MALIBU CUSTOM HOME BUILDER & GENERAL CONTRACTOR
Built With Intention. Designed for the Coast
MALIBU HOMES ARE BUILT DIFFERENTLY
Heart Construction is a general contractor serving Malibu, specializing in custom homes, full renovations, and structurally complex coastal builds. We work alongside homeowners, architects, engineers and designers to bring thoughtful plans to life through organized pre-construction, transparent budgeting and steady execution from feasibility to final walkthrough.
Building in Malibu isn't simple.
Almost every property sits inside California's Coastal Zone. Significant construction requires a Coastal Development Permit issued by the City of Malibu under its Local Coastal Program — with the California Coastal Commission retaining appeal authority on beachfront, bluff-top and habitat-adjacent sites.
Add a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone designation, hillside geology, on-site wastewater rules and decades of salt-air exposure, and you have a building environment where sequencing matters more than speed.
Our role is to run that sequence so decisions feel informed, not reactive — and so you aren't managing consultants at midnight.
Whether you're building a new custom home above the Pacific, renovating a beachfront property, or rebuilding after fire damage, we bring the same structure and discipline we apply across the Santa Monica Mountains and every project in Los Angeles.
RECENT PROJECTS
-
![Malibu Pier home interior featuring a warm modern living space with built-in seating, layered textures, custom wood furniture, and an open layout flowing into a minimalist kitchen, showcasing Heart Construction’s intentional coastal design.]()
MALIBU PIER
-
![Pacific Palisades ocean-view backyard with custom pool, palm trees, lounge seating, and manicured lawn overlooking the Pacific coastline.]()
MALIBU
-
![Marina del Rey home interior with warm modern design featuring a natural wood dining table, sculptural pendant lighting, plaster walls, and an open kitchen with custom cabinetry, showcasing Heart Construction’s intentional coastal craftsmanship.]()
MARINA DEL REY
-
![Open-concept living room in a Hollywood Hills home remodel with folding glass walls, custom built-ins, soft neutral furnishings, and seamless indoor-outdoor flow overlooking canyon views, showcasing Heart Construction’s warm modern design.]()
HOLLYWOOD HILLS
-
![Pacific Palisades luxury bathroom with freestanding soaking tub, marble walk-in shower, herringbone tile walls, and sculptural glass chandelier framed by natural light and greenery views.]()
BRENTWOOD
-
![Pacific Palisades modern custom home with smooth stucco façade, black-framed windows, vertical wood garage door, and drought-tolerant landscaping.]()
MAR VISTA
OUR REMODELING SERVICES
At Heart Construction, we specialize in creating thoughtfully designed homes that reflect the way you live. From custom ground-up builds to full-scale renovations and refined living spaces, we guide every project with craftsmanship, clarity and care for homeowners in Pacific Palisades, Topanga, Calabasas and beyond.
OUR CONSTRUCTION COMPANY MALIBU PROCESS
PLAN
First a Strategic Visioning Session: A conversation about your goals, budget and timeline, and a frank read on what your Malibu site will allow. Complimentary.
TEAM
Second we assemble the architect, structural and geotechnical engineers, civil engineer, biologist and designers your project needs — matched to your style and site's constraints.
CALL
Third a Professional Services Agreement and a small retainer begin feasibility, permitting strategy, design coordination and line-by-line budgeting.
PERMITS
We assemble and file the complete CDP and building-permit package, coordinate Fire and Environmental Health reviews, and lock scope, finishes and schedule before groundbreaking.
CONSTRUCTION
Milestone-based build. Change orders are priced and approved in writing before work begins. You get a weekly update every week — progress, decisions needed, what's next.
CLOSEOUT
Finally Walkthrough with Final inspections, punch list, documentation and warranty handover. Payments are tied to completed milestones, never arbitrary percentages.
After you contact us, Within one business day, Asaf will call to understand your property and goals. If it's a fit, we schedule a site visit. There's no obligation and no pressure — just a clear picture of what's possible.
What to Know Before
You Build in Malibu
Permitting sets the pace in Malibu, not construction. Routine Coastal Development Permits take 6–12 months; projects with environmental review or Coastal Commission appeal can take 12–36 months. Construction itself runs 10–18 months for a custom home. The biggest lever on your timeline is a complete application — we assemble the geotechnical, fire, biological and civil packages before filing so the City reviews once, not three times.
