Monrovia, California
General Contractor in Monrovia
MKW Homes remodels kitchens and bathrooms, lays pavers and turf, and builds outdoor living across Monrovia. Every permit here runs through the City of Monrovia Building Division on Ivy Avenue. Monrovia is full of early-1900s homes, and if yours sits in a historic district the city reviews outside changes before work starts.
The short answer
MKW Homes builds and remodels in Monrovia, kitchens and baths, pavers, turf, and outdoor living. Every permit runs through the City of Monrovia Building Division. The town is full of early-1900s Craftsman homes, so if yours is a landmark or sits in the Wildrose district, the city reviews any outside change before work starts. Most homes are not designated, so step one is checking your address. Free estimate.
Building in MonroviaWhat actually matters here.
Building in Monrovia's older neighborhoods
A big share of Monrovia went up in the Craftsman years, roughly 1905 to 1930. That matters because the city passed a historic preservation ordinance in 1995. If your home is a designated landmark or sits in the Wildrose district, any change to the outside needs a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Historic Preservation Commission before a permit. Most homes are not designated, so step one is checking your address.
Old houses hide old wiring and framing
Homes from that era often carry knob-and-tube wiring, cast iron drains, and framing that is rarely square. When we open a wall for a kitchen or bath, we plan for a panel upgrade and new supply lines, because the old ones frequently will not pass current code. We price that risk into the estimate instead of hitting you with a surprise halfway through. The drain stack location still drives the bathroom cost.
Foothill lots, permits, and drainage
Monrovia sits against the San Gabriel foothills, so lots slope and soil drains fast in some spots and holds water in others. A paver driveway or pool surround needs grading that sends water away from the house and off your neighbor's side. Hardscape over a set size and any new driveway approach at the street usually needs a permit and sometimes a public works sign-off. We pull those before we dig.
Permits in Monrovia go through City of Monrovia.
Monrovia questionsStraight answers.
Do I need a permit to remodel my Monrovia home?
Yes for anything structural, electrical, plumbing, or an addition. The City of Monrovia Building Division handles it, and initial plan review commonly runs 30 to 60 days. Simple like-for-like swaps may not need one. We confirm the scope before we quote so nothing stalls later.
Is my house in a Monrovia historic district?
Maybe. The city has one historic district, the Wildrose Tract, plus a list of designated landmarks, around 164 properties as of 2024. If yours is on that list, outside changes need a Certificate of Appropriateness. We check your address with the city before design starts.
How long does a kitchen or bathroom remodel take?
Plan on permit review first, then the build. We run one job at a time with a four-person crew, so your project is not sharing our week. A straightforward bathroom is a few weeks on site once materials land. Older homes that need rewiring or reframing take longer.
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