SERVICE AREAS · TARZANA, CA
General Contractor in Tarzana, CA
Rafa Home Builders handles kitchens, additions, guest houses and backyard projects for Tarzana homeowners. We plan around LADBS permits, hillside rules and the Mulholland corridor, with owners Justin and Elon leading 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 Tarzana
Home Remodeling in Tarzana, From the Flats to the Hills Above Ventura
Tarzana is a neighborhood of the City of Los Angeles, so permits come from LADBS rather than a separate city hall. The rules that shape a project change as you move south. North of Ventura Boulevard you find post-war ranch tracts on level lots. South of the Boulevard, streets climb toward Topanga State Park, and hillside and scenic-parkway rules start to apply.
That split is why home remodeling in Tarzana, CA starts with your address. A footprint expansion on a flat ranch lot is a straightforward LADBS plan check. The same addition on a hillside lot may face the Baseline Hillside Ordinance. Near Mulholland Drive, design review can apply too.
As a Tarzana design-build team, we keep design, permits and construction under one roof. In-house 3D design shows you the layout before plans are drawn. We then file with LADBS and build with our own crew. Typical work includes Tarzana kitchen remodeling, large lot home additions, guest house construction and backyard expansions in Tarzana.
Whole-home renovations are common here too. A post-war ranch home may still have older wiring, a closed-off kitchen and small baths. We update systems and layouts together, so a Tarzana home renovation is permitted and inspected as one project. If you are looking for a general contractor in Tarzana, CA, start with a free estimate and a walk-through of your home with Justin or Elon.
- Plans submitted to LADBS and inspections scheduled for you
- Hillside and Mulholland corridor rules checked before design
- Footprint expansions planned around setbacks and lot coverage
- Guest houses and ADUs designed in 3D first
- Written workmanship warranty on qualifying projects
Kitchens & Baths
Kitchen and Bathroom Remodeling in Tarzana
Kitchens and bathrooms are two of our core services, planned around the homes in Tarzana.
Kitchen Remodeling
Many Tarzana homes are post-war ranches with closed kitchens, while larger lots near Melody Acres leave room to expand. As a kitchen remodeler in Tarzana, CA, we open layouts where engineering allows and file the plans with LADBS.
Bathroom Remodeling
Original Tarzana bathrooms often have dated tile, small showers and older plumbing behind the walls. As your Tarzana bathroom remodeler, we replace all of it, with a walk-in shower and better storage planned in 3D first.
Quick Answers
Tarzana Remodeling: Quick Answers
Short answers to what Tarzana homeowners ask us first.
- Who issues permits in Tarzana? LADBS, the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety. Tarzana is part of the City of LA. The nearest LADBS office is on Van Nuys Boulevard.
- Does the Mulholland Scenic Parkway affect my home? It can. The specific plan covers an inner corridor 500 feet from Mulholland and an outer corridor of about half a mile.
- What are Tarzana zoning laws for hillside lots? In hillside areas, the citywide Baseline Hillside Ordinance limits floor area and grading. We check your parcel before design starts.
- Which ZIP codes do you cover? 91356 for most homes, plus 91357 PO boxes and the part of 91335 that falls in Tarzana.
- Can I keep horses in Melody Acres? Melody Acres carries equestrian zoning. We plan additions and backyard projects so they work with that zoning.
- How close is your office? Our office is on Oxnard Street in neighboring Woodland Hills, just west of Tarzana.
Before You Build
Permits, Zoning and Hillside Rules for a Tarzana Remodel
Three sets of rules decide what a Tarzana project can look like. We confirm each one for your lot.
LADBS permits
All Tarzana building permits run through the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety. The Van Nuys office at 6262 Van Nuys Blvd serves the Valley. We prepare the plans, handle plan check and book inspections.
Mulholland Scenic Parkway
Homes near Mulholland Drive may sit in the Mulholland Scenic Parkway Specific Plan. Its inner corridor reaches 500 feet and its outer corridor about half a mile. Additions over 900 square feet go to the Design Review Board.
