Remodeling & ADU Contractor in La Habra

La Habra sits on Orange County's northern edge, along the Los Angeles County line, and most of its neighborhoods are made up of established single-family homes. IA Builders is a licensed California general contractor (CSLB #1124696) based in Culver City, and we take on remodels, room additions and ADUs across Orange County, La Habra included. A few local details shape projects here, including how the city takes permit applications, which ADU plans it accepts and whether there is a utility easement on the lot.

La Habra's homes

La Habra incorporated in 1925, when it was a farm town known for citrus, walnuts and avocados. The city's history page says it was the largest avocado center in Southern California by 1928 and still had fewer than 5,000 residents in 1950. That means most of today's homes went up after the groves gave way to housing, and many houses here are now several decades old.

Homes of that age usually need more than new finishes. Common projects include:

• A kitchen remodel that opens a closed-off kitchen to the family or dining room, often with new electrical circuits and lighting.
• A bathroom remodel that replaces a dated tub-shower with a walk-in shower or makes the bath easier to use with age.
• A room addition for a primary suite or more bedrooms on a single-story house.
• A whole-home remodel that updates the layout along with original plumbing and electrical service.

Permits in La Habra

The city's Building & Safety Division reviews construction plans, issues permits and inspects the work. Applications go through the city's online Customer Self Service portal, which needs an account. Plans are uploaded as one full PDF set, with other documents as separate files. Staff check the submittal for completeness first, then route it to the other departments that need to review it. We put together the drawings and supporting documents, submit them through the portal and answer plan check comments for you.

La Habra is also reviewing its wildfire zones. After CAL FIRE released updated Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps in 2025, the city noted that some homes not previously in a high-risk zone may now be included, and it planned an ordinance to formally designate Very High zones. For homes in those areas, defensible space rules and wildfire building standards can affect exterior work, so we check your address before design starts.

ADUs in La Habra

La Habra regulates ADUs and junior ADUs in Municipal Code Section 18.12.150, which the City Council amended in July 2025 to follow state law. According to the city's ADU page, a single-family lot can have one ADU and one JADU. The ADU can be attached, built in an existing garage or accessory structure, or a new detached building, and a JADU is limited to 500 square feet inside the house.

Two La Habra-specific points are worth knowing before you plan an ADU or garage conversion:

• Pre-approved plans. Instead of its own plan set, the city accepts the County of San Diego's pre-approved ADU plans. They cannot be modified, and you still need site-specific documents such as Title 24 energy and CALGreen forms. Custom plans go through the standard permit review.
• Southern California Edison easements. An ADU within or near an SCE easement needs SCE review. If the property has an easement, the city treats the application as incomplete until it receives an approved SCE encroachment agreement. A preliminary title report shows whether one exists, so we look at it early.

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

Frequently asked questions

How do I apply for a building permit in La Habra?

Through the City of La Habra's online Customer Self Service portal, run by the Building & Safety Division. Projects that need plan review are uploaded as a full PDF plan set, and staff check the submittal for completeness before review begins.

Can I use a pre-approved ADU plan in La Habra?

Yes. The city accepts the County of San Diego's pre-approved ADU plans, but they cannot be modified. If your lot or layout needs changes, a custom design goes through the standard review.

What if there is an Edison easement on my property?

An ADU within or near a Southern California Edison easement needs SCE review, and the city will not treat the application as complete until it receives an approved encroachment agreement. We check the title report first so this does not hold up the schedule.

Is my La Habra home in a fire hazard zone?

The 2025 CAL FIRE maps added some La Habra homes that were not in a high-risk zone before. The city posts the maps on its website, and we confirm your address before planning exterior work or an ADU.

Last reviewed October 2026