How much does new construction cost in LA?

$450–$750/sqft turnkey. Hillside, custom features, premium finishes lift to $900+.

How long does an LA custom home take?

20–34 months total — 8–14 months design + permit, 12–20 months build.

Bay Area new construction cost?

$600–$1,100/sqft. SF, Marin, and Peninsula top of band.

How long does Bay ground-up take?

26–48 months total. SF Planning Commission review is the longest variable.

California New Construction.

Ground-up homes across LA — Hollywood Hills, Brentwood, Pacific Palisades, the Westside. Architect coordination, LADBS permit, build with regular crew.

Bay ground-up — SF infill, Marin hillside, Peninsula teardown-rebuilds. Geotech, design, city permit (Planning Commission review often), construction.

Los Angeles

$450 – $750 / sqft turnkey

Standard finish bottom; full-custom top.

Timeline — 8–14 months design + permit; 12–20 months on-site.

Los Angeles New Construction →

San Francisco Bay Area

$600 – $1,100 / sqft turnkey

Bay land, labor, and code premiums lift band 25-50%.

Timeline — 12–24 months design + permit; 14–24 months on-site.

San Francisco Bay Area New Construction →

Scope — what we deliver.

Feasibility + zoning
Architect coordination
Plans + structural + MEP
LADBS permit
Foundation to keys + warranty

Permits look different in LA vs the Bay.

Los Angeles — permit notes

LADBS plan check 3–6 months.
Hillside Ordinance on hill lots.
Title 24 + CalGreen.
Coastal Zone review on coastal lots.

Bay Area — permit notes

City permit 6–12 months.
Discretionary review common.
Title 24 + CalGreen.
Geotech mandatory on hill or fill.

How we think about new construction.

New construction in California in 2026 is a Title 24 puzzle as much as it is a building project — electrification, envelope, fenestration ratios, EV-ready, solar-ready, HERS verification all interact. We start the energy model in week one because it constrains every architectural decision: window area, orientation, overhangs, glazing spec.

The single largest difference between a great new build and a forgettable one is how the project handles outside-the-permit-set decisions: exterior lighting, landscape grade tie-in, hardscape, fence-line, neighbor coordination. We budget for those from day one.

The schedule, written out.

Month 1–2
Feasibility + entitlement
Survey, soils, zoning, planning intake, design review where applicable.
Month 2–4
Schematic + design development
Plans, elevations, sections, exterior materials board, initial T-24 model.
Month 4–7
CDs + engineering
Stamped structural, MEP, T-24, soils, landscape, civil.
Month 7–12
Permit + procurement
Plan check, corrections, fee assessment, long-lead orders (windows, steel, custom fixtures).
Month 12–14
Site work + foundation
Grading, utility trenching, foundation.
Month 14–18
Framing through dry-in
Framing, roof, windows, exterior weather barrier.
Month 18–22
MEP + envelope
Rough MEP, insulation, drywall, HERS verification.
Month 22–28
Finish
Cabinets, stone, tile, paint, fixtures, appliances, hardscape, landscape, finals.

Materials & assemblies.

Component	Default spec	Why
Foundation	Post-tension slab or stem-wall + crawlspace depending on soil + climate	PT slab wins in expansive clay; crawlspace wins in marine climates.
Framing	Advanced framing (24" o.c. + insulated headers + 2-stud corners) where engineering allows	Adds 8–12% insulation by volume vs conventional framing.
Envelope	Continuous insulation + air-sealed assembly + verified blower-door target ≤ 3 ACH50	T-24 mandates the test; we shoot tighter than minimum.
HVAC	Heat pump primary; if zoned, dedicated heat-pump per zone	All-electric is the future-proof default in 2026 CA.
Solar + battery	Required for new residential under T-24 2022; battery for NEM 3.0 economics	Battery is no longer optional under NEM 3.0 — without it, solar ROI collapses.
Smart panel + EV	200A min, EV-ready circuit, smart panel for load management	Smart panel pays back the first time you'd otherwise need a 400A service upgrade.

Hidden costs we flag up front.

Line item	Range	When it hits
Off-site improvements	$15K–$80K	city requires sidewalk, curb, gutter, ADA ramp
Utility undergrounding	$10K–$60K	lot is fed by overhead pole; some jurisdictions require burial
Stormwater / SUSMP / C.3	$5K–$25K	lot exceeds impervious threshold (Bay Area especially)
Landscape + irrigation	$30K–$150K+	almost always outside the construction contract
Furniture + window treatments	$25K–$120K	never in the construction budget

cheaper alternatives

What we'd consider — and what we wouldn't.

Major remodel + addition
30–50% cheaper but always inherits the limitations of the existing structure.
Modular / panelized construction
8–14 wks faster on site but custom design becomes hard and CA factory capacity is limited.
Production builder
Lower $/sqft but you don't get to pick anything — no fit for custom lots.

pitfalls — takeover-job patterns

Mistakes to avoid.

Starting construction before planning entitlement closes — almost always backfires when conditions of approval change a wall
Designing the kitchen + baths in CD phase instead of SD — every cabinet change after CD has cascade effects
Ignoring the C.3 stormwater calc — Bay Area cities will reject the entire plan set
Picking a heating system on price instead of climate — gas furnace + AC is now more expensive over 15 years than a heat pump

New Construction — Los Angeles.

New Construction — Bay Area.

In short.

How much does new construction cost in LA?: $450–$750/sqft turnkey. Hillside, custom features, premium finishes lift to $900+.
How long does an LA custom home take?: 20–34 months total — 8–14 months design + permit, 12–20 months build.
Bay Area new construction cost?: $600–$1,100/sqft. SF, Marin, and Peninsula top of band.
How long does Bay ground-up take?: 26–48 months total. SF Planning Commission review is the longest variable.

More we build.

Got a new construction project in mind?

Send us the address. We'll pull local zoning, setbacks, and new construction feasibility before you spend on drawings.

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