Westwood General Contractor & Custom Home Builder

Built With Intention. Designed for the Westside.

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We Do Not Approach Westwood as Another Los Angeles Job

Most contractors working in Westwood, Los Angeles, treat it as a straightforward Westside project. Take the contract, pull the permits, move to the next one.

That is not how we work here.

Westwood rewards preparation and penalizes shortcuts. The neighborhood is not uniform Westwood Hills carries hillside constraints that flat lots in Westwood South do not face. Little Holmby's prewar homes regularly reveal conditions that have to be resolved before design can advance. Properties near Westwood Village in Los Angeles sit within a regulatory environment where an additional layer of Planning approval is required a layer many contractors discover mid-project rather than before submission.

Projects that begin without a clear picture of what the lot, the structure, and the permitting environment will require don't just slow down. They become expensive to fix.

We build that picture before design begins.

Westwood living room remodel with vaulted ceiling, plaster fireplace, and custom lighting by Heart Construction

What Building in Westwood Actually Requires

Westwood has more regulatory layers than most Westside neighborhoods. We manage them so you don't have to discover them mid-project.

All development in Westwood goes through LADBS but properties within the Westwood Village Specific Plan boundary require Director of Planning approval before any permit is issued. That applies to demolition, new construction, additions, and exterior alterations. It is an additional approval track that runs alongside the building permit, not after it and most homeowners learn about it for the first time when a contractor flags it mid-submission.

Projects that don't qualify for Administrative Review must go before the Westwood Community Design Review Board, adding a parallel process that has to be sequenced correctly from the start. Filing Planning clearances simultaneously with LADBS rather than one after the other is what keeps these projects on schedule.

Hillside parcels in Westwood Hills carry their own layer. Geotechnical reports and grading plans are required before foundation design can begin. What the slope allows determines what the project can be and that answer needs to come before architectural drawings, not during plan check.

We confirm Specific Plan status, Design Review requirements, and hillside feasibility before design advances. That preparation is what keeps projects controlled.

Spanish style home exterior renovation in Westwood Los Angeles with landscaped front yard and entry walkway

Understanding Westwood Neighborhood by Neighborhood

Where your property sits in Westwood shapes what you can build, how long it will take, and what the existing structure will require. Treating the neighborhood as uniform is where projects go wrong.

Westwood Hills

A hillside neighborhood of winding streets and meaningful elevation changes west of UCLA. What makes it desirable also makes it demanding. Every project starts with the same question: what does the slope actually allow? Original 1930s and 1940s construction is common here, and it rarely stays straightforward once walls open.

Little Holmby (Holmby Westwood)

Developed primarily between the 1920s and 1950s, most of that architecture is still standing. Remodels here regularly surface framing conditions and outdated systems that have to be assessed before design moves forward not discovered during demolition. One project on Ashton Avenue required full foundation reinforcement before the addition scope could advance. A proper structural evaluation caught it before drawings were finalized.

Comstock Hills

Slower to redevelop than surrounding Westwood neighborhoods, which means renovation opportunity is real and so is the structural exposure. The question that determines budget here is usually not what the homeowner wants to do. It is what the existing construction will actually allow.

Westwood South

The most actively transitioning part of Westwood, with modern builds alongside mid-century and postwar homes. Structural conditions vary sharply by property. Feasibility review before design commitment is what prevents a costly redesign when plan check surfaces what the survey did not.

Westwood Village Area

Properties within the Westwood Village Specific Plan boundary require an additional layer of Planning approval before any permit is issued. Most contractors encounter this for the first time mid-project. We confirm Specific Plan status before design begins not after a submission is already filed.

Westwood dining room remodel with modern chandelier, hardwood floors, and custom window treatments

What Contractors Get Wrong in Westwood

The most common mistake is treating Westwood as a standard LADBS project. It isn't at least not for properties within the Westwood Village Specific Plan boundary.

The Specific Plan supersedes standard zoning in the areas it covers. A permit application that doesn't account for that doesn't get approved. It gets a correction letter, a reset review clock, and a conversation with the homeowner about why the timeline just moved.

The Design Review Board is the second thing most contractors miss. Projects that don't qualify for Administrative Review require DRB approval a parallel track that has to be sequenced correctly from the beginning. Treating it as something to deal with after LADBS submission is what turns a manageable project into a reactive one.

On hillside parcels, the missed step is usually grading feasibility. A design that advances without confirming what the slope will allow gets redesigned at the homeowner's expense when the geotechnical report comes back with different conclusions than the survey suggested.

We identify all of it before the first sheet is filed.

