Where MDG Builders works in California
MDG Builders is based in Tarzana and takes projects in seven regions: Los Angeles County, Ventura County, Orange County, the Antelope Valley, the Inland Empire, San Diego County and the San Francisco Bay Area. Each city sets its own permit rules, so the first step is always a site visit.
Which parts of California does MDG Builders serve?
A California contractor license is valid statewide, but permits are local. Every city and county runs its own building department, fee schedule and plan check, which is why the same kitchen or ADU can take a different path in Glendale than in Escondido. Below is what we do in each region.
Los Angeles County
Home territory, with the office in Tarzana. Our Houzz profile lists project photos in cities such as Glendale, Calabasas, Sherman Oaks, Torrance and West Covina. The City of Los Angeles runs permits through LADBS, while neighboring cities each keep their own department, so one county can mean dozens of different submittals.
Ventura County
Cities such as Thousand Oaks, Simi Valley and Oxnard sit close to the San Fernando Valley, so the Tarzana office is a short drive away. Kitchens, bathrooms, additions and ADUs all go through the same written scope and proposal as everywhere else.
Orange County
Irvine, Anaheim, Santa Ana and the surrounding cities each handle plan check on their own timeline. We take the same range of work here, from interior remodels to garage conversions and room additions, and we learn each city's submittal list at the start of the job.
Antelope Valley
Lancaster and Palmdale are high desert communities where lots are often large, which makes detached ADUs and additions practical. Summer heat and sun make roofing, windows and exterior painting worth planning carefully.
Inland Empire
Riverside, San Bernardino, Ontario and nearby cities in Riverside and San Bernardino counties. Hot summers put roofing, window and flooring choices to a harder test, and newer subdivisions bring their own HOA rules, which California limits for ADUs under Civil Code sections 4751 and 714.3.
San Diego County
San Diego, Chula Vista, Escondido and the coastal towns. Properties inside the coastal zone need coastal review in addition to a building permit, and for ADUs state law requires the city or the Coastal Commission to act on that review within 60 days (Government Code section 66329).
San Francisco Bay Area
San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose and neighboring cities. This is the region farthest from the Tarzana office, so we discuss scheduling and site visits openly before anything is signed, and the project follows each city's own permit process.
How does a project outside Los Angeles get scheduled?
The steps are the same everywhere. You contact the office, we agree on a time to see the property, and a written proposal follows. For projects far from Tarzana we say at the start how the site visit and the subcontractor scheduling will work, so distance never shows up as a surprise in the proposal.
Subcontractors are matched by trade and by location. Each one holds the California license for the work, and the CSLB record for every license is public, so you can check it before work begins. Some cities also ask for a local business license; ask us about that for your city.
- Tell us the city and ZIP code when you call or fill in the form.
- We confirm which building department handles your address.
- The site visit happens at your property.
- The proposal names the permits the job needs and who applies for them.
Questions about service areas
Does MDG Builders work outside Los Angeles County?
Yes. We take projects in Ventura County, Orange County, the Antelope Valley, the Inland Empire, San Diego County and the San Francisco Bay Area as well. Call with your city and ZIP code, and we will confirm the visit and timing.
Is a California contractor license valid in every county?
Yes, a license from the Contractors State License Board covers the whole state. Permits and fees, however, are set by each city or county, so the paperwork changes from place to place even though the license does not.
Which building department will review my permit?
The one for the city your property is in, or the county if you live in an unincorporated area. Inside the City of Los Angeles that is LADBS. Check the city's website, or tell us your address and we will find the right office.
Do you charge more for projects far from Tarzana?
Travel and scheduling can affect a proposal, and we state any such effect in writing before you sign. The published cost ranges on this site describe regional averages, not a price for your address.
What if my city is not on the list?
Call (888) 666-8224 and ask. The regions above are where we work most, and a nearby city is often a short step from one of them. We will tell you plainly whether we can take the project.
Check your address
Send your city and ZIP code with the project type, and we will confirm the next step.