The Los Angeles Canyon Terrace
Full Backyard Project in Los Angeles
WDC coordinates landscape and hardscape as part of whole-home construction projects across Los Angeles — driveways, retaining walls, pools, outdoor living structures, motorized gates, and exterior drainage — managed under a single project scope. Los Angeles exterior work spans an enormous range of site conditions: flat urban lots in Silver Lake, canyon hillsides above Laurel, large estates in Hancock Park. We bring the permit experience and construction management to handle all of it.
Exterior Scope in Los Angeles
- Hillside grading and retaining — hillside properties in the Hollywood Hills, Laurel Canyon, Silver Lake hills, and other elevated neighborhoods require grading permits, geotechnical review in some cases, and engineer-stamped retaining wall drawings for walls over 4 feet
- Fire zone defensible space — properties in the VHFHSZ require brush clearance and defensible space compliance per LAFD; plant selection, spacing, and hardscape materials are regulatory requirements for hillside properties in fire zones
- Pool and spa — LADBS pool permits; barrier and fencing compliance per California code; hillside pool projects require additional structural and geotechnical review
- Driveways and gates — driveway reconstruction and motorized gate installation require permits; curb cut changes require Public Works coordination
- Outdoor structures — pergolas, covered patios, and outdoor kitchens require building permits depending on size and attachment to primary structure; LADBS manages permit review
- Stormwater compliance — LA County stormwater requirements apply to grading and impervious surface work; drainage design must direct runoff appropriately
- Water conservation — LADWP and City requirements for drought-tolerant landscaping apply to new and remodeled exterior planting; turf restrictions are in effect across LA
Exterior Work as Part of a Full Home Project
Interior and exterior renovation coordinated under one contract and one construction schedule is more efficient than running them separately — particularly for hillside and fire zone properties where the permit path for exterior work is already substantial. WDC manages interior and exterior scope simultaneously. One contractor from foundation to front gate.
Frequently Asked Questions
What exterior work requires permits in Los Angeles?
Grading over a specified volume, retaining walls over 4 feet, pools and spas, structural outdoor structures, motorized gates, and driveway curb cuts all require LADBS or Public Works permits. Hillside projects typically require additional geological and grading review. WDC identifies all requirements at feasibility.
We are in the Hollywood Hills — what fire zone requirements apply?
Hollywood Hills properties in the VHFHSZ must comply with LAFD brush clearance zones — 100 feet of defensible space grading, specific plant selection and spacing rules, and ignition-resistant materials for structures within the zone. WDC designs exterior scope to meet these requirements as part of standard practice on hillside projects.
Can you handle pool construction on a hillside lot?
Yes. Hillside pool construction requires structural engineering, geotechnical review for the pool shell and retaining elements, and LADBS permit coordination beyond a standard pool application. WDC manages the pool contractor and engineering team as part of the broader exterior scope — you do not manage these separately.
Exterior Renovation in Los Angeles
Exterior scope across Los Angeles varies more by site condition than almost anywhere else — flat lots, hillside canyon properties, and fire zone estates all require different approaches. A consultation with WDC maps what your specific property requires before design work begins.