Hillside lots and fire zones
South of Ventura Boulevard, many lots fall under the Baseline Hillside Ordinance, which limits floor area and grading. Hillside parcels may also sit in a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone. You can check yours on the city map.
Neighborhoods
Tarzana Neighborhoods We Work In
Lot size and slope vary a lot across Tarzana. Here is how we approach each area.
Melody Acres
Laid out in the 1920s with large lots, citrus trees and equestrian zoning. Room for additions, guest houses and outdoor living.
South of Ventura Boulevard
Estate lots climbing toward the hills. Hillside rules and engineering often shape additions, decks and pools here.
Post-war ranch tracts
Single-story ranch homes on level lots north of the Boulevard. Kitchens, baths and rear additions are common updates.
Caballero Canyon area
Streets near Caballero Canyon, where we check slope, drainage and fire-zone status before design.
Mulholland corridor
Homes within reach of Mulholland Drive, where scenic parkway review can apply to larger additions.
ZIP codes: 91356, 91357 (PO boxes) and part of 91335. Nearby landmarks: Ventura Boulevard, Topanga State Park, Caballero Canyon and the historic Tarzana Ranch.
Services
Remodeling Services for Tarzana Homes
Every service is planned around LADBS rules and the lot you actually have.
Kitchen Remodeling
Tarzana kitchen remodeling that opens ranch-era layouts, with new islands, cabinetry and lighting planned in 3D.
Explore kitchen remodeling →Bathroom Remodeling
Bathroom remodels with walk-in showers and updated plumbing, often part of a larger primary suite addition.
Explore bathroom remodeling →ADU Construction
Guest house construction, detached ADUs and garage conversions for multigenerational families or rental income.
Explore adu construction →Backyard Remodeling
Backyard expansions and custom landscaping projects with lawns, planting, lighting and outdoor kitchens.
Explore backyard remodeling →Pools & Spas
Pools and spas sized to the lot, with hillside engineering coordinated where the yard slopes.
Explore pools & spas →Decks & Patios
Decks and covered patios that extend living space outdoors, engineered for slope where the yard drops away.
Explore decks & patios →Planning a Tarzana Remodel?
Send us your address and goals. We’ll check hillside and scenic parkway rules and send a written scope.
Client Stories
What Homeowners Say About Rafa Home Builders
How It Works
How a Tarzana Project Runs
Five steps from the site walk to the final inspection.
- 01
Consultation & Site Walk
We visit your Tarzana 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
Tarzana General Contractor FAQs
Is Rafa Home Builders a licensed general contractor in Tarzana?
Yes. Rafa Home Builders holds California contractor license #1150519 (B, General Building), is bonded, and carries general liability and workers’ compensation insurance.
Do I need a permit for an addition in Tarzana?
Yes. Additions need LADBS permits. Hillside lots may also need Baseline Hillside Ordinance review, and homes near Mulholland may need scenic parkway review.
How large can my addition be?
It depends on zoning, lot size and slope. On hillside lots the Baseline Hillside Ordinance caps floor area. We run the numbers for your parcel before design.
Do you build guest houses in Tarzana?
Yes. We design and build detached guest houses and ADUs, planned around setbacks, utilities and the slope of your lot.
Are you a design-build contractor?
Yes. Design, permits and construction stay with one team, so the plan you approve in 3D is the plan we build.
Do you offer financing?
Yes. Through Enhancify you can compare home improvement financing options from several lenders, subject to credit approval.
What areas near Tarzana do you serve?
We also work in Encino, Reseda, Woodland Hills, Winnetka and across the San Fernando Valley, LA County and Orange County.
Nearby Areas
Also Serving Communities Near Tarzana
Tarzana, CA is one of the 20 communities we serve in and around the San Fernando Valley. Our crews work on both sides of Tarzana, in the hills and on the Valley floor.
Free Estimate
Talk With a General Contractor Serving Tarzana
Tell us what you want to add or change. Justin and Elon will walk you through LADBS, hillside rules and the best 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.