South Pasadena, California
General Contractor in South Pasadena
MKW Homes builds bathrooms, kitchens, driveways, and outdoor living in South Pasadena. We run one four-person crew and take one job at a time. In this city your permits go through the South Pasadena Planning and Building Department, and because the lots are small and old, street-facing work gets real scrutiny.
The short answer
MKW Homes builds and remodels in South Pasadena, bathrooms and kitchens through to driveways and outdoor living. The city runs its own Planning and Building Department, and it takes preservation seriously, so anything the street can see gets a closer look. Most homes here predate 1940 on tight lots, which means real setbacks and old wiring behind the walls. I price for that. Free estimate, walk it the same week.
Building in South PasadenaWhat actually matters here.
Who signs off your permit here
Your permit runs through the City of South Pasadena Planning and Building Department, not the county and not Pasadena next door. South Pasadena has a strong preservation streak, so anything the street can see gets a closer look. If your house sits in a historic zone or reads as pre-1940, expect the plan check to ask about materials, window styles, and how a change fits the block before they stamp it.
Small old lots change the math
Most homes here go back before 1940 and sit on tight lots in Mission West, Marengo, and Monterey Hills. Setbacks matter more when you only have a few feet to the property line, and that line often decides whether an addition or a pool surround even fits. Old foundations, knob and tube wiring, and cast iron drains also show up once we open a wall, so we price for what is likely under there.
What to plan for
Plan for a longer approval than a newer suburb because the review is more careful, and plan for surprises inside older walls. We keep the service area tight, so our crew reaches you a few minutes down from Pasadena instead of after a cross-town haul. Estimates are free, and we back the labor for three years. On a South Pasadena remodel the smart money goes into the parts you cannot see, like framing, drainage, and a level base. That is the work that holds up.
Permits in South Pasadena go through City of South Pasadena Planning & Building.
ServicesWhat we build in South Pasadena.
South Pasadena questionsStraight answers.
Do I need a permit to remodel a bathroom in South Pasadena?
Yes, if you move plumbing, electrical, or walls. A like for like swap in the same footprint is lighter, but anything structural or any new fixture location goes through the South Pasadena Planning and Building Department. We pull the permit and handle the inspections so you are not chasing the city.
Why do older South Pasadena homes cost more to remodel?
Because most predate 1940 and hide old wiring, cast iron drains, and settled foundations. Once we open a wall we often find work the previous owner skipped. We price for the likely finds so the number holds instead of jumping in the middle of the job.
Can you add a paver driveway or pool surround on a small lot?
Often yes, but the setback and lot line decide how much fits. On tight South Pasadena lots we measure first and check drainage, because water has to go somewhere. We lay out the design against your real property line before we order any stone.
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