Remodeling & ADU Contractor in Costa Mesa

Costa Mesa's neighborhoods are full of homes that are ready for their next round of updates. IA Builders is a licensed California general contractor (CSLB #1124696), based in Culver City, handling remodels, room additions and ADUs throughout the city. Much of the work here is about bringing mid-century houses up to how people live now.

Costa Mesa's housing stock

Costa Mesa incorporated in 1953 and grew quickly in the years after World War II, when farmland and land around the former Santa Ana Army Air Base, now the OC Fair & Event Center, gave way to housing tracts. The result is a city with a large share of single-story ranch and mid-century homes, especially on the Eastside, the Westside, Mesa Verde and College Park.

Those houses tend to have a few things in common: compact kitchens closed off from the living room, one or two small bathrooms, original or lightly updated electrical and plumbing, and detached or attached garages on lots with some usable yard. That combination shapes what homeowners ask us for:

• Opening up the kitchen and dining area. A kitchen remodel in a 1950s or 1960s house often means moving or removing walls, which brings in structural and electrical work.
• Adding a primary suite or an extra bedroom on a single-story house with a room addition.
• Turning the garage or backyard into rental or family space with an ADU, junior ADU or garage conversion.
• Updating systems that were never designed for today's appliances, chargers and HVAC loads.

When we open walls in older Costa Mesa homes, we plan for what is commonly found in houses of that era, from undersized electrical service to aging drain lines, so surprises do not stall the schedule.

Permits in Costa Mesa

Building permits in Costa Mesa are handled by the Building Safety Division, part of the city's Economic and Development Services Department, with the Planning Division reviewing zoning. Plans are submitted electronically, and applicants set up a profile in the city's online permitting system before submitting. We prepare and submit the drawings and coordinate corrections with plan check on your behalf.

Costa Mesa has no ocean frontage, so the coastal development permits that shape so many projects in the neighboring beach cities rarely come into play for a typical home here. That often makes the permit path for additions and ADUs more predictable than in neighboring coastal cities. If your home is in a condominium or planned community with a homeowners association, the association's approval is a separate step from the city permit, and we plan for both.

ADUs in Costa Mesa

Costa Mesa regulates ADUs and junior ADUs in its municipal code, and the city's Planning Division describes its ordinance as including some provisions that go beyond the state minimum, including flexible parking. The city recommends speaking with a planner before submitting, and so do we. The mid-century lots in neighborhoods like the Eastside and Mesa Verde often leave room for a detached unit in the backyard or a conversion of an existing garage, but the right answer depends on the lot, utility locations and how you plan to use the unit.

Because state ADU law has changed several times in recent years and cities update their codes to keep up, we confirm the current rules with the city at the start of every ADU project rather than relying on what applied to a neighbor's project.

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

Frequently asked questions

Who issues building permits in Costa Mesa?

The City of Costa Mesa Building Safety Division, within the Economic and Development Services Department. Zoning questions, including ADU standards, go to the Planning Division.

Do I need Coastal Commission approval to remodel in Costa Mesa?

For a typical Costa Mesa home, no. Coastal development permits apply to properties in the state's coastal zone, which follows the shoreline and bays. We confirm whether your address is affected before design starts.

Can I add an ADU to my Mesa Verde or Eastside home?

Many lots in those neighborhoods can fit an ADU or garage conversion. Setbacks, utilities and the city's current ADU standards decide the size and placement, so we start with a site review.

How long does a kitchen remodel in an older Costa Mesa house take?

It depends on the scope. A layout change that moves walls, plumbing and electrical takes longer than a cosmetic update because it needs plans, a permit and inspections. We give you a schedule once the design is set.

Last reviewed October 2026