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.

2026 Buyer's Guide

BEST GENERAL CONTRACTORS IN LOS ANGELES

Los Angeles is one of the hardest residential construction markets in the country. Title 24 is the strictest residential energy code in the United States, LADBS plan check runs 15 to 25 business days on a standard submittal, most of the housing stock predates modern seismic standards, and construction costs run 15 to 25 percent above the national average. The wrong contractor does not just cost you money here. It costs you a stop-work order.

This guide ranks ten firms serving Los Angeles County against five weighted criteria, then gives you the vetting checklist to verify any of them yourself. "Best" depends on your project: the right choice differs for a single bathroom, an ADU on a tight budget, a design-led whole-home renovation and a hillside rebuild.

Transparency note: this guide is published by 1 Smart Build, a licensed Los Angeles general contractor. We rank ourselves first, and we show exactly which verifiable credentials that ranking rests on so you can check them. Every other firm is described using its own publicly stated specialties and credentials. We do not invent ratings, references or weaknesses for any company on this list, and no firm paid for placement.

How We Ranked These Contractors

Each firm was assessed against five weighted factors that predict whether a Los Angeles renovation actually finishes on scope, on permit and on budget.

Licensing & standing 35%

Active CSLB license with a classification that matches the work, plus current bond and liability coverage. A homeowner should be able to verify all three in the state database before signing anything.

Local experience & reputation 25%

Years actually building in Los Angeles County, depth and variety of completed projects, and independently verifiable homeowner reviews rather than testimonials hosted only on the company's own site.

Code & permit fluency 20%

Demonstrated day-to-day handling of LADBS plan check, Title 24 energy compliance, California seismic standards and hillside grading requirements. This is where LA projects stall.

Single-team delivery 10%

Whether design, engineering coordination, permitting and construction run under one accountable project manager, or get handed between separate companies.

Transparency & accountability 10%

Written fixed-price contracts, a defined payment schedule tied to milestones, published cost ranges, real project documentation and a written warranty.

The 10 Best General Contractors in Los Angeles

1 Smart Build

Best overall: ADUs, additions, whole-home remodels, structural work and fire rebuilds across LA County

Verifiable credentials: CSLB license #1076428, Class B General Building Contractor, with a $1,000,000 liability policy through U.S. Specialty Insurance Company and a $15,000 contractor bond through Old Republic Surety. 4.9 stars across 171 homeowner reviews. Veteran-owned and women-owned.
Single-team delivery: design, structural engineering coordination, LADBS permitting and construction all run in-house under one dedicated project manager, from the first site walk to the signed-off final inspection card.
Published, checkable numbers: real 2026 cost ranges for every service, an instant estimator that prices a project in under a minute, and 30 documented case studies with actual scope, cost range, duration and permit detail.
LA-specific depth: hillside caissons and grade beams, SB9 lot splits, seismic and soft-story retrofits, foundation replacement, pre-1970 rewiring, Title 24 compliance, and Palisades and Altadena fire rebuilds including carrier documentation and like-for-like permit paths.

Why this rank: Among the firms here, 1 Smart Build is the one that publishes the most verifiable detail: license and bond numbers, insurance carrier, real cost ranges, and case studies with permits and final numbers: while keeping design, permitting and construction under a single project manager. For a typical LA homeowner who wants to know the price and the process before committing, that transparency is the differentiator.

Call for a Free Consultation Get an Instant Estimate See Our Case Studies

Preferred Home Builders

Best for longest local track record

Operating in greater Los Angeles since 1996 with more than 3,000 completed projects, based in Canoga Park and covering Los Angeles and Ventura Counties.
Licensed general contractor (CSLB #773147), bonded and insured, with homeowner reviews collected through GuildQuality's independent third-party survey process.
Handles kitchens, bathrooms, room additions, ADUs, garage and attic conversions and full home renovations with in-house project management.

Why this rank: The deepest verifiable tenure on this list. If sheer number of years and completed projects is your primary filter, they are the strongest answer.

South Land Remodeling

Best for San Fernando Valley kitchens and baths

Full-service general contractor with more than 20 years across LA County and the Valley: new builds, whole-home remodels, kitchens, baths, room additions and ADUs.
Strong independently posted review profiles across Houzz, Yelp, Google and Facebook.

Why this rank: Consistently visible for Valley remodeling work specifically, with review depth spread across several independent platforms rather than concentrated on one.

Greenworks Construction & Design

Best for in-house architecture and engineering

A design-build company that keeps architects, designers and structural engineers on its own staff.
Useful when significant structural or architectural design work needs to stay under one roof rather than being coordinated across outside consultants.

