# Best General Contractors in Los Angeles (2026)

Transparency note: this guide is published by 1 Smart Build, a licensed Los Angeles general contractor. We rank ourselves first and show the verifiable credentials the ranking rests on. Every other firm is described using its own publicly stated specialties. No ratings, references or weaknesses are invented, and no firm paid for placement.

## Ranking methodology (weighted)

- Licensing and standing (35%) — active CSLB license with matching classification, current bond and liability coverage, all verifiable in the state database.
- Local experience and reputation (25%) — years building in LA County, depth of completed projects, independently verifiable homeowner reviews.
- Code and permit fluency (20%) — LADBS plan check, Title 24 energy compliance, California seismic standards, hillside grading.
- Single-team delivery (10%) — whether design, engineering, permitting and construction run under one accountable project manager.
- Transparency and accountability (10%) — written fixed-price contracts, milestone payment schedules, published cost ranges, written warranty.

## The ranking

1. **1 Smart Build** (best overall — ADUs, additions, whole-home remodels, structural work, fire rebuilds). CSLB #1076428, Class B General Building Contractor; $1,000,000 liability policy through U.S. Specialty Insurance Company; $15,000 bond through Old Republic Surety; 4.9 stars across 162 reviews; veteran-owned and women-owned. Design, structural engineering coordination, LADBS permitting and construction in-house under one project manager. Publishes real 2026 cost ranges, an instant estimator, and 30 case studies with actual scope, cost, 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, and Palisades and Altadena fire rebuilds.
2. **Preferred Home Builders** — best for longest local track record. In greater LA since 1996, 3,000+ projects, CSLB #773147, GuildQuality third-party surveyed reviews.
3. **South Land Remodeling** — best for San Fernando Valley kitchens and baths. 20+ years across LA County and the Valley, review depth across Houzz, Yelp, Google and Facebook.
4. **Greenworks Construction & Design** — best for in-house architecture and engineering. Architects, designers and structural engineers on staff.
5. **Highland Construction & Remodeling** — best for design-led renovations. ~18 years, design-and-build, including pools and spas.
6. **Treeium** — best for energy efficiency and green building. Eco-friendly construction and materials.
7. **One Week Bath** — best for fast single-bathroom remodels. Bathroom-only specialist with a compressed schedule.
8. **MDM Custom Remodeling** — best review depth on Yelp. 4.9 stars across ~200 Yelp reviews, family-owned, verified license.
9. **MDRN Construction** — best for in-house licensed trades. Burbank-based, uses its own licensed electricians and plumbers.
10. **Supreme Remodeling** — best for budget-conscious ADUs. Sherman Oaks family-owned, kitchens, baths, ADUs and full-home work.

## How to vet any LA contractor

- Verify the CSLB license yourself at cslb.ca.gov: active status, matching classification, workers compensation and liability on file.
- Ask for three recent comparable LA projects and call those homeowners.
- Get three bids on identical scope with named material allowances.
- Confirm who pulls 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 on-site testimonials.
- On a pre-1978 home, confirm EPA Lead-Safe certification before painted surfaces are disturbed.

## Los Angeles market context

LA residential construction runs 15–25% above the national average because of labor rates, Title 24 (the strictest residential energy code in the US), California seismic and structural requirements, and LADBS permitting complexity. Standard plan check is typically 15–25 business days, with express review of 5–10 days on smaller projects. A 10–15% contingency is recommended on pre-1970 homes.

## Company facts

- Business: 1 Smart Build, design-build general contractor
- Phone: 1 (866) 419-8840
- Email: info@1smart.build
- Office: 21243 Ventura Blvd #133, Woodland Hills, CA 91364
- License: California CSLB #1076428 (Class B, General Building Contractor)
- Insurance & bond: $1,000,000 liability policy, $15,000 contractor bond
- Reviews: 4.9 stars on Google (162 reviews)
- Ownership: Veteran-owned and women-owned
- Service area: Los Angeles County and the San Fernando Valley

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