General Contractor Pasadena, CA: Home Remodeling and Exterior Work
A general contractor in Pasadena designs the scope, files it with the City's Permit Center and manages the licensed specialty subcontractors who build it. MDG Builders, CSLB #1040337, does that for eleven trades here, from kitchens, ADUs and additions to roofs, fences and concrete. Landmark districts, fire zones and hillsides then decide the path.
Eleven trades, each with its own Pasadena page
Every guide below applies the City's own documents to one kind of job. Open the one that matches your plan, or read the overview first.
Kitchen Remodeling in Pasadena
Exempt finish work versus permitted work, wiring in pre-1990 houses, landmark district exterior review and fire zone checks for Pasadena kitchens.
See Pasadena kitchen remodeling →
Bathroom Remodeling in Pasadena
Plumbing exemptions versus permits, lead and asbestos in pre-1970s homes, Title 24 ventilation and landmark district windows for Pasadena bathrooms.
See Pasadena bathroom remodeling →
ADU Construction in Pasadena
Street-view rule for historic lots, hillside size caps, garage conversion parking, fire zone checks and the City's ADU loan program in Pasadena.
See Pasadena ADU construction →
Room Additions in Pasadena
The 500-foot neighborhood size rule, second-story soils reports, plan check lists, landmark district review and fire map checks for Pasadena additions.
See Pasadena room additions →
Roofing in Pasadena
Re-roof permits, the Zone 9 cool roof rule, Arroyo Seco and Hastings Ranch fire zones, and landmark district roofing review in Pasadena.
See Pasadena roofing →
Windows in Pasadena
Landmark district window review, the City's repair-first guidelines, fire zone glazing questions and lead-safe work for older Pasadena homes.
See Pasadena window replacement →
Flooring in Pasadena
Original oak floors in landmark bungalows, asbestos and lead checks for older homes, slab moisture tests and whether a floor job needs a permit.
See Pasadena flooring →
Painting in Pasadena
Paint colors exempt from historic review, lead-safe work on pre-1978 homes, stucco prep and low-VOC rules for Pasadena houses.
See Pasadena painting →
Concrete in Pasadena
Front yard paving limits, who repairs a cracked sidewalk, driveway and patio permits and hillside retaining walls in Pasadena.
See Pasadena concrete work →
Decks in Pasadena
Which decks skip a permit, fire zone decking, hillside soils reports and porch review in Pasadena landmark districts.
See Pasadena deck building →
Fencing in Pasadena
Front yard and backyard height limits, the one-week fence review, pool barrier rules and Bungalow Heaven fence review in Pasadena.
See Pasadena fencing →What should a Pasadena homeowner know before hiring a general contractor?
Pasadena was incorporated on June 19, 1886, and the census count climbed from 9,117 people in 1900 to 76,086 in 1930, so a large part of the older housing dates from those decades. The adopted 2021-2029 Housing Element says 85 percent of the stock was built before 1990 and warns that homes from before the 1970s may carry lead-based paint and asbestos. Bungalow Heaven alone, a landmark district since 1989 according to Wikipedia, holds more than 800 small Craftsman houses from 1900 to 1930. Census Reporter's 2024 figures show about 65,444 housing units and a median owner-occupied value of $1,209,600, which makes a surprise behind a wall an expensive one. That is why our Pasadena kitchen remodeling guide, the bathroom remodeling page and the flooring installation page each spend time on what demolition uncovers before they get to finishes.
Permits run through the Permit Center of the Planning & Community Development Department, which takes applications on the Citizen Self Service portal or in person Monday to Thursday and alternate Fridays, 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., at (626) 744-4200. It says simple projects that meet its thresholds can clear the counter in 5 to 10 minutes, while plans that need review take about two to four weeks and usually three rounds. The City adopted the 2025 state codes effective January 1, 2026, and sends readers to Title 14, chapters 14.03 and 14.04, for its own amendments. Pasadena sits in Energy Climate Zone 9 with a 95 mph residential design wind speed, and July and August highs average near 89 to 91 degrees. The City's list of work exempt from a building permit names painting, tiling, cabinets, non-masonry fences up to 6 feet, retaining walls up to 4 feet, small decks, sidewalks and driveways, but not re-roofing or windows, and it warns that a zoning permit can still apply. Read that sheet beside our pages on roofing, fencing, window replacement, decks and concrete work.
