Backyard Remodeling & Outdoor Living in Venice, CA
Source: https://www.remodelyourvibe.com/services/exterior-remodeling/venice
Last modified: 2026-09-24T00:00:00.000Z
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Image: Pool and raised spa with a fire pit, outdoor bar and lawn at dusk
- Venice
Design · Permit · Build
Backyard & Outdoor Living in Venice
We design the whole backyard as one, so patio, kitchen and shade fit together.
Book a Consultation Call 818-300-2393
Built for Venice Homes
Groundwater is the first thing we look at. Near the canals and the beach, groundwater can sit shallow enough to reach a pool excavation, which means dewatering, hydrostatic relief and a heavier shell than the drawings first suggest. Narrow walk-street and canal lots rarely take a truck, so material moves by hand or over the roof by crane. On top of all that, almost every parcel needs a coastal permit before a shovel moves.
Unusually narrow lots on walk streets, canals and alley-loaded blocks, with small deep rear yards and minimal street frontage.
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 Venice: Building, grading and pool permits are issued by LADBS because this is part of the City of Los Angeles, but nearly the whole community sits inside the coastal zone. The Venice Local Coastal Program is still not fully certified (a Land Use Plan certified in 2001 is in place while an updated plan is being drafted with the California Coastal Commission) so projects need a coastal development permit through Los Angeles City Planning, and city decisions remain appealable to the Commission.
Most projects also require a Venice Coastal Zone Specific Plan (Ordinance No. 175,693) determination or specific plan exemption before a building permit can be issued. In the mapped dual permit jurisdiction area a separate Coastal Commission permit is required as well, so entitlement duration varies widely.
Permit details checked September 2026 against LADBS , LA City Planning and State of California . Rules change, so we confirm them again for your parcel.
What We Build
- High water table pool engineering and dewatering
- Coastal development permit and specific plan clearance
- Crane and conveyor material handling on no-access lots
- 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 Venice
These local conditions change the scope, the schedule and the budget.
01
Groundwater near the canals and the beach can be shallow, which can require dewatering during excavation and hydrostatic relief in the finished pool shell.
02
Sandy fill mapped for liquefaction pushes pool and foundation design toward deeper structural solutions than the same project would need a few miles inland.
03
Narrow walk-street and canal lots have no direct vehicle access, so excavated soil, gunite and hardscape material move by conveyor, buggy or crane over the roofline.
04
Salt-laden air and blowing sand shorten the life of untreated metal, so equipment enclosures, fasteners and outdoor kitchen components are specified for that exposure.
Areas we serve in Venice:The Venice CanalsOakwoodMilwoodEast VeniceAbbot Kinney DistrictMarina Peninsula
Investment
What It Costs in Venice
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 Venice property
The Process
How We Work in Venice
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 Venice 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 Venice Homeowners Ask
Who issues the permits for this work in Venice?
Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS). Building, grading and pool permits are issued by LADBS because this is part of the City of Los Angeles, but nearly the whole community sits inside the coastal zone. The Venice Local Coastal Program is still not fully certified (a Land Use Plan certified in 2001 is in place while an updated plan is being drafted with the California Coastal Commission) so projects need a coastal development permit through Los Angeles City Planning, and city decisions remain appealable to the Commission.
Most projects also require a Venice Coastal Zone Specific Plan (Ordinance No. 175,693) determination or specific plan exemption before a building permit can be issued. In the mapped dual permit jurisdiction area a separate Coastal Commission permit is required as well, so entitlement duration varies widely.
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 Venice different?
Unusually narrow lots on walk streets, canals and alley-loaded blocks, with small deep rear yards and minimal street frontage. One local condition that shapes the work: Groundwater near the canals and the beach can be shallow, which can require dewatering during excavation and hydrostatic relief in the finished pool shell.
Which parts of Venice do you work in?
All of it, including The Venice Canals, Oakwood, Milwood and East Venice. 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 Venice?
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 Venice
Pool & Spa Remodeling in Venice ADUs & Additions in Venice Kitchen, Bath & Interior Remodeling in Venice Plans, Permits & Design in Venice Everything we build in Venice
Backyard & Outdoor Living Nearby
Backyard & Outdoor Living in Santa Monica Backyard & Outdoor Living in Culver City Backyard & Outdoor Living in Los Angeles Backyard & Outdoor Living in Brentwood Backyard & Outdoor Living in Mar Vista Backyard & Outdoor Living in Playa del Rey
Planning Guides
Before You Build in Venice
Costs, materials and process notes from our own projects.
ADU Design Ideas for Los Angeles Neighborhoods Los Angeles neighborhoods have distinct characters that should inform ADU design. Explore ideas for ADUs that complement homes in Silver Lake, Venice, the Valley, and beyond. 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 Venice?
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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