SERVICE AREAS · ENCINO, CA
General Contractor in Encino, CA
Rafa Home Builders remodels, expands and modernizes Encino homes, from ranches in the flats to mid-century houses in the hills. We handle LADBS permits and hillside review, and owners Justin and Elon lead every project.
- CSLB License #1150519Class B General Building
- Licensed, Bonded & InsuredLiability + workers’ comp
- Family-Owned & Owner-LedJustin & Elon on every job
- Written Workmanship WarrantyOn qualifying projects
- Financing AvailableThrough Enhancify
Building in Encino
Home Remodeling in Encino, Planned for the Hills and the Flats
Encino is part of the City of Los Angeles, so every permit goes through LADBS. What changes is the lot. North of Ventura Boulevard, the flats hold post-war ranch homes on level parcels. South of the Boulevard, streets rise into the hills, where architects such as Richard Neutra, Ray Kappe and Edward Fickett designed homes in the 1950s through the 1970s.
When a home is one of your multi-million dollar investments, a remodel has to protect what makes it special. Estate modernizations here can mean structural upgrades, new systems, larger glass openings and kitchens that fit the way families live now. Near Mulholland Drive, scenic parkway review can apply. On sloped lots, the Baseline Hillside Ordinance limits floor area and grading.
Rafa Home Builders handles home remodeling in Encino from 3D design through final inspection. We work out what your lot allows, coordinate engineering, file with LADBS and build with a crew led by the owners. As your Encino general contractor, we keep one point of contact from the first visit to the final inspection.
- LADBS permits, plan check and inspections handled for you
- Hillside and Mulholland corridor limits checked per parcel
- Structural engineering coordinated for walls, decks and additions
- Mid-century details respected in modern updates
- Written workmanship warranty on qualifying projects
Kitchens & Baths
Kitchen and Bathroom Remodeling in Encino
Kitchens and bathrooms are two of our core services, planned around the homes in Encino.
Kitchen Remodeling
Encino ranges from post-war ranches in the flats to mid-century modern homes in the hills. As your Encino kitchen remodeler, we update kitchens to suit the house, whether that means a clean modern layout or a larger island for a family home.
Bathroom Remodeling
In Encino, primary bath remodels often add a larger shower, a freestanding tub and a double vanity. As a bathroom remodeler in Encino, CA, we coordinate plumbing, tile and permits through LADBS from design to final inspection.
Quick Answers
Encino Remodeling: Quick Answers
What Encino homeowners ask before they hire a contractor.
- Who issues permits in Encino? LADBS. Encino is a City of Los Angeles neighborhood, so plan check and inspections go through the Department of Building and Safety.
- Which ZIP codes do you cover? 91316 and 91436, including Royal Oaks, Royal Woods, Encino Hills and the area south of Ventura Boulevard.
- Do hillside rules apply to my home? If your lot is in a mapped hillside area, the Baseline Hillside Ordinance limits floor area and grading. We check before design.
- Can I update a mid-century modern home? Yes. We plan new kitchens, baths and systems so the original lines, glass and rooflines still read clearly.
- Do you build ADUs in Encino? Yes. We build detached and attached ADUs, garage conversions and JADUs, designed to match the main house.
- How close is your office? Our office is on Oxnard Street in Woodland Hills, a short drive west on Ventura Boulevard.
Before You Build
Permits, Scenic Parkway and Hillside Rules for an Encino Remodel
Three rules shape most Encino projects. We confirm all three for your parcel up front.
LADBS permits
Encino permits come from the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety. The Van Nuys office at 6262 Van Nuys Blvd is the nearest LADBS counter. We prepare plans, respond to plan check comments and book inspections.
Mulholland Scenic Parkway
Homes near Mulholland Drive may fall inside the scenic parkway’s inner corridor of 500 feet or outer corridor of about half a mile. Additions over 900 square feet go to the Design Review Board.
Hillside lots and fire zones
The Baseline Hillside Ordinance governs floor area and grading on hillside lots. Hillside parcels may also sit in a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone, which can add ignition-resistant construction. Check yours on the city map.
Neighborhoods
Encino Neighborhoods We Work In
Encino ranges from level ranch streets to hillside enclaves and acre-plus estates.
Royal Oaks
Hillside streets south of Ventura. Royal Oaks remodeling often pairs interior updates with hillside engineering for decks and additions.
