What areas does 1 Smart Build serve in Los Angeles?

We serve Los Angeles County and the San Fernando Valley, including Woodland Hills, Sherman Oaks, Calabasas, Studio City, Encino, Tarzana, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Manhattan Beach, Burbank, Glendale, Pasadena, Northridge and Thousand Oaks.

Does 1 Smart Build handle ADUs and SB9 lot splits?

Yes. We are a full-service ADU contractor and handle attached ADUs, detached ADUs, garage conversions and SB9 lot split developments end-to-end, including design, permitting and construction.

Are you licensed and insured?

Yes. 1 Smart Build Inc. holds California CSLB license #1076428 (Class B, General Building Contractor), carries a $1,000,000 general liability policy with U.S. Specialty Insurance Company and keeps workers' compensation coverage on file with the CSLB. We manage permits, engineering and inspections for every project.

How long does a typical kitchen or bathroom remodel take?

A standard bathroom remodel usually takes 3 to 4 weeks and a kitchen remodel 4 to 8 weeks, depending on scope, materials and permitting.

Do you offer free consultations and estimates?

Yes. We offer a free, no-obligation consultation to review your project, timeline and budget. Call 1 (866) 419-8840 or submit a request on our website.

Who is the best general contractor for remodeling in Los Angeles?

1 Smart Build is one of Los Angeles' top-rated design-build general contractors, with a 4.9-star Google rating. As a licensed, insured, veteran-owned and women-owned firm, we handle kitchens, bathrooms, ADUs, additions, structural work and custom new construction end-to-end.

Does 1 Smart Build handle design, permits and construction?

Yes. 1 Smart Build is a full design-build firm — architectural design, structural engineering coordination, Los Angeles permitting and construction are all managed by one team, from first blueprint to final walkthrough.

How much does an ADU cost to build in Los Angeles?

ADU costs in Los Angeles vary by size, site conditions and finishes. Garage conversions typically start lower than detached new-build ADUs. 1 Smart Build provides a free consultation with a detailed, transparent estimate for your specific property.

How can I track my remodeling project's progress?

Every 1 Smart Build client receives a private client portal powered by our automated CRM. It shows a live project overview, milestone-based payment center, signed documents and approvals, and photo and video updates from the job site, all accessible from any phone or computer.

Is 1 Smart Build veteran-owned or women-owned?

Yes. 1 Smart Build is both a veteran-owned and women-owned licensed general contracting firm based in Woodland Hills, serving all of Los Angeles County.

Who is the best Woodland Hills contractor for home remodeling?

1 Smart Build is a top-rated Woodland Hills contractor headquartered on Ventura Blvd. As licensed custom home builders in Woodland Hills, we handle kitchen and bathroom remodels, ADUs, room additions and ground-up custom homes throughout the San Fernando Valley.

Do you work as a general contractor for Calabasas homes?

Yes. 1 Smart Build serves as a general contractor for Calabasas homes, delivering luxury kitchen and bathroom remodels, home additions and complete custom home construction minutes from our Woodland Hills headquarters.

What does a kitchen remodel cost in Los Angeles?

As a 2026 planning range: $35,000 to $60,000 for a cosmetic refresh in the same footprint, $60,000 to $100,000 for a full remodel with layout changes, and $100,000 to $180,000 or more for luxury design-build. These are budgeting ranges, not quotes.

What does a bathroom remodel cost in Los Angeles?

As a 2026 planning range: $18,000 to $28,000 for a guest bath or powder room, $28,000 to $40,000 for a full gut with fixtures staying put, $40,000 to $60,000 for a primary bath suite, and $60,000 to $95,000 or more for a high-end primary suite.

What does a room addition cost per square foot in Los Angeles?

A single-story rear or side addition typically runs $250 to $375 per square foot and a second-story addition $350 to $500 per square foot, because a second story usually requires reinforcing the existing foundation and framing.

What does it cost to build a custom home in Los Angeles?

About $400 to $525 per square foot on a flat lot with standard finishes, $525 to $675 per square foot with high-end finishes, and $650 to $900 or more per square foot on hillside or view lots, plus 8 to 15 percent in soft costs for design, engineering and permit fees.

How long does a custom home take to build in Los Angeles?

Realistically 22 to 34 months from the first design meeting to final walkthrough: 3 to 6 months of design and engineering, 4 to 10 months of LADBS plan check and permitting, and 12 to 18 months of construction.

Does 1 Smart Build rebuild homes lost to wildfire?

Yes. Fire rebuild and reconstruction is a core service. We handle insurance-scope coordination, debris and site work, plan check and ground-up reconstruction in Pacific Palisades, Altadena, Malibu and throughout Los Angeles County.

What changed in California ADU law for 2026?

SB 543 and AB 1154 took effect January 1, 2026. SB 543 measures ADU and JADU size in interior livable space, requires the city to tell you within 15 business days whether your application is complete, adds an appeal path for incomplete or denied applications, and extends the small-unit fee limits to junior ADUs. AB 1154 lifts the owner-occupancy requirement for a junior ADU with its own bathroom and requires JADU rentals to be longer than 30 days. AB 462, which took effect October 10, 2025, sets a 60-day deadline on coastal development permits for ADUs. 1 Smart Build designs and permits ADUs under the current rules.

