New construction,
built in California.

Two things kill a new build.

What we build.

From a single architect-led custom home to a 10-unit small multifamily. Each program carries its own permit path, structural strategy, and cost basis — we scope yours before drawings start.

• Item N-01

  Size

  2,200 – 6,500 sqft

  Range

  $550 – $1,200 / sqft

  Schedule

  12 – 18 months build

  Custom single-family home

  Architect-led design tailored to the parcel. Full-custom envelope, mechanical systems, and finish program. We carry the design, structural, Title 24, and build under one design-build contract — one team, one schedule, one number.

• Item N-02

  Size

  Replaces existing footprint

  Range

  $500 – $950 / sqft + demo

  Schedule

  14 – 22 months total

  Tear-down and rebuild

  Demolition of the existing structure (with asbestos and lead-paint surveys per CCR Title 8 and SCAQMD Rule 1403) and ground-up rebuild on the cleared lot. We model partial-retention scenarios (keeping 50%+ of walls to permit as major remodel) against full teardown so you see the cost and timeline delta before you commit.

• Item N-03

  Size

  1,800 – 3,500 sqft

  Range

  $400 – $700 / sqft

  Schedule

  10 – 14 months build

  Ground-up production / semi-custom

  For owners and small developers building on infill lots. Plan library plus parcel-specific modifications. Faster preconstruction than full-custom, comparable finish quality, repeatable cost certainty.

• Item N-04

  Size

  1,400 – 2,200 sqft per unit

  Range

  $450 – $800 / sqft

  Schedule

  12 – 18 months build

  Duplex / triplex (2–3 units)

  R1 lots under SB 9 or R2/R3 zoned lots. Each unit gets its own utilities, fire separation per CBC §420, and (depending on geometry) NFPA 13D residential sprinklers. We scope rent or sale economics before drawings start.

• Item N-05

  Size

  1,200 – 1,800 sqft per unit

  Range

  $420 – $720 / sqft

  Schedule

  14 – 20 months build

  Fourplex (4 units)

  Type V residential multifamily. Plan-check is longer than 1–3 unit projects because of accessibility, fire-rated assemblies, and elevator/EVCS requirements depending on size. Investor pro forma reviewed at preconstruction.

• Item N-06

  Size

  Site-dependent

  Range

  $380 – $650 / sqft

  Schedule

  16 – 24 months build

  Small multifamily (5–10 units)

  Type V over Type I podium where parking is below grade; otherwise full Type V on a slab. SB 423 streamlined ministerial review can compress the entitlement timeline by months on qualifying parcels.

• Item N-07

  Size

  1,400 – 2,000 sqft per unit

  Range

  $420 – $700 / sqft

  Schedule

  14 – 20 months build

  Townhome row (3–8 units)

  Attached units on individual lots (small-lot subdivision in LA) or condo-mapped on one parcel. Party-wall and fire-separation detailing is the critical path; we engineer it in-house.

• Item N-08

  Size

  Site-dependent

  Range

  Modeled per parcel

  Schedule

  Modeled per parcel

  Infill development

  Replacing one underused parcel with the highest-and-best-use program the zoning allows — often a small multifamily or townhome row. We run lot feasibility, zoning, financing, and pro forma before committing to a program.

Lot feasibility.

We run a written feasibility report on every prospective parcel before any design contract is signed. Ten checks, each backed by a public-record source:

• ✓Parcel zoning, FAR, height, and setback envelope
• ✓SB 9 lot split eligibility and SB 423 ministerial review eligibility
• ✓Soils class and fault / liquefaction / methane zone overlay
• ✓Hillside grade and Hillside Compliance Review (HCR) trigger
• ✓Coastal Zone status and CDP requirement
• ✓Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone (VHFHSZ / WUI) status
• ✓Flood zone, drainage, and storm-water requirements
• ✓Utility capacity — sewer, water, gas, and electric service size
• ✓Tree-protection ordinance and protected-species impact
• ✓Easements, setbacks of record, and view-protection overlays

Authoritative parcel data is pulled from ZIMAS (LA City Planning), county GIS portals, the California Geological Survey Earthquake Zones App, and CAL FIRE FHSZ maps for fire-hazard severity classification.

Zoning & land use.

Permits & plan check.

For a new single-family home in the City of Los Angeles, expect 4–8 months of plan-check and permit issuance after construction documents land at the building department. That window covers 2–3 correction cycles plus parallel reviews from fire, planning, public works, and (where applicable) the Bureau of Engineering for sewer/water connections.

Submit through LADBS ePlanLA. Permit fees are published in the LADBS fee schedule and can be pre-calculated to within a few hundred dollars.

Cost.

