Remodeling & ADU Contractor in Anaheim

Anaheim is the largest city in Orange County, and it stretches from mid-century tracts in the west to hillside neighborhoods on the Riverside County line. IA Builders is a licensed California general contractor (CSLB #1124696) based in Culver City, and we handle remodels, room additions and ADUs across Anaheim. What a project involves here depends a lot on which part of the city your house is in.

Three kinds of Anaheim homes

The Colony and central Anaheim

Anaheim began in 1857 as a farming and winemaking colony founded by German-American families, and the original townsite, bounded by North, South, East and West Streets, is now the Anaheim Colony Historic District. The city adopted it in 1997 as its first historic district. Central Anaheim also has the Five Points, Hoskins and Historic Palm districts. The city describes the Colony's architecture as varied, with Craftsman bungalows, Spanish Colonial, Tudor, Colonial Revival and Victorian houses. These homes are often the most rewarding to remodel and the ones that need the most care, both in design and in what turns up behind the walls.

West and central tract neighborhoods

Anaheim grew from about 14,600 residents in 1950 to more than 100,000 by 1960, as freeways reached Orange County and Disneyland opened in 1955. Much of west Anaheim was built as tract housing in those years. These single-story homes tend to have closed-off kitchens, one or two small bathrooms and garages on lots with usable yard space, which makes them good candidates for a kitchen remodel, a room addition or an ADU.

Anaheim Hills

Anaheim Hills, in the eastern part of the city, was developed mainly from the 1970s on as a master-planned community on former ranch land. Homes there sit on sloped lots, many neighborhoods have their own homeowners association, and parts of the area are in state-designated fire hazard severity zones. Original kitchens, baths and finishes from the 1970s and 1980s are now due for replacement, and many owners want to rework the layout during a whole-home remodel.

Permits in Anaheim

Building permits are issued by the Building Division of the City of Anaheim Planning and Building Department, with the Planning Services Division reviewing zoning. Plans are submitted electronically through the city's online plan review portal, and fees are paid online. We prepare the drawings, submit them, respond to plan check comments and schedule inspections.

A few Anaheim-specific steps can come up:

• Historic properties. When the owner of a historic property applies for a building permit, the city's historic preservation staff review the plans and recommend ways to preserve the property. The Colony Design Guidelines are the basis for design review in that district. If your home has a Mills Act contract, exterior alterations need approval from historic preservation staff.
• Electrical service. Anaheim Public Utilities is a city-owned electric and water utility, the only city-run utility in Orange County. If a remodel needs a bigger electrical service, for a new kitchen, an EV charger or an ADU, the utility first issues a meter spot report for the new meter location, and then the electrical permit goes through the Building Division.
• Fire hazard zones. CAL FIRE updated its fire hazard severity zone maps in 2025, and the city says the changes affect parts of Anaheim Hills. You can check your address on the city's fire hazard severity zones page. New construction in these zones generally has to meet the state's wildfire-resistant building standards.

ADUs in Anaheim

Anaheim has a dedicated ADU program with two paths. Most ADUs go through standard review, where Planning checks the unit against the zoning code during the Building Division's plan check. For qualifying single-family lots, ADU Express lets you build a detached unit from the city's pre-approved plan catalogue, and the city says that review can be completed in 1 to 3 days. The plans can't be modified, so it suits some lots and owners better than others. Because ADU rules and fees have been updated several times, we confirm what is in effect when your project starts.

If you own a home in Anaheim and are planning a remodel, addition or ADU, call (213) 816-6465 or use the form on this page.

Frequently asked questions

Who issues building permits in Anaheim?

The Building Division of the City of Anaheim Planning and Building Department. Zoning questions, including ADU standards, go to the Planning Services Division.

Do I need special approval to remodel a house in the Anaheim Colony?

When you apply for a building permit on a historic property, the city's historic preservation staff review the plans and make recommendations. Homes with a Mills Act contract need staff approval for exterior changes.

Does my Anaheim Hills HOA need to approve my project?

For exterior changes, usually yes. Association approval is separate from the city permit, so we plan time for both.

Why does Anaheim Public Utilities get involved in my remodel?

Anaheim runs its own electric utility. If your project needs a larger electrical service, the utility issues a meter spot report before the electrical permit and the upgrade go ahead.

Last reviewed October 2026