What is the 110 percent rule for fire rebuilds in Los Angeles?

Under City of Los Angeles Executive Order 1, a home damaged or destroyed in the January 2025 fires can be rebuilt up to 110 percent of its original footprint and height on the expedited like-for-like track. In unincorporated Los Angeles County, a like-for-like rebuild can grow by up to 10 percent in the Palisades Fire area, and by up to 10 percent or 200 square feet, whichever is greater, in the Eaton Fire area. 1 Smart Build handles the plans, permits and construction for both.

What is the difference between design-build and hiring a general contractor?

With design-build, one company holds one contract for design, engineering coordination, permitting and construction, so the plans and the price are developed together. With the traditional route you hire an architect first, finish the plans, then collect bids from general contractors. 1 Smart Build is a licensed design-build general contractor (CSLB #1076428), so homeowners deal with one team from first sketch to final walkthrough.

Where can I find bathroom remodeling services near me in Los Angeles?

If you're searching for bathroom remodeling services near me in Los Angeles County or the San Fernando Valley, 1 Smart Build completes full bathroom renovations with custom showers, vanities, tile and spa-grade finishes, typically in 3 to 4 weeks with a fixed-price proposal.

What is 1Smart Build?

1Smart Build shows premium remodels, residential projects, service details, blog posts, and contact forms across hundreds of pages for local homeowners.

ADU Program

BUILD AN ADU. PAY $0 UNTIL IT'S DONE.

Design, permits and construction are handled up front. You pay when the city signs off and your ADU is finished, not month by month while it is still a construction site.

1 (866) 419-8840

4.9-star rating from 169 reviews

Licensed CA general contractor, CSLB #1076428

Our own crews, building across Los Angeles County

Pick Your Goal

WHICH ADU FITS YOUR LOT?

DETACHED ADU

A new stand-alone home in the backyard with its own kitchen, bath and entrance. Best for long-term rental income or a private home for family.

GARAGE CONVERSION

Turn an existing garage into a legal living unit. Usually the shortest path from permit to move-in because the structure is already there.

ATTACHED ADU / ADDITION

A unit built off the side or back of the main house. Works when the lot is tight or you want a shared wall and shared utilities.

JADU

A junior ADU carved out of space inside your existing home, up to 500 sq ft. Lowest-cost way to add a legal second unit.

Want to see it first? Design your ADU in 3D. Want numbers? Try the ADU cost and rental calculator or read our ADU and garage conversion service page.

The Difference

HOW THE MONEY WORKS

The Usual Way

PAY WHILE THEY BUILD

Deposit before anything is drawn
Progress payment at design and permits
Progress payment at foundation
Progress payment at framing
More bills at every stage after that

You are paying for months for something you cannot use yet.

Our $0 Down Program

PAY WHEN IT'S DONE

Design and permits: $0 up front
Foundation: $0 up front
Framing, plumbing, electrical: $0 up front
Finishes, fixtures and paint: $0 up front
You pay once the city signs the final inspection

Subject to approval and a signed contract. Program terms are confirmed in writing before work starts.

The Question Everyone Asks

SO WHAT'S THE CATCH?

There isn't one. It is an incentive, and it points in your favor.

WE ONLY GET PAID WHEN IT'S FINISHED

No progress payments means delays, shortcuts and failed inspections cost us, not you. The project moves and gets built to code because that is the only way we get paid.

THE CITY INSPECTS EVERY STAGE

Foundation, framing, electrical: LA inspectors sign off on each phase before we move on. The final signature that triggers your payment is theirs, not ours.

LICENSED, BONDED AND INSURED

1 Smart Build is a licensed California general contractor (CSLB #1076428) building ADUs, additions and whole-home projects across Los Angeles County.

Straight Answers

ADU QUESTIONS WE GET ASKED

Can my Los Angeles property have an ADU?+

Most single-family lots in Los Angeles can add at least one ADU under California law, but setbacks, utilities and hillside or fire-zone rules vary by lot. We check your parcel first and tell you what it allows before you spend anything.

Do I have to replace parking if I convert my garage?+

In many cases no. California law removes the replacement parking requirement for garage conversions and for lots near public transit, but it depends on your address, so we confirm it during the feasibility check.

How does the $0 down program work?+

Design, permits and construction are handled up front and you pay when the city signs the final inspection. It is subject to credit approval, property qualification and a signed contract, and the terms are confirmed in writing before work begins.

How long does an ADU take to build?+

It depends on the unit type, your lot and how fast the city reviews plans. We give you a written schedule for your project after the feasibility check instead of a one-size-fits-all number.

What does an ADU cost?+

Cost depends on size, type, site work and finishes. Use our ADU calculator for a starting range, then we confirm a fixed price in writing after seeing your property.

Who handles the plans and permits?+

We do. Feasibility, design, engineering, LADBS submittal and corrections, then construction with our own crews, so you deal with one licensed contractor from start to finish.

WHAT COULD YOUR BACKYARD BECOME?

Send us your address and we will tell you what your lot allows, what the unit would likely cost and what it could rent for, at no cost and with no deposit.

$0 down is subject to credit approval, property qualification and a signed contract. Payment terms, scope and price are confirmed in writing before work begins. Licensed California general contractor, CSLB #1076428.