Custom home backyard in Westwood Los Angeles with pool, deck, and indoor outdoor living design

Custom Homes in Westwood

Ground-up construction in Westwood begins with understanding what the lot will actually support not with renderings.

Before architectural drawings advance, we confirm what the site allows, what the permitting path requires, and where the structural and regulatory risks are. On hillside parcels, that includes grading analysis. On properties near Westwood Village, it includes Specific Plan confirmation.

Those answers matter because design investment made before they're known often has to be redone. We have seen projects arrive at plan check with architectural drawings that didn't account for hillside grading constraints, or that missed Specific Plan requirements entirely. The cost isn't just the redesign it's the months lost while the review clock resets.

Getting those answers first is what keeps the project moving in the right direction from the beginning.

Modern living room renovation in Westwood with large sliding doors and open concept layout

Full Home Remodeling in Westwood

Remodeling in Westwood is rarely cosmetic.

Whole-home renovations throughout Little Holmby, Comstock Hills, and Westwood South frequently involve structural wall removal, foundation reinforcement, and full system replacement. The homes here were built for a different era and what's inside the walls often tells a different story than what's visible from a walkthrough.

On a recent Little Holmby renovation, opening the walls revealed a foundation condition that hadn't appeared in the original inspection. Because we had a structural engineer engaged before demo began, we had a solution in place within days rather than weeks. The project stayed on schedule. A less prepared team would have stopped the job and started a difficult conversation about money.

Evaluating structural scope before demolition begins is what protects schedule and budget. It is also what prevents the conversation no homeowner wants to have three weeks into demo.

Custom kitchen remodel in Westwood Los Angeles with large island, white cabinetry, and luxury appliances

Kitchen Remodeling in Westwood

Kitchen remodels in older Westwood homes almost always surface a structural question before they surface a design one.

Opening the compartmentalized layouts common in Little Holmby and Comstock Hills requires removing load-bearing walls and that structural work has to be resolved before cabinetry layouts are finalized. On one Comstock Hills project, what started as a layout refresh uncovered a load-bearing condition the original drawings hadn't reflected. We had a structural engineer on-site within 48 hours, resolved the beam solution without changing the client's layout intent, and kept the project on schedule.

That kind of response requires having the engineering relationship in place before demo begins not after.

Primary bathroom remodel in Westwood with freestanding tub, walk in shower, and large window

Bathroom Remodeling in Westwood

The specific risk in Westwood's older bathrooms is what's behind the tile.

Prewar and mid-century homes throughout Little Holmby, Westwood Hills, and Comstock Hills frequently conceal plumbing and waterproofing systems that have long exceeded their service life. A remodel that doesn't account for what it will find is one that gets repriced mid-demo.

We run a pre-construction assessment before any tile comes off. On a recent Westwood Hills project, that assessment found a failed waterproofing assembly beneath a shower the homeowners had been using daily with no visible sign of failure. Catching it before demolition meant the project finished on the original schedule. Finding it during demo would have meant a two-week stop and a budget that no longer matched the contract

Backyard renovation in Westwood Los Angeles with spa, pool, deck, and outdoor dining area

Outdoor Living in Westwood

Outdoor space in Westwood is an extension of how the home functions not a phase added after construction is complete.

Hillside properties in Westwood Hills require outdoor spaces that work with the grade, not against it. Terraced entertaining areas, infinity-edge pools, and retaining systems that double as design elements all have to be engineered from the beginning not resolved after the home is finished.

Flat lot properties throughout Westwood South and Comstock Hills offer different opportunities rear yard depth that supports generous pool configurations, covered outdoor kitchens, and seamless transitions between interior living and exterior space.

Every material decision decking, cladding, irrigation, lighting has to account for the site conditions from the start. Getting that specification right during design is what keeps outdoor spaces looking and performing the way they were intended.

We design and build outdoor spaces as part of the architecture. Not as an afterthought.

Detached ADU in Westwood Los Angeles with modern exterior and small patio seating area

ADUs in Westwood

Westwood is an active ADU market — but what a lot can actually support varies significantly depending on where the property sits.

Westwood South and Comstock Hills generally offer the most straightforward configurations. Hillside parcels in Westwood Hills require grading analysis before any design work begins — what looks like usable rear yard on paper can be unbuildable on the ground. Properties near Westwood Village require Planning confirmation before ADU permitting proceeds.

State law permits ADUs on all residentially zoned lots. But state law doesn't tell you what your specific parcel will support. That answer comes from feasibility — not floor plans.

