SERVICE AREAS · LOS ANGELES COUNTY
General Contractor in the San Fernando Valley
Rafa Home Builders is a licensed, family-owned remodeling contractor based in Woodland Hills. We plan and build kitchens, baths, additions, ADUs and whole-home remodels in 20 Valley communities, with 3D design, permits handled and owners Justin and Elon on every job.
- 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
Why a Valley-Based Contractor
A Remodeling Contractor Who Knows the Valley From the Inside
The San Fernando Valley is home to roughly 1.8 million people across about 260 square miles. Most of it sits inside the City of Los Angeles, but Burbank, Calabasas and Hidden Hills run their own building departments, and Bell Canyon is in unincorporated Ventura County. Knowing which office reviews your plans is the first step of every project.
As a remodeling contractor, SFV homeowners call us for everything from a single kitchen to a full house remodel. SFV residential remodeling here usually means working with what the Valley built: post-war ranch tracts, mid-century modern homes, hillside houses above Ventura Boulevard and gated communities with their own architectural rules.
Rafa Home Builders works as a design-build firm. One team handles custom home design for San Fernando Valley homeowners in 3D, engineering, permits and turn-key construction, so you have one point of contact from the first visit to the final walkthrough. Rafa Home Builders is a Los Angeles general contractor based in Woodland Hills, so every community on this page is a short drive from our office.
- Office at 21550 Oxnard St in Woodland Hills
- Permits filed with LADBS, Burbank, Calabasas, Hidden Hills, Agoura Hills or Ventura County
- In-house 3D design before construction
- Owner-led crews: Justin and Elon on every job
- Written workmanship warranty on qualifying projects
Quick Answers
Valley Remodeling: Quick Answers
The short answers to what Valley homeowners ask before they start.
- Which communities do you serve? Twenty Valley and nearby communities, from Calabasas, Hidden Hills and Bell Canyon in the west to Burbank and Toluca Lake in the east. See the full list below.
- Who issues my building permit? Most Valley neighborhoods are part of the City of Los Angeles, so LADBS issues permits. Burbank, Calabasas, Hidden Hills, Agoura Hills and Bell Canyon (Ventura County) have their own offices.
- Where is the nearest LADBS office? LADBS has a Valley office at 6262 Van Nuys Blvd in Van Nuys, with plan check, permits and inspections.
- Do you build new homes? No. Rafa Home Builders focuses on remodeling: whole-home renovations, additions, ADUs, garage conversions, kitchens, baths and outdoor living.
- Are you licensed and insured? Yes. CSLB license #1150519 (B, General Building), bonded, with general liability and workers’ compensation insurance.
- Do you work outside the Valley? Yes. We also take on projects across LA County and Orange County.
Before You Build
Who Issues Your Permit, Community by Community
LA County building regulations are applied by different offices depending on your address. Here is who reviews plans in each community we serve.
City of Los Angeles (LADBS)
Fourteen of our communities, including Woodland Hills, Encino, Sherman Oaks and Northridge, are City of LA neighborhoods. LADBS handles plan check and inspections, and LA City Planning handles overlays such as the Baseline Hillside Ordinance and the Mulholland Scenic Parkway Specific Plan.
LADBS homeowner permit guide
Separate cities
Burbank, Calabasas, Hidden Hills and Agoura Hills each run their own Building & Safety division, with their own rules. Examples: Burbank’s single-family design standards, Agoura Hills’ oak tree permits and Hidden Hills’ association review before city permits.
Ventura County and split areas
Bell Canyon is unincorporated Ventura County, so permits come from Ventura County Building & Safety. Toluca Lake straddles Los Angeles and Burbank, so we confirm the right office by address.
| Community | Who issues the building permit |
|---|---|
| Calabasas | City of Calabasas Building & Safety |
| Hidden Hills | City of Hidden Hills Building & Safety (after HHCA review) |
| Agoura Hills | City of Agoura Hills Building & Safety |
| Burbank | City of Burbank Building & Safety |
| Bell Canyon | Ventura County Building & Safety |
| Toluca Lake | LADBS or City of Burbank, depending on the address |
| Woodland Hills, West Hills, Canoga Park, Winnetka, Reseda, Tarzana, Encino, Sherman Oaks, Studio City, Valley Village, Northridge, Chatsworth, Porter Ranch, Granada Hills | LADBS (City of Los Angeles) |
Valley Homes
What Valley Homes Have in Common, and What They Need
The Valley’s housing tells you a lot about the remodel ahead. These are the home types we work on most often.