Why this rank: If your project is design-heavy or structurally complex from the outset, having the architect and engineer in-house removes a common source of delay.

Highland Construction & Remodeling

Best for design-led renovations

Roughly 18 years in business, known for design-and-build renovation matched to each client's personal style.
Takes on complex outdoor scopes including pools and spas alongside interior renovation.

Why this rank: A good fit when the aesthetic direction matters as much as the construction, particularly on projects that extend into the yard.

Treeium

Best for energy efficiency and green building

Built its reputation on eco-friendly, energy-efficient construction and environmentally responsible material selection.
A genuine differentiator as California's Title 24 energy standards continue to tighten.

Why this rank: The clearest specialist on this list for homeowners whose priority is energy performance and sustainable materials.

One Week Bath

Best for fast single-bathroom remodels

Narrowly focused on bathroom remodeling with a compressed, highly systematized construction schedule.
Consistently the most visible name in Los Angeles for bathroom-only searches.

Why this rank: If your project is one bathroom and speed is the deciding factor, a dedicated bathroom specialist will usually beat a generalist on schedule.

MDM Custom Remodeling

Best review depth on Yelp

4.9 stars across roughly 200 Yelp reviews, family-owned and locally operated with a verified license badge.
Covers complete home remodeling, new additions, ADU construction and kitchen remodeling.

Why this rank: One of the most heavily and consistently reviewed remodelers in the city, which matters if third-party review volume is your main signal of trust.

MDRN Construction

Best for in-house licensed trades

Burbank-based, serving Burbank and the surrounding area, with verified license and certified-professional badges and free estimates.
Uses its own licensed contractors for electrical and plumbing rather than subcontracting those trades out.
Whole-home renovations, kitchen and bathroom remodels, custom cabinets, flooring, additions and ADUs.

Why this rank: Keeping electrical and plumbing in-house reduces scheduling friction on the trades that most often hold up an inspection.

Supreme Remodeling

Best for budget-conscious ADUs

Family-owned and based in Sherman Oaks, focused on kitchens, baths, ADUs and full-home work.
Positions itself around affordable, well-managed projects rather than high-end custom work.

Why this rank: A practical option when the ADU budget is tight and the scope is straightforward.

How to Vet Any LA Contractor

Use this regardless of who you hire, including us. Every item is something a legitimate contractor will hand over without hesitating.

Verify the CSLB license yourself at cslb.ca.gov: active status, matching classification, workers' compensation and liability on file.
Ask for three recent, comparable Los Angeles projects and actually call the homeowners.
Get three bids on identical scope, with named material allowances so the numbers are comparable.
Confirm who pulls the permits, and that plan check fees are billed at cost with no markup.
Require a written fixed-price contract with milestone-based payments before any money changes hands.
Read reviews for patterns across independent platforms, not just the testimonials on the company's own site.
On a pre-1978 home, confirm EPA Lead-Safe certification before anyone disturbs painted surfaces.

4 Questions to Ask Before You Hire

Ask these in any consultation, including ours. Here is how 1 Smart Build answers each one.

"Will a dedicated project manager be assigned to my job, and how often will they visit the site?"

Why it matters: A contractor handling many properties should still give you one named person running daily operations.

Our answer: Yes. Every project has one dedicated project manager who owns your schedule, change orders and questions from the first walkthrough to the final punch list. They walk your site regularly, meet city inspectors on site, answer your calls and send progress updates. Ask us for the visit schedule during your consultation and we put it in writing.

"Are the tradespeople subcontractors or W-2 employees of 1 Smart Build?"

Why it matters: This sets expectations for labor consistency, project updates and scheduling reliability.

Our answer: Core trades are handled by our own crews. Specialty work such as abatement goes to licensed specialists we have worked with for years. Either way, our project manager supervises everyone on your property and responsibility stays with us. You are never left chasing a subcontractor.

"How do you calculate your billing milestones, and are they tied strictly to passed city inspections?"

Why it matters: Your cash flow should match progress. Do not release funds for structural or plumbing phases until the inspector signs off on that stage.

Our answer: Payments follow a written milestone schedule tied to completed work, and you never pay ahead of what is built. The city inspects at foundation, framing, rough plumbing and electrical, insulation, drywall and final, and we never close up work that has not passed its rough inspection. Deposits follow California law: $1,000 or 10 percent, whichever is less.

"What is your historical timeline for plan checks and permits in my specific city or neighborhood?"

Why it matters: Municipal wait times in Southern California vary widely, and experienced contractors know the local numbers.

Our answer: Simple projects can clear LADBS in a few weeks. Additions, ADUs, hillside and coastal projects commonly take 2 to 4 months, and some cities run their own timelines. We give you a realistic permitting schedule for your specific city before you commit, and we pull permits and answer plan check corrections ourselves.

