SERVICE AREAS · SHERMAN OAKS, CA
General Contractor in Sherman Oaks, CA
Rafa Home Builders handles home remodeling in Sherman Oaks, from kitchens and open layouts to additions and ADUs. We draw it in 3D, file with LADBS and keep 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
Building in Sherman Oaks
Sherman Oaks Design-Build for Flat Lots and Hillside Streets
Sherman Oaks is a neighborhood of the City of Los Angeles, so permits, plan check and inspections run through LADBS. The area was subdivided starting in 1927. North of the boulevard you mostly find ranch homes on flat lots. South of Ventura Blvd, streets climb into the hills toward Mulholland Drive.
Those two settings call for different plans. A flat-lot ranch is usually about opening walls, updating systems and adding space. A hillside home can bring the Baseline Hillside Ordinance, slope engineering and, near Mulholland, the Mulholland Scenic Parkway Specific Plan. We sort out which rules apply to your address before design starts.
As a Sherman Oaks design-build team, we keep design, permits and construction under one roof. Your 3D model, your LADBS drawings and your build crew all come from Rafa Home Builders. As your Sherman Oaks general contractor, we keep one point of contact from the first visit to the final inspection.
- Plans submitted to LADBS, with the Van Nuys office close by
- Hillside and Mulholland corridor rules checked by address
- Structural wall removal engineered before demolition
- In-house 3D design for kitchens, additions and ADUs
- Written workmanship warranty on qualifying projects
Kitchens & Baths
Kitchen and Bathroom Remodeling in Sherman Oaks
Kitchens and bathrooms are two of our core services, planned around the homes in Sherman Oaks.
Kitchen Remodeling
Sherman Oaks has ranch homes on the flats and hillside homes south of Ventura Blvd. As your Sherman Oaks kitchen remodeler, we plan kitchens that suit each house, from open family layouts to compact hillside kitchens that make every foot count.
Bathroom Remodeling
In Sherman Oaks, primary bath remodels often add a larger shower and a double vanity. As a bathroom remodeler in Sherman Oaks, CA, we coordinate tile, plumbing and LADBS permits from design to final walkthrough.
Quick Answers
Sherman Oaks Remodeling: Quick Answers
Short answers to what Sherman Oaks homeowners ask first.
- Who issues permits in Sherman Oaks? LADBS. Sherman Oaks is part of the City of Los Angeles, so there is no separate city building department.
- Which ZIP codes do you serve? 91403 and 91423, plus the Sherman Oaks portions of 91401, 91413 and 91495.
- Can you remove a load-bearing wall? Yes. Structural wall removal starts with an engineered beam design, then an LADBS permit and inspections.
- Do hillside rules apply to my lot? They can, mostly on streets south of Ventura Blvd. We check the hillside and fire maps for your address first.
- Do you build ADUs here? Yes. We build detached ADUs, garage conversions and JADUs on Sherman Oaks lots, permitted through LADBS.
- Where is your office? At 21550 Oxnard St in Woodland Hills, a short drive west along the 101.
Before You Build
Permits, Hillside Rules and Mulholland Review in Sherman Oaks
Three questions decide how a Sherman Oaks project gets approved. We answer them before you commit to a design.
LADBS permits
All Sherman Oaks building permits come from the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety. We prepare the plans, handle plan check corrections and book each inspection. The Van Nuys office at 6262 Van Nuys Blvd serves the Valley.
Mulholland Scenic Parkway
Lots near Mulholland Drive may sit inside the Mulholland Scenic Parkway Specific Plan. The inner corridor reaches 500 feet from the road and the outer corridor half a mile. Larger additions there can need Design Review Board review.
Hillside and fire zones
Hillside parcels can fall under the Baseline Hillside Ordinance, which affects how much floor area you can add. Some hillside streets also sit in a very high fire hazard severity zone. We check both maps by address.
Neighborhoods
Sherman Oaks Neighborhoods We Work In
From flat-lot ranch streets to hillside estates, each pocket of Sherman Oaks plans a little differently.
