Backyard Remodeling & Outdoor Living in Pacific Palisades, CA
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Last modified: 2026-09-24T00:00:00.000Z
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Image: Aerial view of a backyard with a pergola, outdoor kitchen, artificial turf and large pavers
- Pacific Palisades
Design · Permit · Build
Backyard & Outdoor Living in Pacific Palisades
We design the whole backyard as one, so patio, kitchen and shade fit together.
Book a Consultation Call 818-300-2393
Built for Pacific Palisades Homes
Building here now often 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, bonded and insured, CSLB license #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 generally require a coastal development permit, although post-fire executive orders let qualifying rebuilds bypass local Coastal Act review.
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.
Permit details checked September 2026 against LADBS , City of Los Angeles , LA City Planning and State of California . Rules change, so we confirm them again for your parcel.
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 to Know in Pacific Palisades
These local conditions change the scope, the schedule and the budget.
01
Steep pads above the canyons commonly need caissons, shotcrete shoring and retaining structures before a pool shell or level terrace is even possible.
02
The Castellammare and Via de las Olas bluffs have a long documented landslide history, and geotechnical review there governs foundation type, drainage and setback.
03
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.
04
Narrow canyon streets with few turnarounds limit truck size and force detailed staging plans for concrete, steel and soil export.
Areas we serve in Pacific Palisades:Huntington PalisadesThe Alphabet StreetsRustic CanyonCastellammareMarquez KnollsThe Highlands
Investment
What It Costs in Pacific Palisades
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 Pacific Palisades property
The Process
How We Work in Pacific Palisades
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 Pacific Palisades 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 Pacific Palisades Homeowners Ask
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 generally require a coastal development permit, although post-fire executive orders let qualifying rebuilds bypass local Coastal Act review.
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 plan check.
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. One local condition that shapes the work: 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 and Castellammare. 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 Pacific Palisades?
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 Pacific Palisades
Pool & Spa Remodeling in Pacific Palisades ADUs & Additions in Pacific Palisades Kitchen, Bath & Interior Remodeling in Pacific Palisades Plans, Permits & Design in Pacific Palisades Everything we build in Pacific Palisades
Backyard & Outdoor Living Nearby
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Planning Guides
Before You Build in Pacific Palisades
Costs, materials and process notes from our own projects.
Pacific Palisades Pool Remodel Cost and Permit Path Replaster runs $8,000 to $15,000. A full Pacific Palisades pool remodel runs $35,000 to $60,000. Line items, the LADBS permit path, hillside access costs and rebuild-site sequencing. 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 Pacific Palisades?
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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