Built for the slope.
Engineered to last.
Hillside construction in Pacific Palisades — caisson foundations, retaining walls, grading permits, and Baseline Hillside Ordinance compliance. 18 years on Palisades hillside lots. CSLB #982386. Structural engineering, geotechnical coordination, and all permits handled in-house.
What makes hillside lots in Pacific Palisades uniquely complex
Hillside construction in Pacific Palisades costs 40–80% more than flat-lot construction — not because of the structure above grade, but because of everything below it. The geology, slope, and regulatory environment here require a contractor who has done this before — repeatedly, in this specific neighborhood.
Pacific Palisades is built on decomposed granite and ancient landslide deposits — among the most geologically complex terrain in Los Angeles. A geotechnical soils report is required on every hillside project, and findings frequently dictate the foundation system before an architect draws a single line. Post-fire conditions add water-repellent soil layers that elevate mudslide risk further.
Soils report required · Every projectMost steep Palisades lots cannot use conventional slab or spread-footing foundations. Caissons — large-diameter concrete piles drilled through the slope to bedrock — are the standard solution. Depth ranges from 20 to 60+ feet depending on where bedrock sits. Grade beams span between caissons at the surface, distributing the structural load. Cost: $800–$1,500+ per linear foot.
$50,000–$200,000+ typical foundation costAny retaining wall over 4 feet in height requires a building permit, structural engineering plans, and a soils report in Los Angeles. Hillside lots in the Palisades routinely require 6–12 foot engineered retaining walls with drainage systems behind the face. Concrete, soldier pile, or cantilevered wall systems — selection depends on slope angle, surcharge loads, and neighbor proximity.
$200–$600+/linear footNarrow winding Palisades hillside roads create real construction challenges. Cranes, concrete trucks, and material deliveries all require planning that flat-lot contractors never think about. Haul route permits are required for soil export over 1,000 cubic yards. Working hours are restricted under the Hillside Construction Regulation (HCR) District — 8 AM–6 PM weekdays, interior work only on Saturdays.
HCR working hour restrictions applyWater is the greatest threat to hillside structural integrity. LA City requires all stormwater from below-street-grade construction to be directed back to the street — often requiring sump pump systems on Palisades lots that sit below street level. Erosion control plans, drainage swales, and engineered drainage behind retaining walls are mandatory on every hillside grading permit.
Sump systems required on many lotsBefore structure, finishes, or systems
The BHO governs almost every aspect of hillside construction in Pacific Palisades — grading limits, maximum cubic yards of cut and fill, height restrictions tied to natural grade, and retaining wall height limits. The Brentwood-Pacific Palisades Specific Plan adds an additional layer of restrictions on top of the citywide BHO. We confirm your lot's specific BHO envelope before design begins — it shapes every subsequent decision.
Every phase of hillside construction, coordinated in-house
Hillside construction requires geotechnical engineers, structural engineers, civil engineers, and specialty subcontractors — all coordinating before a shovel touches the ground. We manage every discipline from site assessment to final inspection, so you have one point of accountability.
Building a new home on a steep Pacific Palisades lot is the most technically demanding project in residential construction. Every system — foundation, structure, drainage, access — must be engineered for the specific conditions of that slope. We coordinate the full team: geotechnical engineer, structural engineer, civil engineer, architect, and specialty subcontractors.
- Geotechnical investigation — soils report, slope stability, boring data
- Caisson foundation system — drilled to bedrock, grade beams, BHO compliant
- Grading permits — LADBS + Coastal Commission + haul route approval
- VHFHSZ fire hardening — Chapter 7A materials, ember-resistant vents, zone 0
- Retaining walls + drainage — engineered, permitted, fully warranted
Retaining Walls & Slope Stabilization
Engineered retaining walls for hillside lots, pool installations, driveway expansions, and new construction. Concrete gravity walls, cantilevered concrete, soldier pile systems — selection depends on wall height, surcharge loads, and soil conditions. Every wall over 4 feet requires engineering and permit. We manage both. $200–$600+/LF depending on system and height.