Ranges below are for LA-basin builds in 2026, all-in (design, permits, engineering, construction, sitework, utilities, finishes, owner contingency). Numbers track published indices from the BLS Producer Price Index for Final Demand Construction and our own current-quarter subcontractor bids. Hillside, coastal, fire-zone, and flag-lot parcels carry premiums beyond these ranges.

Looking for a city-specific cost breakdown? Browse cost pages →

Timeline.

The standard LA single-family new-build, broken into the 11 phases we track on every project. Hillside and coastal parcels add 8–24 weeks to the plan-check phase.

1. 01

   Schematic design

   4 – 8 weeks

   Site analysis, program, massing, parti.

2. 02

   Design development

   6 – 10 weeks

   Materials, structural strategy, MEP strategy, Title 24 model.

3. 03

   Construction documents

   8 – 14 weeks

   Full permit set: architectural, structural, MEP, Title 24, CALGreen, civil.

4. 04

   Plan check + permit

   16 – 32 weeks

   LADBS or local jurisdiction; usually 2–3 correction cycles.

5. 05

   Demolition + site work

   4 – 10 weeks

   Demo, haul, rough grade, utility disconnects.

6. 06

   Foundation

   4 – 8 weeks

   Excavation, forms, rebar, pour, cure, strip.

7. 07

   Framing + dry-in

   10 – 16 weeks

   Framing, sheathing, roof, windows, weather barrier.

8. 08

   MEP rough + insulation

   6 – 10 weeks

   Electrical, plumbing, HVAC rough, insulation, Title 24 inspections.

9. 09

   Drywall + finishes

   10 – 18 weeks

   Drywall, paint, cabinetry, flooring, tile, trim.

10. 10

    MEP trim + commissioning

    4 – 8 weeks

    Fixtures, devices, HVAC start-up, solar interconnection.

11. 11

    Final inspections + CofO

    2 – 6 weeks

    Building, fire, planning, public works. Certificate of Occupancy.

Sitework, grading, utilities.

The most under-budgeted phase of any new build. On a flat infill lot in central LA, plan on $40k–$120k. On a hillside parcel with retaining walls, caisson foundations, or a long utility run, plan on $150k–$400k+. Soils class from your geotech report drives foundation cost more than the architecture above it.

• Demolition + haul (asbestos/lead survey for pre-1981 structures)
• Rough grading, cut/fill balance, compaction certification
• Retaining walls (gravity, cantilever, soldier-pile, soil nails)
• Sewer lateral replacement and capacity confirmation
• Water service upsize (1" → 1.5" or 2" for 4+ bath / multifamily)
• Electrical service upgrade (200A → 400A, transformer coordination)
• Gas service or full-electric (heat-pump) cutover
• Storm-water best-management practices (LID per LA MS4 permit)
• Driveway, hardscape, and curb-cut permits
• Tree-protection fencing and arborist sign-off

Foundation, structure, seismic.

Title 24 & CALGreen.

California has two stacked code packages every new build must comply with at plan check. We model both in-house so there's no surprise revision cycle two months into construction documents.

Fire, hillside, coastal, drainage.

Four overlays change the permit path and the construction detailing. We confirm each on the lot-feasibility report from a public source — not from the seller's listing sheet.

Design-build process.

One contract covers feasibility, architecture, structural, Title 24, civil, permitting, and construction. One team, one schedule, one number. Five gates from contract to keys:

1. 1

   Feasibility & program

   Two-week written report — parcel, zoning, soils, overlays, target program, target budget. No design fee until you approve.

2. 2

   Schematic + design development

   Three-step design sign-off: parti, massing, materials. Title 24 model started in parallel.

3. 3

   Construction documents

   Full permit set — architectural, structural, MEP, Title 24, CALGreen, civil. Locked GMP at end of CDs.

4. 4

   Plan check + permit

   We are the applicant of record on every correction cycle. You see every comment from every reviewer.

5. 5

   Build + commissioning

   Weekly owner walk, monthly draw review, line-item budget tracking. Final inspections, CofO, and a 1-year warranty walk.

Who you're hiring.

Live customer ratings render on the home page review strip — pulled from real third-party platforms, not hardcoded.

Related work.

• ADU construction→
• Major remodels→
• Los Angeles location hub→
• California cost report 2026→
• California cost index 2026→
• Permit directory→
• Construction process→
• Project portfolio→

FAQ.

What does 'new construction' actually mean?

Building a new dwelling from the ground up on a vacant lot, or tearing down an existing structure and rebuilding. Major remodels — even down-to-the-studs renovations — are not new construction because they retain the existing foundation and a substantial portion of the structural envelope. New construction triggers a full code-compliance path: current Title 24 energy code, current CALGreen sustainability code, current seismic provisions, and a complete plan-check cycle at the local building department.