Royal Woods
Homes south of Ventura where we confirm whether hillside floor-area limits and fire-zone rules apply before design.
Castle in the Woods (Encino Hills)
Higher hillside homes where site access, drainage and engineering are planned before demolition.
Encino Acres
Larger parcels with room for guest houses, pools and luxury ADUs alongside the main home.
South of the Boulevard
Mid-century and later homes on sloped lots. South of the Boulevard remodels often involve both hillside and Mulholland review.
The flats
Post-war ranch homes north of Ventura Boulevard, well suited to open layouts, rear additions and garage conversions.
ZIP codes: 91316 and 91436. Nearby landmarks: Ventura Boulevard, the Sepulveda Basin, Lake Balboa and Los Encinos State Historic Park.
Services
Remodeling Services for Encino Homes
Each service is planned for Encino lots, LADBS review and the age of your home.
Kitchen Remodeling
Kitchens opened to family rooms, with custom cabinetry and lighting. Load-bearing walls are engineered before they come out.
Explore kitchen remodeling →Bathroom Remodeling
Primary bathrooms with curbless showers and soaking tubs, waterproofed and detailed to match the house.
Explore bathroom remodeling →ADU Construction
Luxury ADUs and guest houses for family, staff or rental income, designed to match the main house.
Explore adu construction →Windows & Doors
Larger windows and sliding glass walls for mid-century homes, with framing upgraded where openings grow.
Explore windows & doors →Pools & Spas
Pools and spas on hillside or estate lots, with engineering and grading coordinated with LADBS.
Explore pools & spas →Backyard Remodeling
Outdoor kitchens, terraces and covered patios that extend living space on level or sloped yards.
Explore backyard remodeling →Planning an Encino Remodel?
Tell us about your home and lot. We’ll check hillside, scenic parkway and fire-zone rules and send a written scope.
Client Stories
What Homeowners Say About Rafa Home Builders
How It Works
How an Encino Project Runs
Five steps from the first walkthrough to final inspection.
- 01
Consultation & Site Walk
We visit your Encino home, listen to what you want to change and note anything the lot, the HOA or the city will affect.
- 02
3D Design & Scope
In-house 3D design lets you see layouts and finishes before anything is built, and gives you a written scope to approve.
- 03
Engineering & Permits
We coordinate engineering where the project needs it and submit plans to LADBS.
- 04
Construction
One schedule, regular updates and owners Justin and Elon involved from demolition to finish work.
- 05
Final Walkthrough
Final inspection, a punch-list walkthrough with you, and a written workmanship warranty on qualifying projects.
FAQ
Encino General Contractor FAQs
Is Rafa Home Builders a licensed Encino general contractor?
Yes. Rafa Home Builders holds California contractor license #1150519 (B, General Building), is bonded, and carries general liability and workers’ compensation insurance.
Who pulls the permits for my Encino project?
We do. Plans go to LADBS, and hillside or Mulholland review is added when your parcel needs it. We also schedule every inspection.
Do you handle Encino teardowns and rebuilds?
No. Rafa Home Builders focuses on remodeling rather than new construction, so we don’t take on Encino teardowns and rebuilds. A whole-home renovation with additions can often deliver the house you want.
Are you luxury builders in Encino, CA?
We build luxury remodels, additions and ADUs. We are not a firm for modern mansion construction from the ground up. For an existing home, we can deliver modern layouts, finishes and systems.
Can you remove walls in an older Encino home?
Yes. Structural upgrades such as beam installations and new shear walls are engineered first, then permitted and inspected through LADBS.
Do you offer financing?
Yes. Through Enhancify you can compare home improvement financing options from several lenders, subject to credit approval.
What areas near Encino do you serve?
We also work in Sherman Oaks, Tarzana, Reseda, Valley Village and across the San Fernando Valley, LA County and Orange County.
Nearby Areas
Also Serving Communities Near Encino
Encino, CA is one of the 20 communities we serve in and around the San Fernando Valley. Our crews work in the hills and neighborhoods on every side of Encino.
Free Estimate
Talk With a General Contractor Serving Encino
Tell us what you want to change or add. Justin and Elon will walk you through LADBS, hillside rules and the clearest path forward.
- Free consultation and written estimate
- 3D design before construction
- Permits, construction and inspections handled
Request Your Free Estimate
Tell us about your project and we’ll follow up to schedule your free consultation.