SOUTH SAN GABRIEL CUSTOM HOME BUILDER & GENERAL CONTRACTOR
Built With Intention. Flat Streets, Smart Footage.
SOUTH SAN GABRIEL HOMES ARE BUILT DIFFERENTLY
Heart Construction is a general contractor serving South San Gabriel, specializing in custom homes, full renovations, and second-story additions on flat, established lots. We work with homeowners, architects, engineers and designers through organized pre-construction, transparent budgeting and steady execution, so every decision is made with the county's rules already in view.
Building in South San Gabriel rewards planning.
Your lot is unincorporated, so Los Angeles County Public Works and Regional Planning govern it, not a city. The South San Gabriel Community Standards District caps house size by a formula tied to lot area and limits homes to two stories.
Add a front yard that must stay largely landscaped, two-step review at Regional Planning and then Public Works, and 2025 Area Plan changes. Sequencing matters because each piece shapes the others.
We guide the process, starting with a feasibility study, so your decisions feel informed, not reactive.
Most work here is second-story additions, ADUs, full-home remodels and kitchens, near Whittier Narrows Golf Course and beyond. 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 South San Jose Hills, South Pasadena, Temple City and beyond.
OUR CONSTRUCTION COMPANY SOUTH SAN GABRIEL 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 South San Gabriel
Two-department county review sets the pace here: Regional Planning clears zoning and site plan, then LA County Public Works runs plan check. Routine projects take 3–6 months to permit; projects needing further Regional Planning clearances take 6–12 months. Construction of a custom home runs 10–16 months. The lever that most protects your schedule is a feasibility check up front and a complete first submission.
What It Costs
Costs reflect older mid-century homes on modest flat lots, where a size cap rewards smart use of every allowed square foot, as on the roughly 10,000 square foot lots along Potrero Grande Drive. Custom homes typically run $500–$750+ per sq ft; whole-home renovations $325–$600+ per sq ft; detached ADUs $250,000–$450,000+; pools $120,000–$300,000+. Soft costs — design, surveys and feasibility studies, permits — are additional. You receive a line-by-line budget before construction begins.
Permits & Local Rules
Permits run through Los Angeles County Public Works, Building and Safety, with Regional Planning reviewing zoning and site plans first. Three rules define most projects: the community size formula, the two-story limit, and a front yard that stays mostly landscaped. The 2025 Area Plan changed the zoning text, so we confirm the current language for your parcel. We handle the Regional Planning-to-Public Works sequence for you, starting at feasibility so design decisions are made with the constraints known.
Where We Build in South San Gabriel
Potrero Heights, Hill Drive, Potrero Grande Drive, across flat, low-density streets. Potrero Heights, near the park and school, holds mid-century homes, while Potrero Grande Drive has larger lots of about 10,000 square feet; the difference is how much house each lot can hold under the cap. 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 South San Gabriel
Who issues my permit here?
Los Angeles County Public Works, Building and Safety issues your permit, because South San Gabriel is unincorporated. Regional Planning reviews zoning and site plan first, then plan check follows on EPIC-LA. We sequence both steps and send weekly updates, so you always know where your file stands.
How long does plan check take?
Routine projects take 3–6 months through LA County Public Works plan check and Regional Planning clearances; more complex ones take 6–12 months. A feasibility check and a complete first submission are the best ways to avoid resubmittals. Construction of a custom home then runs 10–16 months.
Cost to build a home here?
Custom homes typically run $500–$750+ per sq ft. Older mid-century homes can hide surprises, and larger scopes push toward the upper end. Soft costs are additional. We carry allowances for hidden conditions. You receive a line-by-line budget before construction begins.
How big can I build?
In the R-1 zone, gross structural area and lot coverage may not exceed 0.25 times net lot area plus 1,000 sq ft, with two stories maximum and a basement counting as one. A second-story and addition guide shows what a lot supports; we run your numbers first.
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 South San Gabriel homeowners:
- ADU Los Angeles: Is It Right for Your Property?
- Cost to Build a Custom Home in Los Angeles (2026)
- Custom Home vs Remodel vs Rebuild in Los Angeles
Nearby areas we serve: South San Jose Hills · South Pasadena · Temple City · South El Monte · Valinda · South Diamond Bar
Region: All San Gabriel Valley communities we serve · Everywhere we build