General Contractor in Huntington Beach

Green Design and Build is a licensed general contractor (CSLB #1110975) based at 16120 Sherman Way in Van Nuys and working throughout Orange County, including Huntington Beach, about an hour and a quarter south by the 405. We are a full-service residential general contractor and design-build remodeler for projects of every size — kitchens, bathrooms, ADUs, room additions and whole-home renovations — serving homeowners across Los Angeles County, Orange County, Ventura County, western Riverside County and western San Bernardino County. Led by Dekel Sofer, we have completed hundreds of projects and hold a 4.7-star rating across 146 Yelp reviews.

Huntington Beach is a coastal city with an oil-field past, and both shape what a project here needs. A remodel a mile inland is a straightforward city permit; the same project in Huntington Harbour, downtown or Sunset Beach can add coastal review, flood elevations and salt-air detailing. This page covers where each applies and what the city will ask for.

Huntington Beach homes, by area

The central and northern tracts. Most of Huntington Beach was built out in the 1960s and 1970s as single-story and two-story tract homes with attached garages on standard lots, between the 405 and Pacific Coast Highway. They share the original conditions of that era: galvanized or early copper plumbing, 100-amp panels, single-pane windows and closed-off kitchens. These are the homes most often getting kitchen reconfigurations, bathroom remodels, second-story additions and whole-home renovations.

Huntington Harbour and Sunset Beach. Huntington Harbour was built from 1963 onward on man-made islands and channels, with many homes on the water, docks and seawalls; Sunset Beach, north of the harbour along the sand, became part of the city in 2011. Much of this area sits inside the Coastal Zone and in mapped flood zones, where a new structure or major addition must meet the city’s floodplain rules for finished floor elevation, and the salt air calls for corrosion-resistant fasteners, flashing and hardware.

Downtown and the streets near Main Street. Smaller and older lots close to the pier, including narrow infill lots being rebuilt with new two- and three-story homes. Work here often involves the Coastal Zone, tight setbacks and neighbors on both sides, which we plan for before staging a single delivery.

Across the city, Huntington Beach’s oil history matters. The fire department’s City Specification 429 sets methane mitigation requirements for building near oil wells and in methane areas, and older parcels can have abandoned wells on or near them. We check for both before design, because they can decide where an addition or ADU can go. Every home built before 1978 gets EPA lead-safe practices during demolition.

ADUs in Huntington Beach

Huntington Beach allows detached and attached ADUs and garage conversions under California law, with an 800 sq ft unit allowed on virtually any single-family lot, units of up to 1,200 sq ft where the lot allows, a junior ADU of up to 500 sq ft inside the house, and 4-foot side and rear setbacks. The city must act on a complete ADU application within 60 days. Inside the Coastal Zone, including Huntington Harbour, downtown and Sunset Beach, an ADU can also need a Coastal Development Permit, which adds time to the approval, so we confirm your parcel’s status before design. ADUs permitted in Huntington Beach cannot be used as short-term rentals. Check your address with our ADU rules calculator, and read how much it costs to build an ADU and why ADU quotes vary so much before you compare bids.

What we build in Huntington Beach

• Kitchen remodeling — opening 1960s and 1970s tract kitchens to the family room, with the panel and plumbing upgrades that come with them. Read what homeowners wish they knew before remodeling a kitchen.
• Bathroom remodeling — see how much a bathroom remodel costs.
• ADUs and garage conversions, including coastal-zone units designed for the Coastal Development Permit.
• Room additions — second stories on the inland tracts and additions in the harbour designed to the floodplain rules.
• Whole-home renovations of the original tract homes. See our remodeling services.
• Foundation and structural work — see warning signs your foundation needs repair.
• Roof replacement (performed and permitted under a C-39 Roofing license, by a roofing contractor scheduled and supervised by us), windows and doors, flooring and painting, with coastal-grade materials near the water.
• Patio covers, pavers and outdoor living — see our patio cover cost guide.
• Concrete, retaining walls, artificial turf, fencing, outdoor kitchens and decks and landscaping and irrigation.
• Plumbing and electrical upgrades as part of remodels, performed by licensed tradespeople.