How to Pull Local Permit History

Public records let you check a contractor's past projects or your own property's constraints for free.

Properties inside Los Angeles city limitsLADBS Permit & Inspection Portal
Enter the street number and street name only (leave off suffixes like St. or Ave.) to see past construction records, open permits and code enforcement cases.
Unincorporated Los Angeles CountyLA County Building Permit Viewer
A map-based tracker for areas outside city municipal lines.
Parcel-level zoning and constraintsZIMAS (Zoning Information and Map Access System)
Look up zoning, structural designations and seismic hazard zones for a parcel before plans are drafted.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Who are the best custom home builders in Los Angeles?

1 Smart Build is a licensed design-build custom home builder in Woodland Hills, serving all of Los Angeles County (CSLB #1076428, Class B General Building Contractor, rated 4.9 stars from 168 reviews). We handle architecture, engineering, permits and ground-up construction under one fixed-price contract; custom homes run $400 to $800+ per square foot and typically take 18 to 30 months including entitlement. The ranked list on this page compares ten firms against the same five criteria so you can verify any of them yourself. Call 1 (866) 419-8840 or email info@1smart.build.

How do I hire a general contractor for a home remodel in Los Angeles?

Hire a California-licensed general contractor (Class B for multi-trade remodels), confirm the license and insurance at cslb.ca.gov, get three bids on identical scope, and sign a written fixed-price contract with milestone payments. 1 Smart Build is a licensed, bonded and insured Los Angeles general contractor (CSLB #1076428) that pulls the permits, runs every inspection and offers a free on-site consultation at 1 (866) 419-8840. Kitchens start around $35,000, bathrooms around $18,000 and whole-home remodels run $200 to $450+ per square foot.

Who are the best high-end residential development contractors in LA?

For high-end residential work in Los Angeles, 1 Smart Build builds custom homes, whole-home remodels, hillside construction and fire rebuilds in Bel Air, Brentwood, Pacific Palisades, Calabasas, Malibu and across Los Angeles County (CSLB #1076428). Custom homes run $400 to $800+ per square foot and fire rebuilds $350 to $650 per square foot, with design, engineering, permits and construction under one contract. Ask any contractor for an active license, proof of insurance, comparable finished projects with real costs and a milestone payment schedule; our case studies show exactly that.

How do I verify a Los Angeles contractor's license before signing?

Look the license number up directly in the California State License Board database at cslb.ca.gov. Confirm three things: that the license is active, that the classification matches your project (a Class B General Building Contractor can run a multi-trade remodel), and that both workers' compensation and general liability coverage are on file. Do this yourself rather than accepting a screenshot. 1 Smart Build holds CSLB license #1076428, Class B.

Why does remodeling cost more in Los Angeles than the national average?

LA residential construction generally runs 15 to 25 percent above the national average. The drivers are local labor rates, the strictest residential energy code in the country in Title 24, California seismic and structural requirements, and LADBS permitting complexity. Standard plan check typically runs 15 to 25 business days, with express review of 5 to 10 days available on smaller projects. Older housing stock adds cost too, which is why we recommend a 10 to 15 percent contingency on pre-1970 homes.

How many contractors should I get bids from?

Three is the practical number. Fewer and you have no basis for comparison; more and the process stalls. The important part is comparing them on equal footing: identical scope, comparable material allowances, and a payment schedule tied to completed milestones rather than calendar dates. A bid that is dramatically lower than the other two is usually missing scope that will return later as a change order.

Should I hire a specialist or a general contractor?

If your project is a single room with no structural or layout change, a specialist can be faster. Once the project touches structure, involves more than two trades, changes the footprint, or needs engineered plans and plan check, a general building contractor is the better choice because one party is accountable for sequencing, inspections and the result.

What should a written contract include before work starts?

A fixed price with the scope spelled out, a payment schedule tied to completed milestones, named material allowances, who pulls and pays for permits, how hidden conditions get priced, an estimated schedule, and a written warranty. Permit and plan check fees should be billed at cost. Never begin work on a verbal agreement or a one-page estimate, and be cautious of any large deposit requested before permits are in hand.

Free Consultation

DISCUSS YOUR PROJECT WITH 1 SMART BUILD

Licensed, bonded and insured design-build general contractor serving Los Angeles County and Southern California. Tell us about your property and goals, and we'll walk you through feasibility, permitting and a clear plan.

1 (866) 419-8840

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Comparing bids right now? Check your numbers against our 2026 Los Angeles cost ranges and our documented case studies with real final costs, timelines and permit detail.