Westwood living room interior with large window, custom drapery, and seating area

How We Operate

Every project we take on in Westwood begins the same way: understanding what the property actually allows before design commitment. That means structural evaluation, zoning confirmation, Specific Plan status, and on hillside parcels grading analysis. Budget alignment happens before architectural drawings advance.

When we work alongside an architect or designer, that work happens before schematic design is finalized so design moves forward with clarity, not corrections.

We call this Build with Intention. You can read more about how we approach every project from feasibility through completion on our signature approach.

In Westwood, it is the difference between a project that moves and one that does not.

  • "The lot had constraints we didn't know existed."

    We were planning a detached ADU in Westwood South and already had architectural drawings underway. In the first meeting Heart flagged a rear setback condition that would have required a variance. They ran a feasibility review, found a layout that preserved the square footage we needed, and we moved through permitting without a correction cycle.

    — Mark & Diana F., Westwood South

  • "Two other contractors never mentioned the Specific Plan."

    We were planning a significant addition near Westwood Village and had no idea our property fell within the Specific Plan boundary. Heart identified it in the first feasibility meeting, filed the required approvals simultaneously with LADBS, and kept the project on schedule despite the additional approval track.

    — Catherine R., Westwood Village Area

  • "The number they gave us at the start was the number we built to."

    We had been through two contractor conversations where the budget changed significantly after drawings were done. Heart ran feasibility before we committed to any design told us what the lot would support, where the risks were, and what a realistic budget looked like before our architect finalized anything. We built a ground-up home in Westwood Hills and finished within three percent of the original number.

    — Robert & Ellen K., Westwood Hills

RECENT PROJECTS

VIEW ALL PROJECTS

  • Custom homes typically range from $550 to $900+ per square foot, depending on lot conditions, hillside requirements, structural complexity, Specific Plan applicability, and finish level.

  • Whole-home remodels generally range from $375 to $650+ per square foot, depending on structural scope, the condition of existing construction, and finish specifications.

  • Kitchen remodels typically range from $85,000 to $220,000+, depending on layout changes, structural modifications, cabinetry level, appliance integration, and materials.

  • Primary bathroom remodels generally range from $40,000 to $120,000+, depending on plumbing scope, waterproofing, radiant heating, steam integration, and finish level.

  • Detached ADUs typically range from $275,000 to $500,000+, depending on size, lot configuration, grading requirements, and finish level. Garage conversions generally run $150,000 to $280,000+, depending on structural condition and finish scope.

  • Properties within the Specific Plan boundary require Director of Planning approval before LADBS will issue any permit for demolition, new construction, additions, or exterior alterations. Projects that don't qualify for Administrative Review must go before the Westwood Community Design Review Board. Confirming your property's status before design begins prevents delays that are expensive to work around.

  • State law permits ADUs on all residentially zoned lots with no minimum lot size. Whether your specific lot can support one without setback exceptions, grading complications, or Specific Plan review depends on the parcel. Feasibility analysis before design commitment is what prevents costly redesign mid-permit.

  • Most custom homes take 12–18 months from permit issuance to completion, depending on size, lot conditions, and whether Specific Plan review is required

  • Major remodels typically take 5–10 months after permits are issued, depending on structural scope and material lead times.

  • The Westwood Village Specific Plan governs development within a defined boundary near Westwood Village. Properties within that boundary require Director of Planning approval before any permit is issued for demolition, new construction, additions, or exterior alterations. It applies to more projects than most homeowners expect, and discovering it mid-project adds months. Confirming whether your property falls within the boundary is one of the first things we do.

  • A feasibility review confirms what your lot can legally support, identifies structural conditions that will affect design scope, verifies your Specific Plan status, and establishes a realistic budget range before any architectural drawings begin. It is what keeps design investment from being redone at plan check.

Frequently Asked Questions About Building in Westwood

For homeowners researching rebuild timelines, permitting requirements, and realistic construction budgets, we’ve created detailed guides that explain the process clearly and practically.

Explore:
Kitchen Remodel Costs in Los Angeles (2026)
Outdoor Living Cost Guide (2026)
Bathroom Remodel Costs in Los Angeles (2026)

These resources break down structural considerations, approval timelines, and real-world budget ranges to help you plan with clarity.

Explore Other Los Angeles Neighborhoods

Heart Construction builds custom homes and major remodels across Los Angeles from coastal and hillside communities to estate neighborhoods, valley properties, and urban infill areas.

You can explore our full service map on our Where We Build page.

Before you commit to a design, let's look at what your property actually allows.

A feasibility review covers your lot constraints, Specific Plan status, a structural baseline what the existing structure can realistically support and a realistic budget range, before architectural drawings begin.

Start with a conversation.