Permits in Huntington Beach

Huntington Beach runs its own building division. Permits are issued by the city’s Permit Center at City Hall, 2000 Main Street, and plans are submitted and tracked through the city’s online permit portal. Projects inside the Coastal Zone add a Coastal Development Permit through the city’s Planning Division, and projects near oil wells or in methane areas add the fire department’s review. We submit the plans, with the structural engineering and Title 24 energy compliance prepared by licensed consultants under our contract, clear corrections and schedule every inspection through to final. Our Orange County page covers the rest of the county and the differences between its city building divisions.

What homeowners say

From our reviews:

“They completely remodeled my kitchen and they turned out beautiful. The job came in within my budget including full 3D design rendering.” — Yakir A.

“The team was always on time, respectful of my home, and kept everything clean throughout the project.” — Shlomo L.

More on our About page.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a Coastal Development Permit to remodel in Huntington Beach?

It depends on where the home is and what you are building. Parcels inside the Coastal Zone, which includes Huntington Harbour, Sunset Beach, downtown and areas near Bolsa Chica, can need a Coastal Development Permit for additions, ADUs, new homes and some exterior changes, processed by the City of Huntington Beach and adding time to the approval. Interior kitchen and bathroom remodels generally do not need one. Green Design and Build checks your parcel before design.

Can I build an ADU in Huntington Beach?

Yes, Huntington Beach allows detached and attached ADUs, garage conversions and junior ADUs of up to 500 sq ft under California law, with an 800 sq ft unit allowed on virtually any single-family lot and 4-foot side and rear setbacks, and the city must act on a complete application within 60 days. Inside the Coastal Zone an ADU can also need a Coastal Development Permit. ADUs in Huntington Beach cannot be used as short-term rentals.

Does the oil history of Huntington Beach affect my project?

It can. The Huntington Beach Fire Department’s City Specification 429 sets methane mitigation requirements for new construction near oil wells and in methane areas, and some older parcels have abandoned wells on or near them. Green Design and Build checks for both before design, since they can determine where an addition or ADU can be placed and what the slab must include.

How much does a kitchen remodel cost in Huntington Beach?

A Huntington Beach kitchen remodel typically runs $25,000 to $40,000 for a cosmetic refresh, $40,000 to $70,000 for a mid-range remodel that keeps the layout, and $70,000 to $100,000 or more when walls, plumbing and electrical move; where yours lands depends on whether walls come out, whether the 1960s or 1970s plumbing and panel need replacing, and the finish level. Green Design and Build provides an itemized written estimate after a free site visit; for published ranges by project type, see our guide to what a Los Angeles general contractor costs.

How far is Green Design and Build from Huntington Beach?

Green Design and Build’s office at 16120 Sherman Way in Van Nuys is about an hour and a quarter from Huntington Beach by the 405 Freeway, depending on the time of day. We schedule Orange County site visits together, run crews on an early start, and manage the project with the same project manager from the first visit to the final walkthrough. Homeowners are welcome to visit the office, which is open every day from 8 AM to 6 PM.

Are you licensed to work in Huntington Beach?

Yes, Green Design and Build holds California General Building Contractor license CSLB #1110975 and is licensed, bonded and insured for residential work in Huntington Beach and throughout Orange County. The license can be verified on the Contractors State License Board website. HVAC, plumbing and electrical work on our projects is performed by licensed tradespeople.

Plan your Huntington Beach remodel with a contractor who knows the coastal rules

Tell us where your home is and what you want to build, and we will schedule a free site visit, check whether the Coastal Zone, flood zone or oil-well rules apply to your parcel, and give you a written, itemized estimate.