Beverly Hills Remodeling

28.5 percent of Beverly Hills homes were built before 1940

Census Bureau survey data for 2020 to 2024 counts 16,552 housing units in Beverly Hills, and 4,715 of them date from 1939 or earlier. Another 4,090 went up between 1940 and 1959, and the median year built is 1958. Houses from the 1920s and 1930s often still carry original plaster, cast iron drain lines and wiring that was never sized for today's kitchens. When a contractor opens a wall in a house of that age, ask for a line in the bid that covers what might be found behind it.

Source: Census ACS 2020-2024, Year Structure Built, Beverly Hills

The hills north of Sunset are a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone

The city says the area north of Sunset Boulevard, plus a few blocks south of it, carries the state's Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone label. The Beverly Hills Fire Department inspects every property in that zone each year starting in mid-April. Owners must keep brush cleared away from structures and remove dead, dry vegetation all year. If you plan an addition, a deck or new landscaping up there, design it around the clearance the inspectors will check.

Source: City of Beverly Hills, Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone FAQ

In the Central Area, visible exterior work goes through design review

In the flats, which the city calls the Central Area, any single-family project visible from the street needs design review. The city lists a new house, a facade remodel, window replacement and even painting as examples. Staff can approve a project on Track 1 when a California licensed architect designs it in a pure style from the city's Single Family Style Guide. Everything else goes to the Architectural and Design Review Commission at a public hearing, which adds time to the schedule.

Source: City of Beverly Hills, Design Review

How much does a kitchen remodel cost in Beverly Hills?

Kitchen work showed up on 144 Beverly Hills building permits issued in 2025, with a median declared value of $28,900, and 59 of those were units in multifamily buildings. Declared values are what applicants write down, not what they end up paying. For Los Angeles and Orange counties combined, the 2023 American Housing Survey found a median kitchen remodel of $17,140, small jobs included.

Do I need design review to replace windows in Beverly Hills?

In the Central Area, the city's name for the flats, yes if the windows can be seen from the street. The city lists window replacement and even painting among the visible work that needs design review. Projects by a California licensed architect in a pure style from the Single Family Style Guide can be approved by staff; others go to the Architectural and Design Review Commission.

Where do I get a building permit in Beverly Hills?

From the city's Building and Safety Division, not Los Angeles. The Permit Center is at 455 North Rexford Drive and takes walk-ins Monday through Thursday from 8 to 10 a.m., or appointments at (310) 285-1000. Many permits can be filed online through the CitySmart portal, which caps a single payment at $99,999.99.

How big can an ADU be in Beverly Hills?

On a Central Area single-family lot, a new detached ADU under the state track can be 800 square feet and 16 feet high, with 4 foot side and rear setbacks. A second attached or detached ADU can reach 1,400 square feet north of Santa Monica Boulevard or 1,200 south of it. Junior ADUs top out at 500 square feet.

Is my Beverly Hills home in a fire zone?

If it sits north of Sunset Boulevard, or a few blocks south of it, the city says it is in a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone. The fire department inspects those properties every year from mid-April. Owners must keep brush cleared from structures and remove dead vegetation year round, which matters when you plan an addition or a deck.