Backyard Remodeling & Outdoor Living in Van Nuys, CA
Source: https://www.remodelyourvibe.com/services/exterior-remodeling/van-nuys
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
- Van Nuys
Design · Permit · Build
Backyard & Outdoor Living in Van Nuys
We design the whole backyard as one, so patio, kitchen and shade fit together.
Book a Consultation Call 818-300-2393
Built for Van Nuys Homes
Van Nuys reads flat and easy on paper, and much of it is: deep alluvial soil, generous rear yards, wide streets that a crane or a gunite truck can actually turn into. What catches people out here is the older infrastructure: 1940s and 50s panel capacity, clay sewer laterals, and irrigation-era utility runs that surface mid-excavation. We plan the service upgrade and the trenching route before we price a pool.
Typical parcels are flat rectangular tract lots with a single-story house set toward the street and a level rear yard.
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 Van Nuys: Permits are issued by LADBS, and the Van Nuys Development Services Center at 6262 Van Nuys Boulevard handles plan check, permitting and inspection for this part of the San Fernando Valley. There is no coastal zone or hillside overlay to contend with here, but the city's protected tree and shrub ordinance still applies to oaks, western sycamores and Southern California black walnuts at four cumulative inches of trunk diameter or more.
We check whether a parcel lies in a CGS-mapped liquefaction zone, shown on ZIMAS. Under LADBS Information Bulletin P/BC 2026-044, one- and two-family dwellings, ADUs under three stories, and pools, spas and decks are exempt from the liquefaction-zone investigation, so any soils report need is confirmed with plan check.
Properties close to the airport can also trigger FAA airspace notice for tall structures or crane operations, and processing durations vary with scope.
Permit details checked September 2026 against LADBS and LA City Planning . Rules change, so we confirm them again for your parcel.
What We Build
- Electrical service and subpanel upgrades
- Pool and detached ADU on the same lot
- Sewer lateral assessment before trenching
- 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 Van Nuys
These local conditions change the scope, the schedule and the budget.
01
The valley floor here is deep, fine-grained alluvium that excavates predictably but can be expansive enough to require deepened footings or a post-tensioned slab under a new detached structure.
02
Housing from the 1940s and 1950s commonly still runs a 100-amp main panel, so pool equipment, a heater and an outdoor kitchen almost always mean a service upgrade coordinated with LADWP.
03
Clay sewer laterals of that vintage are frequently root-intruded, and a camera inspection before trenching for a new bathroom or second unit avoids an expensive mid-project surprise.
04
Rear yards are generous and streets are wide, so full-size excavation and gunite equipment can usually reach the back once the side gate is widened.
Areas we serve in Van Nuys:Kester Ridge
Investment
What It Costs in Van Nuys
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 Van Nuys property
The Process
How We Work in Van Nuys
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 Van Nuys 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 Van Nuys Homeowners Ask
Who issues the permits for this work in Van Nuys?
Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS). Permits are issued by LADBS, and the Van Nuys Development Services Center at 6262 Van Nuys Boulevard handles plan check, permitting and inspection for this part of the San Fernando Valley.
There is no coastal zone or hillside overlay to contend with here, but the city's protected tree and shrub ordinance still applies to oaks, western sycamores and Southern California black walnuts at four cumulative inches of trunk diameter or more.
We check whether a parcel lies in a CGS-mapped liquefaction zone, shown on ZIMAS. Under LADBS Information Bulletin P/BC 2026-044, one- and two-family dwellings, ADUs under three stories, and pools, spas and decks are exempt from the liquefaction-zone investigation, so any soils report need is confirmed with plan check.
Properties close to the airport can also trigger FAA airspace notice for tall structures or crane operations, and processing durations vary with 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 Van Nuys different?
Typical parcels are flat rectangular tract lots with a single-story house set toward the street and a level rear yard. One local condition that shapes the work: The valley floor here is deep, fine-grained alluvium that excavates predictably but can be expansive enough to require deepened footings or a post-tensioned slab under a new detached structure.
Which parts of Van Nuys do you work in?
All of it, including Kester Ridge. 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 Van Nuys?
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 Van Nuys
Pool & Spa Remodeling in Van Nuys ADUs & Additions in Van Nuys Everything we build in Van Nuys
Backyard & Outdoor Living Nearby
Backyard & Outdoor Living in Sherman Oaks Backyard & Outdoor Living in North Hollywood Backyard & Outdoor Living in Encino Backyard & Outdoor Living in Reseda Backyard & Outdoor Living in Valley Village
Planning Guides
Before You Build in Van Nuys
Costs, materials and process notes from our own projects.
Van Nuys Pool and Backyard Costs A new pool in Van Nuys runs $75,000 to $145,000, and a pool-plus-backyard package $110,000 to $220,000. Flat lots keep excavation honest; older service panels and gas meters are where budgets slip. Read guide Building an ADU in North Hollywood and Van Nuys ADUs in North Hollywood and Van Nuys run $95,000 for a garage conversion to $380,000 for a detached two-bedroom. The lots are tight, the housing stock is old, and the utilities are the story. 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
Planning a Backyard in Van Nuys?
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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