EL SEGUNDO CUSTOM HOME BUILDER & GENERAL CONTRACTOR
Built With Intention. Beach-Town Bungalow Streets.
EL SEGUNDO HOMES ARE BUILT DIFFERENTLY
Heart Construction is a general contractor serving El Segundo, specializing in custom homes, full renovations, and second-story additions on flat beach-town lots, from the blocks near Mariposa to the corridor around Douglas. We work alongside homeowners, architects, engineers and designers, bringing organized pre-construction, transparent budgeting and steady execution to every project.
Building in El Segundo rewards planning.
Single-family lots follow the R-1 zone standards for floor area, second-floor share, height and setbacks. The City's Building and Safety Division issues permits through one EZ Permit Hub, and the Planning Division clears zoning first. Those limits decide how much second floor your lot can carry.
Older narrow townsite lots follow their own standard, long walls facing neighbors must be modulated, the new 2025 building code is in force, and permits lapse if inspections stall. Sequencing keeps design, plan check and utility upgrades from colliding.
We guide the process so every decision feels informed, not reactive — starting with a feasibility review of your actual parcel.
From second-story additions on 1950s ranches to bungalow kitchen and systems remodels and detached ADUs, we bring the same structure and discipline we apply across the South Bay and every project in Los Angeles.
RECENT PROJECTS
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![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
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![Pacific Palisades ocean-view backyard with custom pool, palm trees, lounge seating, and manicured lawn overlooking the Pacific coastline.]()
MALIBU
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![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
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![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
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![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
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![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 Gardena, Del Aire, Hawthorne and beyond.
OUR CONSTRUCTION COMPANY EL SEGUNDO PROCESS
PLAN
First a Strategic Visioning Session: A conversation about your goals, budget and timeline, and a frank read on what your 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 El Segundo
Pace in El Segundo is set by a single small-city plan-check counter at the City of El Segundo and by utility lead times for panel upgrades. Routine permits run 6–12 months; sites that need a Coastal Development Permit, or face a Coastal Commission appeal, run 12–36 months. A custom home takes 10–18 months to build. The lever that most protects your schedule is a complete, code-checked first submittal with plan-check fees paid the day we file.
What It Costs
Costs here reflect small-lot logistics, century-old systems replaced behind the walls, and coastal-grade exterior detailing rather than hillside engineering. Custom homes typically run $600–$950+ per sq ft; whole-home renovations $400–$700+ per sq ft; detached ADUs $275,000–$550,000+; pools $150,000–$400,000+. Soft costs — design, survey, structural and energy calculations, permits — are additional. You receive a line-by-line budget before construction begins.
Permits & Local Rules
The City of El Segundo issues permits, with Planning clearing zoning first. The R-1 floor-area, second-floor and height rules, the narrow-lot standard for old townsite parcels, and the by-right ADU rules define most projects. Everything runs through the EZ Permit Hub: several departments review, one permit carries every approval, and a pre-application meeting is available. We pull every permit ourselves and sequence these rules from feasibility, so design decisions are made with the constraints known.
Where We Build in El Segundo
El Segundo Village, Smoky Hollow, on flat ground near Kansas Park and Acacia Park. Village bungalows on narrow townsite lots follow stricter narrow-lot standards, while the wider lots of 1950s ranches near Kansas Park leave more room for a second story and a yard. Smoky Hollow sits under its own specific plan rather than R-1. 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 to each project, from energy-efficient design to fire-resilient construction.
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 El Segundo
Do I need a permit to remodel?
Yes. Kitchen and bathroom remodels that touch electrical, plumbing or structure need a City of El Segundo permit, submitted through the EZ Permit Hub. We pull it ourselves as contractor of record under our license and hold the El Segundo business license, so inspections are never left to you.
How long does plan check take?
Routine permits run 6–12 months. Plan-check clocks start only once fees are paid, so we pay them the day we submit through the EZ Permit Hub and file the utility panel application in parallel. Permits stay valid 180 days, restarting after each inspection. You get weekly updates throughout.
Cost to build in El Segundo?
Custom homes in El Segundo typically run $600–$950+ per sq ft. Small-lot logistics, replacing century-old systems and coastal-grade detailing push projects toward the upper end. Soft costs — design, engineering, permits — are additional. You receive a line-by-line budget before construction begins.
How big a second story can I add?
R-1 lots allow 0.60 FAR overall, with the second floor capped at 0.25 FAR, 32 feet of pitched-roof height and two stories. Wall planes over 24 feet need a two-foot offset. We run this math on your parcel first; see our second story vs addition guide.
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 El Segundo homeowners:
- ADU Los Angeles: Is It Right for Your Property?
- Custom Home vs Remodel vs Rebuild in Los Angeles
- Cost to Build a Custom Home in Los Angeles (2026)
Nearby areas we serve: Gardena · Del Aire · Hawthorne · Alondra Park · Hermosa Beach · Westchester
Region: All South Bay communities we serve · Everywhere we build