What It Costs
Malibu is the most expensive place in Los Angeles County to build, for structural reasons: coastal engineering, fire-rated assemblies, hillside foundations and PCH logistics. Custom homes typically run $750–$1,200+ per sq ft; whole-home renovations $450–$800+ per sq ft; detached ADUs $325,000–$650,000+; pools $175,000–$450,000+. Soft costs — design, geotechnical, coastal and environmental studies, permits — are additional. You receive a line-by-line budget before construction begins.
Permits, Rules & Fire Codes
Nearly every Malibu project needs a CDP from the City of Malibu, LA County Fire approval for access and defensible space, and — on hillside, bluff-top and unsewered lots — geotechnical, ESHA and wastewater review. Malibu is a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone, so Chapter 7A ignition-resistant construction and residential sprinklers are our base specification, not upgrades. We sequence all of it from feasibility, so design decisions are made with the constraints known.
Where We Build in Malibu
Malibu Colony, Carbon Beach, Broad Beach, Point Dume, Trancas Canyon, Malibu Park, Corral and Latigo Canyons, Serra Retreat and the hillside lots above PCH. Beachfront sites carry the strictest coastal review; canyon and ridgeline sites carry the heaviest engineering and fire-access requirements. Not sure which rules apply to your parcel? A feasibility review answers that in two to four weeks.
Meet the Builders Behind Your Project
Asaf Bar-Hen — Co-Founder & Developer Asaf leads design and development from concept to completion. His background spans 15 years in hospitality design, seven years in renewable energy and energy-efficient building, and real-estate work across the U.S., Asia and Central America. He leads every first call and brings a sustainability lens that aligns naturally with Malibu's coastal and fire-resilience standards.
Jason Aizenberg — Co-Founder Jason runs the operational side of every project — permits, design meetings, scheduling, subcontractor coordination and site logistics. Clients describe him as the person who "managed everything so we could focus on our family.”
California Contractors State License Board #1146456 — Class B General Building Contractor. Verify on CSLB ↗
25+ years of combined experience across high-end residential construction in Los Angeles
Frequently Asked Questions
About Renovation in Malibu
Do I need a CDP in Malibu?
Most significant exterior work, additions, grading and new structures in Malibu require a Coastal Development Permit from the City of Malibu under its Local Coastal Program. Minor interior work may be exempt. We confirm the permit path for your specific parcel during feasibility, before design begins.
How long does a Malibu CDP take?
Routine, uncontested projects commonly take 6 to 12 months from application to issuance. Projects involving environmental review, biological analysis or Coastal Commission appeal jurisdiction can extend 12 to 36 months. A complete, technically coordinated application is the single biggest factor in staying at the short end.
Cost to build a home in Malibu?
Most Malibu custom homes run $750 to $1,200+ per square foot for construction, depending on site conditions, engineering and finish level. Beachfront, bluff-top and complex hillside sites sit at the upper end. Design, geotechnical, coastal and environmental studies and permits are additional. You receive a line-by-line budget before construction begins — see our custom home cost guide for the full breakdown.
What do hillside lots require?
Hillside and canyon parcels in Malibu typically require soils reports, slope-stability analysis, grading plans, retaining-wall engineering and drainage design, plus LA County Fire approval for access width, turnarounds and defensible space. We coordinate the geotechnical work before schematic design so the home is designed to the foundation the site actually needs.
Are you licensed and insured?
Yes. Heart Construction holds California Contractors State License Board license #1146456 and is bonded and insured for large-scale residential construction, major remodels and structural work. You can verify the license on the CSLB website.
Guides for Malibu homeowners:
- How Much Does It Cost to Build a Custom Home in Los Angeles?
- Pacific Palisades Fire Rebuild Permits: LADBS, Coastal & Hillside Rules Explained
- Custom Home vs. Remodel vs. Rebuild in Los Angeles
Nearby areas we serve: Pacific Palisades · Topanga · Calabasas · Hidden Hills · Agoura Hills · Westlake Village
Region: All Santa Monica Mountains communities we serve · Everywhere we build