Backyard Remodeling & Outdoor Living in Los Angeles, CA
Source: https://www.remodelyourvibe.com/services/exterior-remodeling/los-angeles
Last modified: 2026-09-24T00:00:00.000Z
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Image: Lit board-formed concrete retaining wall and steps on a hillside
- Los Angeles
Design · Permit · Build
Backyard & Outdoor Living in Los Angeles
We design the whole backyard as one, so patio, kitchen and shade fit together.
Book a Consultation Call 818-300-2393
Built for Los Angeles Homes
We work across the City of Los Angeles, and the practical reality is that two addresses ten minutes apart can sit under completely different rule sets. One parcel is flat R1 with a straightforward pool permit; the next is inside a hillside area, a methane zone, an HPOZ, or a very high fire hazard severity zone.
Our first move on any Los Angeles project is pulling the parcel's zoning and hazard overlays before a single line gets drawn.
Lot character varies enormously, from 5,000-square-foot flat R1 parcels in the older grid neighborhoods to steep, irregular hillside lots where usable outdoor space has to be manufactured with retaining structures and cantilevered decking.
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 Los Angeles: LADBS issues residential building, grading, plumbing, electrical and pool permits citywide, with Development Services Centers downtown and in Van Nuys, West Los Angeles, South Los Angeles and San Pedro, while zoning entitlements and design review come from Los Angeles City Planning.
Parcels in a designated hillside area fall under the Baseline Hillside Ordinance (No. 184,802), which limits residential floor area, building envelope height, and grading and import/export quantities. Protected trees and shrubs (native oaks other than scrub oak, western sycamore, Southern California black walnut, California bay, Mexican elderberry and toyon) are regulated under LAMC 46.00 at four inches of cumulative trunk diameter, and removing or relocating one needs a StreetsLA Urban Forestry Division permit. Review length varies by parcel and scope.
Permit details checked September 2026 against LADBS . Rules change, so we confirm them again for your parcel.
What We Build
- Hillside pool and retaining structure engineering
- Methane mitigation coordination where zoned
- Protected-tree permitting through Urban Forestry
- 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 Los Angeles
These local conditions change the scope, the schedule and the budget.
01
Soil swings from deep alluvial fill on the valley floors to weathered bedrock and old landslide debris in the hills, so the geotechnical report drives foundation and pool shell design more than the architecture does.
02
Older neighborhoods still carry 100-amp services, clay sewer laterals and galvanized supply lines that must be upgraded before a pool, spa heater and outdoor kitchen can be added.
03
Many pre-1940 parcels have a detached rear garage off an alley, and that alley is often the only viable equipment path, deciding whether excavation is machine work or conveyor and hand work.
04
Hillside streets are narrow and frequently lack turnarounds, so staging for concrete, gunite and crane picks has to be planned around fire access requirements and neighbors.
Areas we serve in Los Angeles:Hancock ParkLos FelizSilver LakeCheviot HillsWindsor SquareMount Washington
Investment
What It Costs in Los Angeles
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 Los Angeles property
The Process
How We Work in Los Angeles
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 Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles Homeowners Ask
Who issues the permits for this work in Los Angeles?
Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS). LADBS issues residential building, grading, plumbing, electrical and pool permits citywide, with Development Services Centers downtown and in Van Nuys, West Los Angeles, South Los Angeles and San Pedro, while zoning entitlements and design review come from Los Angeles City Planning.
Parcels in a designated hillside area fall under the Baseline Hillside Ordinance (No. 184,802), which limits residential floor area, building envelope height, and grading and import/export quantities. Protected trees and shrubs (native oaks other than scrub oak, western sycamore, Southern California black walnut, California bay, Mexican elderberry and toyon) are regulated under LAMC 46.00 at four inches of cumulative trunk diameter, and removing or relocating one needs a StreetsLA Urban Forestry Division permit.
Review length varies by parcel and scope. 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 Los Angeles different?
Lot character varies enormously, from 5,000-square-foot flat R1 parcels in the older grid neighborhoods to steep, irregular hillside lots where usable outdoor space has to be manufactured with retaining structures and cantilevered decking. One local condition that shapes the work: Soil swings from deep alluvial fill on the valley floors to weathered bedrock and old landslide debris in the hills, so the geotechnical report drives foundation and pool shell design more than the architecture does.
Which parts of Los Angeles do you work in?
All of it, including Hancock Park, Los Feliz, Silver Lake and Cheviot Hills. 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 Los Angeles?
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 Los Angeles
Pool & Spa Remodeling in Los Angeles ADUs & Additions in Los Angeles Kitchen, Bath & Interior Remodeling in Los Angeles Plans, Permits & Design in Los Angeles Everything we build in Los Angeles
Backyard & Outdoor Living Nearby
Backyard & Outdoor Living in Van Nuys Backyard & Outdoor Living in North Hollywood Backyard & Outdoor Living in West Hollywood Backyard & Outdoor Living in Culver City Backyard & Outdoor Living in Beverly Hills Backyard & Outdoor Living in Hancock Park
Planning Guides
Before You Build in Los Angeles
Costs, materials and process notes from our own projects.
ADU Cost Breakdown by Size in Los Angeles A detached ADU in Los Angeles runs $150,000 to $400,000-plus. Here is the real cost broken down by unit size, with the soft costs, utility work and finish decisions that move the number. Read guide Garage Conversion to ADU: The Step-by-Step Build A garage conversion runs $80,000 to $180,000 in Southern California. Here is the real sequence, from slab testing and plan check to the raised floor, the mini-split and final sign-off. Read guide Second Story Addition vs Building Out: Which Costs Less Building out runs $350 to $500 per square foot. Going up runs $450 to $700. Here is when the cheaper option is actually the wrong one, and what drives each number. Read guide Kitchen Remodel Cost in Los Angeles: Real Line Items A mid-range LA kitchen remodel runs $75,000 to $130,000. Here is the full line-item breakdown at three budget levels, including the structural and electrical work that eats budgets. Read guide
Planning a Backyard in Los Angeles?
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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