Journal

Honest writing on building in LA.

Code, budgets, process, and the actual numbers behind a Los Angeles remodel. No marketing. No fluff. Read what we wish someone had given us before our first project.

All (20) LA Code (8) Budget (5) Process (4) Case Studies (3)
LA Code

LADBS Plan Check Timeline 2026: What to Actually Expect

Plan check at LADBS in 2026 is faster than it was, slower than the city says, and still the most-misunderstood part of any LA remodel. Here is the real timeline by project type.

Apr 22, 2026 6 min read
LA Code

Title 24 in 2026: Why Your LA Kitchen Costs More Than It Did

California Title 24 ratchets every code cycle. The 2026 cycle is the most expensive yet for kitchen remodels. Here is what changed and what it adds to your job.

Apr 19, 2026 5 min read
LA Code

The Hillside Ordinance: What It Means When Your Lot Tilts

Half of LA's most desirable neighborhoods are on slopes. Brentwood, Hollywood Hills, Pacific Palisades, half of Encino. The Hillside Ordinance governs them. Here is what it actually requires.

Apr 16, 2026 7 min read
LA Code

HPOZ Historic Preservation: When the City Says You Cannot Move That Window

HPOZ stands for Historic Preservation Overlay Zone. There are 35 of them across LA. If your home is in one, here is what changes about your remodel.

Apr 13, 2026 6 min read
LA Code

AB-1033: How Selling Your ADU as a Separate Condo Actually Works

AB-1033 lets California cities allow ADU condo sales separate from the main house. LA opted in. Here is the real process and the limits.

Apr 10, 2026 5 min read
LA Code

SB-9 Lot Splits: Is Your LA Property Eligible in 2026?

SB-9 lets you split a single-family lot into two and build up to two units on each. The 2026 enforcement landscape is different than the 2022 launch. Here is what is real.

Apr 7, 2026 5 min read
LA Code

The 4-Foot Setback Rule and Why Your Side Yard Is Smaller Than You Think

LA's side yard setback default is 5 feet. SB-9, ADU, and several other rules reduce it to 4. Here is what the 4-foot rule means for your buildable envelope.

Apr 4, 2026 4 min read
LA Code

Coastal Commission Review: When the Ocean Reviews Your Permit

If your LA property is within the coastal zone, the California Coastal Commission gets a say in your remodel. The zone is bigger than you might think.

Apr 1, 2026 5 min read
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