Home Additions in Los Angeles and Orange County

A ground-level addition is usually simpler when you have yard space and room within your setbacks. It needs a new foundation and roof tie-in but leaves the rest of the house mostly untouched. A second-story addition keeps your yard intact and works well on tight lots. It often requires engineering to confirm the existing foundation and walls can carry the new load, and sometimes structural upgrades before framing starts. KR reviews your lot and structure to help you choose.

The most common additions we see add a primary bedroom with its own bathroom and closet, or open up a cramped kitchen into a larger kitchen and family room. These projects often pair new square footage with remodeling inside the existing home. If your addition includes a new kitchen or bath, we coordinate that work together with kitchen remodeling so the old and new spaces feel like one house.

Every addition that adds square footage needs a building permit. Plans typically include architectural drawings, structural calculations, and Title 24 energy compliance. In the City of Los Angeles, plans go through LADBS. Other cities, like Burbank, Glendale, and Pasadena, have their own departments and zoning standards. Hillside and coastal properties can have extra review. KR submits plans, responds to corrections, and schedules inspections at foundation, framing, rough systems, insulation, and final.

If the extra space is meant for a family member or a renter, compare an addition with an ADU. An ADU has its own kitchen and entrance and can be rented separately, and state law protects many ADU projects from local restrictions. An addition simply makes your home larger. Costs for either vary with size, site, and finishes, and KR provides a written estimate after a site visit. Request an estimate to talk through your options.