Can you do an LA multifamily remodel with tenants in place?

Yes — common area + unit-by-unit turn. Tenant coordination plan and Habitability Plan handle the schedule.

Multifamily remodel cost per unit in LA?

$30K–$80K for cosmetic refresh; $120K–$250K full down-to-studs per unit.

Is my Highland Park / Angelino Heights house in an HPOZ?

Most of historic Highland Park (along Figueroa) and all of Angelino Heights are designated HPOZs. We pull the parcel against the City of LA HPOZ map during the first site walk.

Do I need a hillside permit in Silver Lake?

Many Silver Lake blocks fall inside the Hillside Construction Regulation overlay. If yours does, we add a haul-route permit and stricter truck-size limits to the schedule.

Eastside / NELA Multifamily Remodeling.

Multifamily remodels across LA — common areas, in-place unit upgrades, full vacant-unit turns. We coordinate around occupied tenants and work with the LADBS multifamily permit track.

NELA permits are predictable as long as you're outside an HPOZ. Inside one (Highland Park, Angelino Heights, parts of Eagle Rock), the Office of Historic Resources reviews materials, windows, and street-facing changes before LADBS will issue. Hillside parcels add a separate haul-route permit and a tighter grading review.

Eastside / NELA cost band — 2026

$80 – $300 / sqft per unit

Cosmetic unit refresh bottom; full down-to-studs top.

Eastside / NELA permit clock

8–12 weeks ministerial

3–9 months per building depending on scope.

Scope — start to keys.

Scope walk + tenant coordination plan
Plans + permits
Common-area + unit work
MEP upgrades
Final inspection + handover

What changes about the permit here.

Office of Historic Resources (OHR) review on HPOZ parcels — adds 4–8 weeks before LADBS submittal.
Hillside Construction Regulation (HCR) permits required in many Silver Lake / Echo Park / Mt Washington blocks.
Pre-1978 housing presumed to have lead paint; abatement budgeted before demo on any wall removal.
BHO (Baseline Hillside Ordinance) caps height and grading on R1H lots.

What moves the Eastside / NELA number.

Hillside parcels add $40–120k in geotech, retaining, and crane access vs flat lots.
HPOZ design review pushes window/door budgets 20–35% higher (true-divided lite, wood sash).
Lead and asbestos abatement on pre-1978 homes commonly $8–25k.
Tight street access in Silver Lake / Echo Park drives concrete pump and small-equipment days.

In short.

Can you do an LA multifamily remodel with tenants in place?: Yes — common area + unit-by-unit turn. Tenant coordination plan and Habitability Plan handle the schedule.
Multifamily remodel cost per unit in LA?: $30K–$80K for cosmetic refresh; $120K–$250K full down-to-studs per unit.
Is my Highland Park / Angelino Heights house in an HPOZ?: Most of historic Highland Park (along Figueroa) and all of Angelino Heights are designated HPOZs. We pull the parcel against the City of LA HPOZ map during the first site walk.
Do I need a hillside permit in Silver Lake?: Many Silver Lake blocks fall inside the Hillside Construction Regulation overlay. If yours does, we add a haul-route permit and stricter truck-size limits to the schedule.

More we build in Eastside / NELA.

Multifamily Remodeling in nearby LA areas.

Got a Eastside / NELA project in mind?

Send us the address and we’ll pull Eastside / NELA zoning, setbacks, and multifamily remodeling feasibility before you spend on drawings.

Start a Eastside / NELA project →