SOUTHEAST LA CUSTOM HOME BUILDER & GENERAL CONTRACTOR
Built With Intention. Flat Streets, Growing Families.
SOUTHEAST LA HOMES ARE BUILT DIFFERENTLY
Heart Construction is a general contractor serving Southeast LA, specializing in custom homes, full renovations, and ADUs and garage conversions 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 full picture in view.
Building in Southeast LA rewards planning.
The first question is always who issues your permit. Cities such as Downey, Compton and Lynwood run their own Building & Safety divisions, while East Compton, West Compton, Walnut Park, South Whittier and West Whittier-Los Nietos are unincorporated and permitted by LA County Public Works.
Then comes the stack: state ADU rules that cities and the County are still updating, 1940s–1960s houses with hidden conditions, and planning review that often comes before plan check. Sequencing it early keeps a project moving.
We guide the process so decisions feel informed, not reactive, starting with a feasibility review that confirms who reviews your parcel.
From ADUs and garage conversions to full remodels, our work runs from Columbia Memorial Space Center in Downey to Little India in Artesia, and we bring the same structure and discipline we apply across the Southeast LA region 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 Westside, Central LA, South Bay and beyond.
OUR CONSTRUCTION COMPANY SOUTHEAST LA 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 Southeast LA
Pace here is set by plan check, and which office does it depends on your address: a city Building & Safety division or LA County Public Works. Expect 3–6 months for a routine permit and 6–12 months when design review or a zoning step applies. Construction for a custom home runs 10–16 months. The lever that protects the schedule is a complete first submittal, prepared after a feasibility review has settled zoning and coverage questions.
What It Costs
Costs here reflect 1940s–1960s homes that often need electrical, plumbing and structural updates, and compact lots with tight access, rather than hillside or coastal engineering. 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, soils and structural studies, permits — are additional. You receive a line-by-line budget before construction begins.
Permits & Local Rules
Each incorporated city reviews plans through its own Building & Safety division, and LA County Public Works does the same for unincorporated communities and contract cities. Many cities run a Planning step before plan check, and ADU rules sit under state law that cities and the County are still updating. SB 9 two-unit and lot-split rules apply on qualifying single-family lots. We sequence all of this from feasibility, so design decisions are made with the constraints known.
Where We Build in Southeast LA
Downey, South Gate, Norwalk, Compton, Bellflower and Cerritos anchor the region's flat, established mid-century neighborhoods. Incorporated cities like Downey run their own plan check, while unincorporated areas such as Walnut Park and South Whittier are permitted by the County, so the office, the portal and the review steps differ. 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 Southeast LA
Who issues my permit?
It depends on your address. Incorporated cities such as Downey, Compton and Lynwood issue permits through their own Building & Safety divisions. Unincorporated areas, including East Compton, West Compton, Walnut Park and South Whittier, go through LA County Public Works. A mailing address can mislead, so we confirm jurisdiction during the feasibility review.
How long does a permit take?
Routine residential permits typically take 3–6 months, and 6–12 months when design review or a zoning step applies. Each city runs its own plan check, so timing varies by address. A complete first submittal avoids correction rounds, and custom home construction then runs 10–16 months.
Cost to build a home here?
Custom homes typically run $500–$750+ per sq ft. Older lots with tight access, structural updates and finish level push toward the upper end. Soft costs — design, soils and structural studies, permits — are additional. You receive a line-by-line budget before construction begins.
Can I add an ADU here?
Usually, on single-family lots. State law governs ADUs, and cities and the County are still updating their local ordinances, so we confirm current standards for your parcel before design. Garage conversions and detached units are the most common routes; see what your property actually supports before you budget.
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 Southeast LA homeowners:
- Remodel, Rebuild, or Add an ADU in Los Angeles?
- ADU Cost Los Angeles
- Cost to Build a Custom Home in Los Angeles (2026)
Nearby areas we serve: Westside · Central LA · South Bay · South LA · Harbor · San Fernando Valley
Region: Everywhere we build