Chandler Estates
Established streets where many projects start with a kitchen, an opened floor plan or a rear addition.
Stansbury Estates
Single-family homes where we often pair interior updates with new windows, doors and backyard work.
M Street
Ranch-era homes where electrical upgrades and bathroom remodels tend to go hand in hand.
Hidden Woods
Homes where we check hillside and fire maps before designing additions, decks or retaining walls.
Longridge Estates
Hillside lots where access, slope engineering and the Baseline Hillside Ordinance shape the plan.
ZIP codes: 91403 and 91423, plus parts of 91401, 91413 and 91495. Nearby landmarks: Ventura Blvd, the Los Angeles River, the 101 and 405 freeways and Mulholland Drive.
Services
Remodeling Services for Sherman Oaks Homes
Six services Sherman Oaks homeowners ask us about most, each planned around LADBS and your lot.
Kitchen Remodeling
Sherman Oaks kitchen remodeling that often opens the kitchen to the family room, with beam work engineered first.
Explore kitchen remodeling →Bathroom Remodeling
Primary bath remodels in ranch homes, with updated plumbing, waterproofed showers and better layouts.
Explore bathroom remodeling →ADU Construction
Premium ADU construction on Sherman Oaks lots: detached units, garage conversions and JADUs permitted through LADBS.
Explore adu construction →Electrical Panel & Rewiring
Panel upgrades and rewiring for older Sherman Oaks homes, performed by licensed electricians where state law requires.
Explore electrical panel & rewiring →Windows & Doors
Window and door replacements for older ranch homes, sized and permitted to current code.
Explore windows & doors →Backyard Remodeling
Backyard remodels with patios, outdoor kitchens and hardscape, including terraced yards on hillside lots.
Explore backyard remodeling →Planning a Sherman Oaks Remodel?
Send us your address and your wish list. We’ll check the hillside and Mulholland maps, walk the house and send a written scope.
Client Stories
What Homeowners Say About Rafa Home Builders
How It Works
How a Sherman Oaks Project Runs
Five steps from the first site walk to the final inspection.
- 01
Consultation & Site Walk
We visit your Sherman Oaks 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
Sherman Oaks General Contractor FAQs
Is Rafa Home Builders a licensed general contractor in Sherman Oaks?
Yes. Rafa Home Builders holds California contractor license #1150519 (B, General Building), is bonded, and carries general liability and workers’ compensation insurance.
Who handles permits for a Sherman Oaks remodel?
We do. Plans go to LADBS, and we respond to plan check comments and schedule inspections. If your lot is near Mulholland, we also prepare any Specific Plan review.
Do you build custom homes in Sherman Oaks or handle a teardown and rebuild?
No. Rafa Home Builders focuses on remodeling, not new construction. If you were considering a teardown and rebuild, a whole-home remodel, a second-story addition or an ADU can often deliver the space you want.
What does a South of Ventura Blvd remodel involve?
Often more planning. Hillside lots there can bring the Baseline Hillside Ordinance, fire zone construction rules, slope engineering and tighter site access.
Can you open up a closed ranch floor plan?
Yes. Structural wall removal follows a set order. An engineer sizes the new beam, LADBS approves it and our crew installs it before finishes go in.
Do you take on high affluent volume remodeling across Sherman Oaks?
If you searched for high affluent volume remodeling, know that we run a limited number of owner-led projects at once. That keeps Justin and Elon involved in every one.
Do you work in areas near Sherman Oaks?
Yes. We also work in Encino, Studio City, Valley Village and Tarzana, and across the San Fernando Valley, LA County and Orange County.
Nearby Areas
Also Serving Communities Near Sherman Oaks
Sherman Oaks, CA is one of the 20 communities we serve in and around the San Fernando Valley. Our crews work along Ventura Blvd and the hills on both sides of the 405.
Free Estimate
Talk With a General Contractor Serving Sherman Oaks
Tell us what you want to change. Justin and Elon will explain what LADBS and your lot require, and the simplest 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.