MONROVIA CUSTOM HOME BUILDER & GENERAL CONTRACTOR
Built With Intention. Foothills And Craftsman Streets.
MONROVIA HOMES ARE BUILT DIFFERENTLY
Heart Construction is a general contractor serving Monrovia, specializing in custom homes, full renovations, and second-story additions on Craftsman and foothill properties. We work with homeowners, architects, engineers and designers — and with the City's planning staff — from the first conversation, through organized pre-construction, transparent budgeting and steady execution.
Building in Monrovia isn't simple.
The defining step is Neighborhood Compatibility Design Review. Any two-story addition or new two-story house goes to the City of Monrovia's Development Review Committee, with a posted sign and mailed notice to nearby neighbors. We design for the block before we design for the permit.
Pre-1940 homes face Demolition Review through the Historic Preservation Commission, north of Foothill brings fire-zone construction standards and defensible space, and hillside lots need a Hillside Development Permit. Sequencing is what keeps these from colliding.
We guide the process so every decision feels informed, not reactive — from first walk-through to final inspection.
From second-story additions on Craftsman homes to detached ADUs and fire-hardened hillside builds near Oak Park, we bring the same structure and discipline we apply across the San Gabriel Valley 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 Monterey Park, Mayflower Village, North El Monte and beyond.
OUR CONSTRUCTION COMPANY MONROVIA 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 Monrovia
Pace here is set by Planning clearance, not Building. Two-story work goes through neighbor notice and the Development Review Committee, and pre-1940 or landmarked homes go through Historic Preservation Commission review, all before plan check with the City of Monrovia. Routine permits take 3–6 months; complex ones, where design or historic review applies, take 6–12 months. Construction of a custom home runs 10–16 months. The lever that protects your schedule is early staff consultation and a complete compatibility submittal, so the project reaches the committee once.
What It Costs
Costs sit above the San Gabriel Valley flats because character-home work demands period-matching exteriors, while projects north of Foothill add fire-zone materials, grading, retaining walls and a third garage bay. Custom homes typically run $550–$900+ per sq ft; whole-home renovations $375–$650+ per sq ft; detached ADUs $275,000–$500,000+; pools $120,000–$340,000+. Soft costs — design, geotechnical and topographic surveys, permits — are additional. You receive a line-by-line budget before construction begins.
Permits, Rules & Fire Codes
The City of Monrovia Building & Safety Division issues permits after Planning clearance. Neighborhood Compatibility Design Review, Demolition Review for pre-1940 homes, the Hillside Development Permit and the city's ADU ordinance define most projects. Fire-zone construction standards and residential sprinklers are our base specification, not upgrades. Street-visible changes on landmarked or district homes need a Certificate of Appropriateness. We sequence all of this from feasibility, so design decisions are made with the constraints known.
Where We Build in Monrovia
Old Town Monrovia, Wild Rose Tract, North Encinitas, Falling Leaf, and the foothill slopes north of Foothill, from the blocks around Monrovia Station up toward the mountains. Wild Rose Tract is flat, with 1910s bungalows and exterior review for district homes, while the foothills bring slopes, hillside permits, fire-zone standards and visual impact analysis. 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 Monrovia
Do two-story additions need DRC?
Yes. Any two-story addition or new two-story house goes to the Development Review Committee under Neighborhood Compatibility Design Review (MMC 17.12.005), with a posted sign and mailed notice within 400 feet. Single-story rear additions are staff-level with no notice. We test the massing against the block first — see our guide to second story vs home addition.
How long does review take?
Planning review comes before plan check. Routine permits run 3–6 months; 6–12 months where design review or Historic Preservation Commission review applies. Demolition Review (Ordinance 2016-10) can add a 180-day hold on pre-1940 homes. A complete first submittal and an early staff meeting keep the project to one hearing.
Cost to build a home in Monrovia?
Custom homes typically run $550–$900+ per sq ft. Hillside grading, retaining walls, a third garage bay and period-matched exteriors push toward the upper end. Soft costs — design, geotechnical work, permits — are additional. You receive a line-by-line budget before construction begins.
What do hillside lots require?
In the foothill zone, a Hillside Development Permit is required with five feet or more of cut or fill, or a retaining wall six feet or taller, plus a visual impact analysis. Hillside streets need three garage spaces. North of Foothill, new work must meet Chapter 7A and defensible-space rules. We complete geotechnical and survey work before design.
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 Monrovia homeowners:
- Custom Home vs Remodel vs Rebuild in Los Angeles
- ADU Los Angeles: Is It Right for Your Property?
- Cost to Build a Custom Home in Los Angeles (2026)
Nearby areas we serve: Monterey Park · Mayflower Village · North El Monte · La Puente · North Whittier · La Habra Heights
Region: All San Gabriel Valley communities we serve · Everywhere we build