Altadena, California
General Contractor in Altadena
MKW Homes builds and remodels in Altadena. Kitchens, bathrooms, paver driveways, pool surrounds and outdoor living. One thing to know up front: Altadena is unincorporated, so your permit goes through LA County Public Works and its EPIC-LA system, not the City of Pasadena. That changes who reviews your plans and how long it takes.
The short answer
MKW Homes builds and remodels in Altadena, from kitchens and baths to paver driveways, turf, and pool surrounds. Here is the thing people miss: Altadena is unincorporated, so your permit goes through LA County Public Works on the EPIC-LA portal, not Pasadena next door. Start at the wrong counter and you lose weeks. Many lots slope toward the foothills too, so drainage sets the budget. Free same-week estimate.
Building in AltadenaWhat actually matters here.
Your permit goes to the county, not Pasadena
Altadena looks and feels like part of Pasadena, but it sits on unincorporated county land. Your plans go to LA County Public Works, Building and Safety, and zoning questions run through County Regional Planning. Most of it moves through EPIC-LA, the county's online permit portal. People lose weeks by starting at Pasadena's counter first. The county plan check queue runs on its own clock, so we build that wait into the schedule from day one.
Sloping lots change the driveway and hardscape math
A lot of Altadena sits on ground that climbs toward the San Gabriels. For a paver driveway, a pool surround, or an outdoor kitchen, the slope decides the budget more than the finish you pick. Move enough soil and the county wants a grading permit or at least a drainage plan. Any retaining wall over about four feet needs its own permit and an engineer's stamp. Water is the real test here, so we grade the pad to send runoff away from the house.
What to plan for in a Janes Village or Meadows remodel
Altadena runs to older Craftsman and ranch houses on bigger lots, from Janes Village to the Meadows and Country Club. That age cuts both ways. Behind the plaster you often find knob-and-tube wiring, galvanized supply lines, and framing that predates current code, and those set the real cost of a kitchen or bath. The upside is land, with room for turf, a paver driveway, or a real outdoor room. We run one four-person crew on one job at a time.
Permits in Altadena go through Los Angeles County Public Works, Building and Safety.
ServicesWhat we build in Altadena.
Altadena questionsStraight answers.
Do I get my building permit from Pasadena or LA County?
Almost always the county. Altadena is unincorporated, so your permit comes from LA County Public Works, Building and Safety, filed through the EPIC-LA portal, with zoning handled by County Regional Planning. A Pasadena mailing address can still be county land, so check the parcel before you file anywhere.
Does building on an Altadena hillside cost more?
If your lot slopes, yes. Before the pretty part, you may pay for grading, drainage, and retaining walls, plus an engineer's stamp on any wall over about four feet. A flat pad near Janes Village prices very differently from a lot pushed up against the foothills. The grade and the soil set the number.
How long does LA County plan check take for a remodel?
It depends on the job and the county's current queue, which we do not control. Small like-for-like work can sometimes clear the counter quickly. Anything needing structural, grading, or drainage review goes to full plan check and comes back with corrections to answer. We plan for that back-and-forth, not a fixed date.
ReviewsFrom nearby homeowners.
Hired Mike and his crew to redo our entire backyard and driveway. Removal of the asphalt and existing landscaping, running water lines and electrical, artificial grass, plant borders, a paver driveway, raised the patio gazebo, added a paver patio, landscaped borders, irrigation and outdoor lighting.
Teri CraftLocal Guide · 33 reviewsFrom start to finish the job was handled with the utmost professionalism and attention to detail. What stood out most was their communication. Mr. Ward kept me informed every step of the way.
Angela Adams5 reviewsMKW Homes just painted our home. We are very satisfied with the work. During the process everything was clean and organized.
Jake Baloian3 reviewsMike and his crew were great. They did a wonderful job on the stucco patching and painting, and we were very pleased with the results.
Jen B1 reviewHired Mike and his crew to redo our entire backyard and driveway. Removal of the asphalt and existing landscaping, running water lines and electrical, artificial grass, plant borders, a paver driveway, raised the patio gazebo, added a paver patio, landscaped borders, irrigation and outdoor lighting.
Teri CraftLocal Guide · 33 reviewsFrom start to finish the job was handled with the utmost professionalism and attention to detail. What stood out most was their communication. Mr. Ward kept me informed every step of the way.
Angela Adams5 reviewsMKW Homes just painted our home. We are very satisfied with the work. During the process everything was clean and organized.
Jake Baloian3 reviewsMike and his crew were great. They did a wonderful job on the stucco patching and painting, and we were very pleased with the results.
Jen B1 review