WINNETKA CUSTOM HOME BUILDER & GENERAL CONTRACTOR
Built With Intention. Flat Lots, Room To Grow.
WINNETKA HOMES ARE BUILT DIFFERENTLY
Heart Construction is a general contractor serving Winnetka, specializing in custom homes, full renovations, and additions and ADUs on flat Valley lots. We work with homeowners, architects, engineers and designers through organized pre-construction, transparent budgeting and steady execution that keeps you in control of scope and cost.
Winnetka's lots leave room, with limits.
The defining rule is the Baseline Mansionization Ordinance, which caps floor area relative to lot size and counts garages and covered areas. The Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety reviews every addition and new home, with City Planning stepping in when a project cannot meet the limit.
ADU rules add a layer, because City code and state law differ, while the Community Plan update and plan check queues make sequencing matter. We settle the size question first, then draw.
We guide the process so decisions feel informed, not reactive, and you know what your lot allows before drawings begin.
Second-story and bedroom additions, ADUs and garage conversions, and full remodels with new kitchens and baths are common near John Quimby Park, and we bring the same structure and discipline we apply across the San Fernando 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 Woodland Hills, West Hills, Arleta and beyond.
OUR CONSTRUCTION COMPANY WINNETKA 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 Winnetka
LADBS plan check sets the pace in Winnetka, and a zoning check followed by a complete first submittal protects the schedule. Routine permits take 2–6 months; projects needing City Planning clearances run 6–12 months. Construction of a custom home takes 10–16 months. The lever that most protects your timeline is settling floor area and ADU scope before drawings, so plans clear review without correction loops.
What It Costs
Costs here reflect older single-story homes being brought up to current code on flat lots, along with the permit and engineering work that follows. 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, permits — are additional. You receive a line-by-line budget before construction begins.
Permits & Local Rules
LADBS issues permits, with City Planning zoning review. Three rules shape most Winnetka projects: the Baseline Mansionization Ordinance floor-area cap, ministerial ADU approval and LADBS plan check. Projects that cannot meet the cap go to City Planning for entitlements. Because City code and state law differ on ADUs, we confirm your scope with LADBS. We settle feasibility before design, so decisions are made with the limits known.
Where We Build in Winnetka
Canoga Park, Chatsworth, Northridge, Reseda, Tarzana and Woodland Hills, all across the flat Valley floor. A lot with a detached garage suits a conversion or backyard ADU, while a lot already near its floor-area limit suits a remodel in place, whether it sits near Runnymede Recreation Center or Winnetka Park. 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 Winnetka
Do I need a permit in Winnetka?
Yes. Additions, second stories, new homes and garage conversions all need permits from the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety, with City Planning zoning review where size limits apply. ADUs are approved ministerially in zones that allow residential use. We confirm your route with LADBS before design begins.
How long does a permit take?
Routine LADBS plan check runs 2–6 months; projects needing City Planning clearances run 6–12 months. Corrections and resubmittals are what slow things down. We run a zoning check first, submit a complete plan set and track every correction, and you get a weekly update from the founder.
Cost to build a home in Winnetka?
Custom homes typically run $500–$850+ per sq ft. Older homes needing code upgrades, added engineering or larger scopes push toward the upper end. Soft costs — design, surveys, permits — are additional. You receive a line-by-line budget before construction begins.
How big can I build on my lot?
The Baseline Mansionization Ordinance caps floor area on most single-family lots at 0.45 of lot area, and garages and covered areas count toward it. Projects over the cap go to City Planning, where a Zoning Administrator Adjustment allows up to 10% more. Our guide to second stories and additions explains the options.
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 Winnetka 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: Woodland Hills · West Hills · Arleta · Van Nuys · Burbank · Valley Village
Region: All San Fernando Valley communities we serve · Everywhere we build