00.000Z
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Image: Sunken fire-pit lounge with built-in seating below a modern home at twilight
- Granada Hills
Design · Permit · Build
Backyard & Outdoor Living in Granada Hills
We design the whole backyard as one, so patio, kitchen and shade fit together.
Book a Consultation Call 818-300-2393
Built for Granada Hills Homes
Granada Hills changes character as you head north. In the southern flats we are working postwar tracts with straightforward access and aging services. Toward the Santa Susana foothills the ground tilts, the brush starts, and hillside grading limits and fire-zone construction requirements come into play.
Balboa Highlands adds a third case entirely. The Eichler tract carries historic design review, so exterior changes there get handled as a preservation project, not a standard remodel.
Flat postwar tract lots dominate the southern half, while the northern foothills hold larger, sloping parcels with view orientation and descending rear yards that need retaining before they are usable.
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 .
Permits in Granada Hills: LADBS issues residential building, grading and pool permits here, with plan check and inspection handled through the Van Nuys Development Services Center. The terrain rises from south to north toward the Santa Susana Mountains, and parcels on the City's Designated Hillside Areas map fall under the Baseline Hillside Ordinance (No. 184,802), which limits grading quantity, floor area and height.
North of Rinaldi Street, the northwest portion is also in the Granada Hills 'K' Equinekeeping Supplemental Use District, and foothill properties near the mountains sit in or beside Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone mapping with brush clearance and Chapter 7A obligations.
The Balboa Highlands tract, the 1962-64 Joseph Eichler subdivision designated in 2010, is a Historic Preservation Overlay Zone, so exterior alterations there require HPOZ design review through Los Angeles City Planning. Oaks and other protected species are common on the north side and need an Urban Forestry permit before removal or encroachment, and review length varies.
Permit details checked September 2026 against LADBS , LA City Planning and LAFD . Rules change, so we confirm them again for your parcel.
What We Build
- HPOZ-sensitive mid-century exterior work
- Hillside grading and retaining design
- Fire-zone hardscape and clearance 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 to Know in Granada Hills
These local conditions change the scope, the schedule and the budget.
01
The ground transitions from flat alluvial tract land in the south to sloping foothill terrain with shallow bedrock in the north, and an identical pool design prices very differently across that line.
02
Foothill streets narrow and steepen, which limits excavator size, gunite hose runs and concrete truck access on upper-elevation properties.
03
Postwar tracts in the flats commonly need a main panel upgrade and a sewer lateral assessment before pool equipment, a spa heater or a second dwelling is added.
04
Mid-century post-and-beam homes on slab floors require careful detailing where new openings, decks or additions meet the original structure and its exposed beams.
Areas we serve in Granada Hills:Balboa HighlandsKnollwoodGranada Hills NorthGranada Hills South
Investment
What It Costs in Granada Hills
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 Granada Hills property
The Process
How We Work in Granada Hills
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 Granada Hills 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 Granada Hills Homeowners Ask
Who issues the permits for this work in Granada Hills?
Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS). LADBS issues residential building, grading and pool permits here, with plan check and inspection handled through the Van Nuys Development Services Center. The terrain rises from south to north toward the Santa Susana Mountains, and parcels on the City's Designated Hillside Areas map fall under the Baseline Hillside Ordinance (No. 184,802), which limits grading quantity, floor area and height.
North of Rinaldi Street, the northwest portion is also in the Granada Hills 'K' Equinekeeping Supplemental Use District, and foothill properties near the mountains sit in or beside Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone mapping with brush clearance and Chapter 7A obligations.
The Balboa Highlands tract, the 1962-64 Joseph Eichler subdivision designated in 2010, is a Historic Preservation Overlay Zone, so exterior alterations there require HPOZ design review through Los Angeles City Planning. Oaks and other protected species are common on the north side and need an Urban Forestry permit before removal or encroachment, and review length varies.
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 Granada Hills different?
Flat postwar tract lots dominate the southern half, while the northern foothills hold larger, sloping parcels with view orientation and descending rear yards that need retaining before they are usable. One local condition that shapes the work: The ground transitions from flat alluvial tract land in the south to sloping foothill terrain with shallow bedrock in the north, and an identical pool design prices very differently across that line.
Which parts of Granada Hills do you work in?
All of it, including Balboa Highlands, Knollwood, Granada Hills North and Granada Hills South. 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 Granada Hills?
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 Granada Hills
Pool & Spa Remodeling in Granada Hills ADUs & Additions in Granada Hills Kitchen, Bath & Interior Remodeling in Granada Hills Plans, Permits & Design in Granada Hills Everything we build in Granada Hills
Backyard & Outdoor Living Nearby
Backyard & Outdoor Living in Porter Ranch Backyard & Outdoor Living in Northridge Backyard & Outdoor Living in Chatsworth Backyard & Outdoor Living in Santa Clarita
Planning Guides
Before You Build in Granada Hills
Costs, materials and process notes from our own projects.
Granada Hills ADU Costs: Garage vs Detached A detached ADU in Granada Hills runs $180,000 to $400,000. A garage conversion runs $95,000 to $180,000. Lot depth is generous here, but 1950s electrical service and septic pockets change the math. Read guide 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 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 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
Planning a Backyard in Granada Hills?
Sit down with your project manager and get an accurate estimate. We call you back within one business day.
Book a Consultation 818-300-2393
Licensed, bonded & insured · CSLB license #1119054
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