General Contractor in Studio City
Green Design and Build is a licensed general contractor (CSLB #1110975) based at 16120 Sherman Way in Van Nuys, about 15 minutes from Studio City by the 101 or Laurel Canyon Boulevard. We are a full-service residential general contractor and design-build remodeler for projects of every size — kitchens, bathrooms, ADUs, room additions, hillside work 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.
Studio City is part of the City of Los Angeles, and like Sherman Oaks it splits at Ventura Boulevard into a flat, gridded north and a steep, canyon-cut south. The lots are smaller than in Encino or Woodland Hills, which makes design — where the addition goes, how the ADU fits, what the setbacks allow — the first conversation on almost every project.
The flats, the hills and the river
North of Ventura Boulevard — Colfax Meadows, the Silver Triangle, Tujunga Village and the streets toward Moorpark and the 101. 1930s–50s bungalows, Traditional and ranch homes on 5,000–7,500 sq ft lots, many with detached garages at the rear. Tight lots reward careful planning: a second story is often the only way to add a primary suite without losing the yard, and a garage conversion is often the most practical ADU. Original conditions are consistent — galvanized plumbing, 100-amp panels, single-pane wood or steel windows, raised foundations that were bolted only if a previous owner did it after 1994. The streets closest to the Los Angeles River channel sit in mapped flood zones, which affects the finished-floor elevation of any new structure.
South of Ventura Boulevard — Laurel Canyon, Fryman Canyon, Wrightwood, the Dona streets and the ridges toward Mulholland. Sloped, irregular lots with 1950s–70s post-and-beam, mid-century and later custom homes, mostly inside a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone. The City of Los Angeles Baseline Hillside Ordinance governs additions, ADUs and new structures: a geotechnical report before structural design, engineered retaining walls or caissons, Chapter 7A ignition-resistant exteriors and Class A roofing, brush clearance, and hillside grading review on the steepest lots. Narrow canyon roads also decide how materials are delivered and where a crew can park, which we plan before demolition day.
ADUs in Studio City
On the flats, a detached ADU of up to 1,200 sq ft is possible on the deeper lots and a garage conversion on most others; the smaller lots often make an attached or above-garage ADU the better fit. Hillside lots south of the boulevard can add an ADU with the hillside ordinance, a soils report and fire-zone construction rules layered on. LADBS must act on a complete ADU application within 60 days, and the LADBS ADU Standard Plan Program can shorten plan check on a flat lot. Check your address with our ADU rules calculator and read how much it costs to build an ADU before you compare quotes.
What we build in Studio City
- Kitchen remodeling — opening 1940s galley kitchens to the dining and living rooms, often with a new beam and a panel upgrade. Read what homeowners wish they knew before remodeling a kitchen.
- Bathroom remodeling — see how much a bathroom remodel costs.
- ADUs and garage conversions on the flats; engineered hillside ADUs in the canyons.
- Room additions — second-story additions on the small flat lots, stepped and cantilevered additions in the hills.
- Whole-home renovations of original bungalows and mid-century homes under one permit. See our remodeling services.
- Foundation and structural work — seismic bolting, caissons, retaining walls, canyon drainage. See warning signs your foundation needs repair.
- Roofing with Class A assemblies in the fire zone, and windows and doors.
- Flooring, painting, patio covers, pavers and outdoor living, including terraced hillside decks.
- 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 Studio City
Studio City is inside the City of Los Angeles, so every permit goes through LADBS at the Van Nuys office. We prepare and submit plans, respond to corrections and schedule every inspection; hillside and fire-zone parcels add the geotechnical and Chapter 7A steps above. Our San Fernando Valley page covers the wider Valley, the neighboring Sherman Oaks page covers the community to the west, and our Los Angeles page explains the LADBS process in detail.
What homeowners say
From our Yelp reviews:
“They completely remodeled my kitchen and they turned out beautiful. The job came in within my budget including full 3rd design rendering.” — Yakir A.
“I hired Green Design and Build to do my bathroom. From start to finish, Drake was the best!” — Leore O.
More on our About page.
Frequently asked questions
Can I add a second story to my Studio City home?
Usually, yes: second-story additions are the most common way to add space on Studio City’s small flat lots, and they are permitted through LADBS with structural engineering for the new load path and, on a raised foundation, seismic bolting as part of the work. In the hills south of Ventura Boulevard the Baseline Hillside Ordinance limits floor area and height by slope, so the design starts from what the ordinance allows. Green Design and Build engineers and permits both kinds.
Can I build an ADU in Studio City?
Yes, Studio City lots on the flats can usually take a garage conversion or, on deeper lots, a detached ADU of up to 1,200 sq ft, and LADBS must act on a complete application within 60 days. Hillside lots south of the boulevard can add an ADU subject to the hillside ordinance, a geotechnical report and fire-zone construction rules. Green Design and Build builds both and can tell you which applies to your address.
Is my Studio City home in a fire zone?
Most Studio City parcels south of Ventura Boulevard — Laurel Canyon, Fryman Canyon and the ridges toward Mulholland — are inside a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone, while the flats north of the boulevard generally are not. In the zone, additions, ADUs and new structures must use Chapter 7A ignition-resistant materials and brush-clearance rules apply. Green Design and Build checks the LAFD map for every Studio City project.
How much does a kitchen remodel cost in Studio City?
A Studio City kitchen remodel depends on whether walls come out, whether the plumbing and panel are original, and the finish level. Green Design and Build provides an itemized written estimate after a free site visit rather than a per-square-foot guess; 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 Studio City?
Green Design and Build’s office at 16120 Sherman Way in Van Nuys is about 15 minutes from Studio City by the 101 Freeway or Laurel Canyon Boulevard. Site visits are easy to schedule, crews arrive early, and we use the same LADBS Van Nuys office that issues Studio City permits. Homeowners are welcome to visit the office, which is open every day from 8 AM to 6 PM.
Are you licensed to work in Studio City?
Yes, Green Design and Build holds California General Building Contractor license CSLB #1110975 and is licensed, bonded and insured for residential work in Studio City and throughout Los Angeles 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 Studio City remodel with a contractor fifteen minutes away
Tell us whether your home is on the flats or in the canyons and what you want to build, and we will schedule a free site visit, explain what your lot requires and give you a written, itemized estimate.