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Calabasas, CA

Room & Home Additions in Calabasas

Primary suites, bedrooms and second stories, planned for Calabasas plan check, fire zone materials and HOA review.

A room addition in Calabasas runs through three reviews most valley homeowners never deal with at once: the city’s own plan check, fire zone construction rules and, often, an HOA.

Plan for all three from day one and the project moves. Here is how we approach additions in Calabasas, what they cost and how long they take.

Who Builds Room Additions in Calabasas?

Master in Design builds room additions in Calabasas from our Tarzana office, a short drive east on the Ventura Freeway. We design, permit and build primary suites, bedrooms, family rooms and second stories through the City of Calabasas permit process. Projects run $40,000 to $150,000 or more, and single-story additions take about 8 to 14 weeks of construction.

At a glance

Cost

$40,000 to $150,000+

Bedrooms at the low end, second stories at the top

Timeline

8 to 14 weeks

Single-story addition, once permits issue

Permits

Handled in-house

LADBS plan check, Title 24 and structural

License

CSLB #979219

General Building contractor. Verify license at CSLB

Calabasas Permits Run Through City Hall

Calabasas has been its own city since April 5, 1991, the newest in Los Angeles County. LADBS does not issue permits here. The City of Calabasas Building and Safety Division does, with its own Permit Center, Plan Check, Inspections and Code Enforcement sections at 100 Civic Center Way.

The city takes plan submittals as electronic PDFs on 24 by 36 inch sheets. We prepare the set for the Calabasas process from the start, so the plans are not redrawn halfway through.

Fire Zone Rules for New Rooms

Calabasas sits in the foothills of the Santa Monica Mountains. The 2018 Woolsey Fire reached the area and damaged Grape Arbor Park, and much of the city falls inside a mapped fire hazard severity zone.

The city’s fire hazard page notes that homes in high or very high zones may be subject to Chapter 7A of the California Building Code. For an addition, that usually means:

Part of the additionWhat Chapter 7A changes
RoofClass A roofing
VentsEmber-resistant vents
Exterior wallsIgnition-resistant materials
WindowsTempered or multi-pane glazing
Decks and eavesMaterials and details that resist burning embers

We check the current CAL FIRE map, last updated in March 2025, before design starts. Those materials change the budget, so they belong in the first estimate, not a change order.

HOA Review Runs Alongside Plan Check

Many Calabasas homes sit inside homeowners associations. An association can require matching roof tile, stucco color, window style or rooflines, and its approval process has its own calendar.

We put the HOA submittal on the same schedule as city plan check. That way, an architectural review comment does not show up after the city has already approved the plans.

Calabasas, CA

Free estimate

Planning an addition in Calabasas? Get a free estimate from our team.

What Homeowners Say About Our Additions

Rated 4.9 out of 5 across 60 Google reviews, with 42 more on Yelp.

★★★★★

“This is our second project with Master and Design. We were thrilled with the kitchen and bathroom remodel they did for us 2 years ago, and I can say they outdid themselves with our master bedroom.”

Zai R.
verified Yelp review
★★★★★

“The constant communication and progress updates from the crew were a huge difference, and every inspection passed on the first pass.”

Debby M.
verified Google review
★★★★★

“Barak arrived well prepared with copies of the company’s license and permits and all required paperwork.”

Michal R.
verified Yelp review
Avi "Danny" Vaknin, owner of Master in Design

Who runs your project

Avi “Danny” Vaknin, owner

Avi Vaknin owns Master in Design, the Tarzana design-build firm serving the San Fernando Valley since 2012. Most clients know him as Danny.

Reviews describe him on site during the build and back at the house when something needs attention, sometimes years after the job is done.

About Master in Design

Ground Floor or Second Story?

OptionWhen it fitsWatch for
Ground-floor additionLots with flat yard space next to the houseHillside setbacks and grading on sloped lots
Second-story additionTight lots or homes with views to gainStructural upgrades, stairs, and HOA height or view rules
Bump-outA bigger kitchen, closet or bath without a full roomRoof tie-in to the existing house

On sloped Calabasas lots, a second story can avoid expensive grading and retaining walls. On flat lots, building out is usually the better value.

If you need a separate unit with its own kitchen instead, see our Calabasas ADU builders page.

What Does a Room Addition Cost in Calabasas?

Our room additions run $40,000 to $150,000 or more. A bedroom bump-out sits near the low end and a second story near the top.

A 2026 Los Angeles cost guide puts ground-level additions at about $200 to $400 per square foot and second stories at about $400 to $600. For a full primary suite, the 2025 Cost vs Value Report puts a midrange project in Los Angeles at about $182,500. In Calabasas, three things often push a project higher:

  • Chapter 7A materials on homes inside a fire hazard zone
  • Grading and engineered foundations on hillside lots
  • HOA standards that call for matching tile, stucco or windows

We give a written line-item estimate after design, so the price is set before construction. Avi “Danny” Vaknin, who owns Master in Design, keeps the permit file and the HOA submittal in-house.

Our main room addition page covers design, structure and finishes.

Areas We Serve in Calabasas

We build across Calabasas, ZIP code 91302. That includes Calabasas Hills, Calabasas Park Estates, The Oaks and Calabasas Highlands. Older areas such as Mulwood and Park Moderne sit toward Mulholland Highway. Projects reach us from homes near Old Town Calabasas and the Leonis Adobe.

For kitchens and baths, see our Calabasas remodeling page.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Calabasas homeowners ask before adding on.

What is the average cost of a 12x12 room addition?
The average cost of a 12x12 room addition in the Los Angeles area is about $29,000 to $58,000 for the 144 square feet, using a 2026 local guide's range of $200 to $400 per square foot. In practice, most permitted additions we build start around $40,000, because the foundation, roof tie-in and permit work cost about the same for a small room as a larger one. A bathroom raises the price.
What is the most expensive part of an addition to a house?
The most expensive part of an addition to a house is usually the structure: the foundation, framing and roof tie-in. A bathroom or kitchen comes next, because plumbing, tile and fixtures cost more per square foot than any bedroom. In Calabasas, fire zone materials such as Class A roofing and ember-resistant vents can add a further share, along with grading on sloped lots.
What is the cheapest way to add an addition to a house?
The cheapest way to add an addition to a house is to convert space you already have, such as a garage, or to build a simple ground-floor room with no plumbing. A plain rectangle with one roof line costs less than a shape with many corners. Adding a bathroom, building up a second story or building on a slope all raise the cost.
Can I build a room addition myself?
You can build a room addition yourself in California as an owner-builder, but it is a large risk for most homeowners. You take on legal responsibility for the work, the inspections and any workers you hire. In Calabasas, the plans still go through city plan check, and fire zone rules still apply. Most owners hire a licensed contractor for the structure, permits and inspections.
Do I need a permit for a room addition in Calabasas?
Yes, you need a permit for a room addition in Calabasas, issued by the City of Calabasas Building and Safety Division rather than LADBS. Plans go through the city's own plan check. Homes in a fire hazard severity zone also need Chapter 7A ignition-resistant construction. If your home is in an HOA, its architectural review is a separate approval you need as well.
Recent Work

Built. Finished. Loved.

Recent projects from our Tarzana design-build team, a short drive from Calabasas.

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★★★★★
4.9 out of 5 from 60 Google reviews, plus 42 reviews on Yelp.
Licensed General Building contractor, CSLB #979219. Serving Tarzana and the San Fernando Valley.