Post-war ranch tracts
Single-story ranch homes from the 1940s to the 1960s fill Reseda, Winnetka, Canoga Park, Northridge and Granada Hills. Open floor plans, ADUs and system upgrades are common goals.
Mid-century modern
Architect-designed homes in the Encino hills, Palmer & Krisel tracts in Woodland Hills and the Balboa Highlands Eichlers in Granada Hills, a historic district.
Hillside homes
Lots above Ventura Boulevard in Encino, Sherman Oaks, Studio City and Woodland Hills, where hillside rules, engineering and access shape the plan.
Gated communities
Hidden Hills, Bell Canyon, parts of Calabasas and Porter Ranch, where association approval comes before permits.
Horsekeeping and large lots
Chatsworth horsekeeping areas, Walnut Acres in Woodland Hills and the two-acre lots of Hidden Hills, with room for additions and outdoor living.
Older homes in Burbank and Toluca Lake
More than 62% of Burbank’s homes were built before 1970, and Toluca Lake has historic estates. Careful updates protect the original character.
Freeways we work along: the 101, the 405, the 118, the 170, the 134, the 5 and the 210.
Services
Remodeling Services Across the Valley
From a single room to a full house remodel, every service is planned around your community’s permit office and rules.
Kitchen Remodeling
Kitchen remodels for ranch, mid-century and hillside homes, designed in 3D before demolition starts.
Explore kitchen remodeling →Bathroom Remodeling
Primary baths and hall baths with walk-in showers, new vanities and fully waterproofed wet areas.
Explore bathroom remodeling →ADU Construction
Detached ADUs, attached units and garage conversions, plus SFV property value additions such as extra bedrooms.
Explore adu construction →Backyard Remodeling
Outdoor kitchens, patios and shade for Valley summers, with fire-safe materials where required.
Explore backyard remodeling →Windows & Doors
Energy-efficient windows and doors for older homes, sized and permitted correctly.
Explore windows & doors →Electrical Panel & Rewiring
Panel upgrades and rewiring for older Valley homes, by appropriately licensed trades where required.
Explore electrical panel & rewiring →Not Sure Which Rules Apply to Your Address?
Tell us where you live and what you want to change. We’ll confirm the permit office, flag any overlays and send a written scope.
Client Stories
What Homeowners Say About Rafa Home Builders
How It Works
How a Valley Project Runs
Five steps from first visit to final walkthrough.
- 01
Consultation & Site Walk
We visit your Valley 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 the right office for your address: LADBS, your city or Ventura County.
- 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
Valley General Contractor FAQs
Is Rafa Home Builders a licensed general contractor?
Yes. Rafa Home Builders holds California contractor license #1150519 (B, General Building), is bonded, and carries general liability and workers’ compensation insurance.
Are you San Fernando Valley home builders?
We are remodelers rather than new-home builders. Rafa Home Builders handles whole-home renovations, additions, ADUs and garage conversions that can make an existing Valley home feel new.
What does a full house remodel in the SFV include?
It depends on the home. Most cover kitchens, baths, flooring, layout changes and system upgrades, and many add an addition or ADU. We scope it room by room and show it in 3D.
Do you handle San Fernando Valley real estate upgrades before a sale?
Yes. We take on kitchen and bath refreshes, paint, flooring and repairs for homeowners preparing to sell, as well as larger upgrades for owners who plan to stay.
How do LA County building regulations affect my remodel?
They depend on your address. City of LA homes follow LADBS and LA City Planning, while Burbank, Calabasas, Hidden Hills, Agoura Hills and Bell Canyon follow their own city or county rules.
What does turn-key construction mean with Rafa Home Builders?
One team handles design, engineering coordination, permits, construction and the final walkthrough, so you don’t have to manage separate contractors.
Do you offer financing?
Yes. Through Enhancify you can compare home improvement financing options from multiple lenders, subject to credit approval.
Communities We Serve
Choose Your Community
Each community page covers its permit office, local rules and neighborhoods.
West Valley & the Hills
Gated communities, hillside estates and our home base.
Southwest Valley
Estate lots south of Ventura Boulevard and mid-century hills.
Central & West Valley Flats
Post-war ranch tracts with room for ADUs and additions.
North Valley
Horsekeeping areas, gated hillside villages and Eichlers.
South & East Valley
Hillside streets, historic estates and Burbank’s own city rules.
Free Estimate
Talk With a Valley General Contractor
Tell us what you want to build or change and where you live. Justin and Elon will walk you through the permit office, design steps and the clearest way to start.
- 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.