How much does it cost to build a new house in Los Angeles in 2026?

Real all-in ranges for the LA basin in 2026 — including design, structural engineering, Title 24 compliance, permits, sitework, utilities, foundation, framing, MEP, finishes, and contingency: production-grade single-family $400–$550 per sqft; semi-custom $550–$750 per sqft; full-custom and hillside / coastal $750–$1,200+ per sqft. Soft costs (design + permits + engineering) usually run 12–18% of hard-cost subtotal. Site work on hillside or unimproved lots can add $150k–$400k that is invisible on a per-sqft basis. We give you a written assumptions sheet before any number lands in your inbox.

How long does new construction take from contract to keys?

For a typical single-family home in a flat LA lot: 4–7 months preconstruction (schematic + design development + construction documents + structural + Title 24 + plan check) followed by 10–14 months of construction. Total: 14–21 months. Hillside, coastal, or VHFHSZ parcels add 2–6 months because of additional reviews (HCR, CDP, WUI assemblies). Duplexes and fourplexes on flat lots track similarly to single-family on the construction side but add 6–12 weeks of plan-check on the front end.

What permits do I need to build a new house in Los Angeles?

At minimum: a building permit (covers structural, framing, finishes), electrical, plumbing, and mechanical (HVAC) permits, all issued by the local building department. City of LA projects go through LADBS via ePlanLA. Add: grading permit if cut/fill exceeds 50 cubic yards, sewer and water connection permits from LADWP / LA Sanitation, a Title 24 energy compliance package, a CALGreen tier compliance worksheet, and — depending on the lot — a haul-route approval, a Coastal Development Permit, a Hillside Compliance Review, or a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone WUI assembly review. The plan-check + permit window in the City of LA for a new SFR is typically 4–8 months including revisions.

Do I need a soils report?

For practical purposes, yes. California Building Code Chapter 18 lets the building official require a geotechnical investigation for any new foundation, and in LA County hillside zones, fault-rupture zones, liquefaction zones, methane zones, and most coastal soils, a soils report is required, not optional. The report sets foundation type (slab, mat, pier-and-grade-beam, drilled caissons), retaining-wall design, and drainage requirements. Plan on $4k–$15k for the geotechnical investigation; complex hillside lots run higher.

What is Title 24 and CALGreen and why does it matter?

Title 24 is California's energy code. The 2022 version (in force for permits applied for in 2023+) effectively requires heat-pump space heating or heat-pump water heating, high-performance envelope, solar PV (for low-rise residential), and battery storage readiness for many project types. CALGreen is California's green building standards code — it sets construction waste recycling, water-use, and indoor-air-quality minimums. Both are enforced at plan check; you do not get a permit without a compliant Title 24 energy report and a CALGreen worksheet. Source: California Energy Commission 2022 Energy Code.

Can I tear down my existing house and rebuild?

Usually yes, but the path depends on whether you keep any portion of the existing structure. Full demolition and rebuild is a new-construction permit; demo permits require asbestos and lead-paint surveys (homes built before 1981) and SCAQMD Rule 1403 notification. If you keep 50%+ of the existing exterior walls, some jurisdictions allow you to permit as a major remodel — cheaper plan check, but you inherit the existing foundation and seismic risk. We model both options before you commit.

What's the difference between design-build and design-bid-build?

Design-bid-build: you hire an architect, they finish drawings, you put the drawings out to bid, you sign a separate contract with the winning contractor. Two contracts, two coordination interfaces, change orders are common when the bid is below cost. Design-build: one contract covers architect + structural + Title 24 + general contractor under one roof. Pricing locks earlier, change orders drop, and the team that priced the building is the team that builds it. For ground-up residential, design-build typically saves 8–16 weeks and reduces change orders by 30–50% in our experience — but only if the design-build firm has in-house design talent, not a contractor that subs out drawings.

How do I check a contractor's license before signing?

Look up the CSLB license number directly at the California Contractors State License Board website. Verify: license is active, classification matches the work (B for general building, C-class for specialty trades), bond is current, workers' compensation is on file, and there are no active complaints or suspensions. CA Lic. #1145233. Never accept "I'm licensed, trust me" — every California contractor has a public CSLB record.

Do you build duplexes, fourplexes, and small multifamily?

Yes. Duplexes (2 units) and triplexes (3 units) on R-zoned lots follow essentially the same code path as single-family with additional fire-separation and exiting requirements. Fourplexes (4 units) and larger trigger CBC Chapter 4 (special detached dwellings) or Type V multifamily depending on geometry; sprinklers per NFPA 13D or 13R may apply. SB 9 lot splits and SB 423 streamlined ministerial review have expanded the menu of what a single owner can build on one parcel. We scope feasibility and permit path before any drawings start.