Grading & Earthwork
Hillside grading in Pacific Palisades is governed by the Baseline Hillside Ordinance — maximum cut and fill quantities, slope band analysis, and the BHO grading formula all determine what is permitted on your specific lot. We commission the topographic survey, prepare the grading plans, and submit to LADBS and the Coastal Commission simultaneously — not sequentially.
Hillside Home Remodels & Additions
Remodeling or adding to an existing hillside home in the Palisades requires understanding the original foundation system before design begins. We assess existing caissons, grade beams, and retaining systems, confirm their capacity for the proposed addition, and design only what is needed — avoiding expensive over-engineering while ensuring structural adequacy for the expanded scope.
Drainage & Stormwater Management
Water is the greatest threat to hillside structural integrity. LA City requires all stormwater from below-street-grade construction to be directed back to the street. Many Palisades lots require sump pump systems. We design and install complete drainage solutions — French drains, drainage swales behind retaining walls, sump basins, and pump systems — all permitted and inspected.
Fire Hardening & WUI Compliance
All Pacific Palisades hillside construction is in a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone (VHFHSZ). Chapter 7A fire-hardened construction is mandatory — ignition-resistant exterior cladding, ember-resistant vents, enclosed eaves, tempered glazing, and Zone 0 defensible space. We spec and build to WUI standards on every hillside project, not just those that require it.
From site assessment to final inspection
Hillside construction in Pacific Palisades typically requires 6–12 months for permitting alone — before a shovel breaks ground. Getting the sequencing right from day one is what separates a 14-month project from a 24-month project. We start the soils report the day we engage, submit all agencies simultaneously, and order long-lead materials before permits are issued.
We walk the lot, assess slope grade, access conditions, visible soil conditions, neighbor proximity, and BHO grading limits. We confirm what can be built, what permits are required, and give you a realistic cost range and timeline. At no charge.
We commission the geotechnical engineer the day we engage — not after design is complete. The soils report — borings, lab testing, slope stability analysis, and foundation recommendations — takes 6–8 weeks and is the critical-path item on every hillside project. Starting it first saves 2 months on the overall timeline.
Architectural drawings, structural engineering (caisson design, grade beams, retaining walls), civil engineering (grading plan, drainage, stormwater), and slope band analysis prepared in parallel — coordinated as one integrated package. Finish selections made before permits are submitted so there are no mid-construction decision delays.
LADBS building permit, LADBS grading permit, Coastal Commission CDP, Geology Division approval, haul route permit, and HOA architectural review — all submitted at the same time with complete applications. A contractor who submits sequentially adds 3–6 months. We have submitted hillside permits dozens of times and know exactly what each agency requires.
This phase is everything below the first floor — and the most expensive square footage on any hillside project. Grading is sequenced to manage haul truck traffic per the approved haul route. Caissons are drilled and poured before grading is complete. Retaining walls are built in sequence to prevent slope movement. Foundation inspections are scheduled 7–10 days in advance.
Framing, roofing, MEP rough-in, insulation, drywall, finishes — all WUI fire-hardened to Chapter 7A standards. Final LADBS inspection and sign-off. Landscaping and drainage completion. Walkthrough before we consider the job done.
Hillside construction completed
in Pacific Palisades
Hillside construction questions answered
These are the questions we hear every week from Pacific Palisades homeowners planning hillside projects.
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Your hillside lot's full potential, engineered to last.
Every hillside project starts with a free site assessment — we walk your lot, assess slope conditions, confirm your BHO envelope, and give you an honest cost and timeline estimate. No pressure. No obligation. Just a clear picture of what your site requires and what it will cost.
"Our lot in the Highlands has a 35% slope. Every contractor we spoke to said it was too complex. Pacific Palisades Remodeling walked the lot, told us exactly what it needed, and built it. The caissons went 44 feet to bedrock. The house has been there through two winters without movement."
"We needed three engineered retaining walls to build our pool on a Rustic Canyon slope. They managed the geotechnical engineer, structural engineer, grading permit, and construction. One call for everything. The walls are solid and look beautiful."