Backyard Remodeling & Outdoor Living in Santa Monica, CA
Source: https://www.remodelyourvibe.com/services/exterior-remodeling/santa-monica
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
- Santa Monica
Design · Permit · Build
Backyard & Outdoor Living in Santa Monica
We design the whole backyard as one, so patio, kitchen and shade fit together.
Book a Consultation Call 818-300-2393
Built for Santa Monica Homes
Working here means designing for a narrow lot with an alley behind it and neighbors close on both sides. We plan pool excavation and material staging around permit-parking blocks and the city's construction-hour limits, and we check early whether a property falls inside the coastal zone or is old enough that demolition triggers landmark review. Salt air also shapes which metals, fasteners and finishes we are willing to put outdoors.
Mostly flat, modest rectangular lots on a tight grid, many of them alley-loaded with shallow rear yards and close side-yard neighbors. Larger estate parcels appear north of Montana Avenue.
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 Santa Monica: Residential building, grading and swimming pool permits are issued by the city's own Building and Safety Division at the Permit Services Center, not by Los Angeles. Properties inside the coastal zone still need a coastal development permit from the California Coastal Commission, because the city has a certified Land Use Plan but not yet a fully certified Local Coastal Program; a memorandum of understanding with the Commission was signed in 2026 to complete it.
Any demolition application for a structure more than 40 years old is transmitted to the Landmarks Commission for landmark review before it can move forward. Review durations vary by project and by whether coastal or historic review applies.
Permit details checked September 2026 against City of Santa Monica . Rules change, so we confirm them again for your parcel.
What We Build
- Coastal zone screening before design is finalized
- Alley and crane-based pool access planning
- Pre-demolition landmark review for older homes
- 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 Santa Monica
These local conditions change the scope, the schedule and the budget.
01
Parcels along the coastline, plus a small area on the eastern edge of the Pico Neighborhood, lie in the state-mapped liquefaction zone, which can push pool shells and ADU foundations toward deeper structural engineering.
02
Standard lots with rear alleys leave narrow side yards, so excavation spoils and gunite material typically move through the alley or over the house by crane.
03
Marine air within a mile of the water corrodes exposed fasteners, railings and equipment, so outdoor kitchens and pool gear get specified in stainless or powder-coated assemblies.
04
Housing stock from the 1920s through the 1940s often still carries undersized service panels and galvanized supply lines that must be upgraded before new outdoor loads are added.
Areas we serve in Santa Monica:North of MontanaSunset ParkOcean ParkWilmontMid-CityPico
Investment
What It Costs in Santa Monica
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 Santa Monica property
The Process
How We Work in Santa Monica
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 Santa Monica that submittal goes to City of Santa Monica Building and Safety Division (Community Development Department).
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 Santa Monica Homeowners Ask
Who issues the permits for this work in Santa Monica?
City of Santa Monica Building and Safety Division (Community Development Department). Residential building, grading and swimming pool permits are issued by the city's own Building and Safety Division at the Permit Services Center, not by Los Angeles.
Properties inside the coastal zone still need a coastal development permit from the California Coastal Commission, because the city has a certified Land Use Plan but not yet a fully certified Local Coastal Program; a memorandum of understanding with the Commission was signed in 2026 to complete it.
Any demolition application for a structure more than 40 years old is transmitted to the Landmarks Commission for landmark review before it can move forward. Review durations vary by project and by whether coastal or historic review applies.
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 Santa Monica different?
Mostly flat, modest rectangular lots on a tight grid, many of them alley-loaded with shallow rear yards and close side-yard neighbors. Larger estate parcels appear north of Montana Avenue. One local condition that shapes the work: Parcels along the coastline, plus a small area on the eastern edge of the Pico Neighborhood, lie in the state-mapped liquefaction zone, which can push pool shells and ADU foundations toward deeper structural engineering.
Which parts of Santa Monica do you work in?
All of it, including North of Montana, Sunset Park, Ocean Park and Wilmont. 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 Santa Monica?
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 Santa Monica
Pool & Spa Remodeling in Santa Monica ADUs & Additions in Santa Monica Kitchen, Bath & Interior Remodeling in Santa Monica Plans, Permits & Design in Santa Monica Everything we build in Santa Monica
Backyard & Outdoor Living Nearby
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Planning Guides
Before You Build in Santa Monica
Costs, materials and process notes from our own projects.
Santa Monica Outdoor Living Cost on a Small Lot Santa Monica rear yards are small and the rules are not. Line-item costs for a 600 sq ft yard, on-site stormwater budgets, coastal review and the dimensions that make a tight space work. 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 Santa Monica?
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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