VALLEY GLEN CUSTOM HOME BUILDER & GENERAL CONTRACTOR
Built With Intention. Flat Streets, Smarter Floor Plans.
VALLEY GLEN HOMES ARE BUILT DIFFERENTLY
Heart Construction is a general contractor serving Valley Glen, specializing in custom homes, full renovations, and garage conversions and additions for flat, established lots. We work alongside homeowners, architects, engineers and designers through organized pre-construction, transparent budgeting and steady execution. Every project starts with a clear plan.
Building in Valley Glen rewards planning.
The defining rule is the Baseline Mansionization Ordinance. Reviewed through the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety, it limits the floor area, height and massing of new homes, additions and second stories on flat single-family lots, and very tall ceilings count against you. We size every plan to it.
Add the 2026 state ADU rules, 1960s-era systems and detached garages, and the pace of LADBS plan check, and the order of decisions matters. Sequencing early keeps a small surprise from becoming a stalled start.
Our role is to guide the process so every decision feels informed, not reactive, and you stay in control.
We build garage conversions and ADUs, full-home remodels of ranch homes, and additions or second stories near Erwin Park and Laurel Grove Park, and we bring the same structure and discipline we apply across the San Fernando Valley and every project in Los Angeles.
RECENT PROJECTS
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 Valley Village, Toluca Lake, Van Nuys and beyond.
OUR CONSTRUCTION COMPANY VALLEY GLEN 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 Valley Glen
Plan check at the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety sets the pace in Valley Glen. Routine permits take 2–6 months; projects needing Planning clearances run 6–12 months. A custom home then takes 10–16 months to build. The lever that protects your schedule most is a complete, coordinated submittal — or a pre-approved ADU plan where it fits — so corrections never restart the clock.
What It Costs
Costs here reflect aging 1950s–60s construction and floor-area limits that push owners toward efficient layouts and ADUs. Custom homes typically run $500–$850+ per sq ft; whole-home renovations $350–$650+ per sq ft; detached ADUs $250,000–$500,000+; pools $120,000–$340,000+. Soft costs — design, surveys, structural and energy studies, permits — are additional. You receive a line-by-line budget before construction begins.
Permits & Local Rules
Every residential project in Valley Glen needs a permit from the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety. The Baseline Mansionization Ordinance limits floor area and counts very tall ceilings extra, which shapes additions and second stories. For ADUs, state law now sets firm review deadlines, and pre-approved Standard Plan designs can shorten review. We sequence all of this from feasibility and handle the submittals, so design starts with the limits known.
Where We Build in Valley Glen
Laurel Grove, Valley College District, Fulton Avenue Arts District, across flat Valley streets. Laurel Grove's quiet single-family blocks near Laurel Grove Park lean toward additions and remodels, while the denser, rental-heavy Valley College District around the campus often calls for garage conversions and tighter lot planning. 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 Valley Glen
Do I need a permit in Valley Glen?
Yes. The Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety requires a permit for any construction, alteration or repair on private property, including garage conversions, ADUs and room additions. We prepare the plans and submittals. If you have an older unpermitted garage unit, a 2026 bulletin may let you legalize it using utility bills or leases.
How long does a permit take?
Routine plan check runs 2–6 months; projects needing Planning clearances run 6–12 months. For ADUs, state law sets a 15-business-day completeness check and a 60-day decision on complete applications, and pre-approved Standard Plan designs can shorten review. See our ADU construction timeline guide for the phases.
Cost to build in Valley Glen?
Custom homes typically run $500–$850+ per sq ft. Structural scope, site work and finish level push a project toward the upper end of that range. Soft costs — design, surveys, engineering, permits — are additional. You receive a line-by-line budget before construction begins.
How big can I build on my lot?
Under the Baseline Mansionization Ordinance, flat single-family lots outside Hillside Areas and the Coastal Zone are capped at 45% of lot area in floor area, and ceilings over 14 feet count as double. We run a feasibility study first so the plan is sized correctly before design begins.
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 Valley Glen homeowners:
- Second Story vs Home Addition in Los Angeles: What Actually Works
- Custom Home vs Remodel vs Rebuild in Los Angeles
- Cost to Build a Custom Home in Los Angeles (2026)
Nearby areas we serve: Valley Village · Toluca Lake · Van Nuys · Tarzana · West Hills · Sylmar
Region: All San Fernando Valley communities we serve · Everywhere we build