After the permit comes the map. The City says it has designated six historic districts, and in them an exterior change visible from the street needs a Certificate of Appropriateness, which carries no fee and adds about two months. Paint colors, landscaping, routine maintenance and interior work are exempt, and the Pasadena painting guide covers the lead-safe rules that still apply. The Bungalow Heaven plan adopted June 16, 2025 sends street-facing roofing, windows, doors, porches and front fences to staff review. The Fire Department places its hazard zones generally in the Arroyo Seco, west and north of the 210 freeway, and in upper Hastings Ranch; a CAL FIRE map dated March 24, 2025 would raise the Very High count to 4,610 properties, though we could not confirm the Council adopted it. Hillside lots fall under Chapter 14.05, the Hillside Grading Ordinance, with a soils report for decks, retaining walls and pools. Those rules shape our ADU construction page and the room addition page, where an addition is also measured against the median house within 500 feet.
In Pasadena the address, more than the trade, decides the path, so we read the parcel before we quote. MDG Builders, CSLB #1040337, has held its license since 2018 and works from Tarzana: we write the scope, file the drawings, schedule the licensed subcontractors who do the field work and walk the finished job with you. You may ask for each subcontractor's license number and certificate of insurance, and our note on how general contractors use subcontractors lays out the model. The contractor license check guide shows how to verify any bid you hold. Neighboring Glendale and Los Angeles run their own departments, and so do South Pasadena, Arcadia, La Cañada Flintridge, San Gabriel and Temple City.
- The City says it has designated six historic districts; a Certificate of Appropriateness costs nothing and adds about two months.
- Fire hazard zones lie generally in the Arroyo Seco, west and north of the 210 freeway, and in upper Hastings Ranch.
- Per the 2021-2029 Housing Element, 85 percent of Pasadena's housing was built before 1990.
- Under the code text we read, a front fence on an RS or RM-12 lot is capped at 4 feet and must be at least 50 percent open; confirm with Zoning.
- A single-family house may not exceed 35 percent above the median house within 500 feet without a Single-Family Compatibility Permit.
- The Eaton Fire destroyed 185 structures in Pasadena, and the Council reduced or waived plan check and permit fees for eligible rebuilds in August 2025.
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Hiring a general contractor in Pasadena: common questions
Where do I get a building permit in Pasadena?
At the Permit Center of the Planning & Community Development Department, through the Citizen Self Service portal or in person, Monday to Thursday and alternate Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Questions go to (626) 744-4200. A permit stays valid for 180 days from issuance, and staff verify the contractor's license through CSLB.
How long does a permit take in Pasadena?
Simple projects that meet the Permit Center's thresholds can be approved over the counter in 5 to 10 minutes. Plans needing review take about two to four weeks, and a typical project goes through roughly three submissions. Fence and retaining wall permits get one week of review, and a landmark district Certificate of Appropriateness adds about two months.
Does a remodel inside a Bungalow Heaven house need historic review?
Not for interior work. The City's preservation page lists interior alterations, paint colors and routine maintenance as exempt from a Certificate of Appropriateness. Exterior changes visible from the street, such as roofing, windows, doors, porches and front fences, go to City staff review, which adds about two months and charges no fee.
How do I find out if my Pasadena house is in a fire hazard zone?
Look up the parcel on the Fire Department's hazard zone page, which says the zones lie generally in the Arroyo Seco, west and north of the 210 freeway, and in upper Hastings Ranch. Then ask the Permit Center which map applies, because we could not confirm the Council's adoption of the 2025 CAL FIRE map.
Can I build a second story or a large addition on my Pasadena house?
Often yes, within a neighborhood size rule. A single-family house may not exceed 35 percent above the median house within 500 feet unless a Single-Family Compatibility Permit allows more. A second story needs a soils report, and plans for additions of two or more stories carry an architect's or engineer's stamp.
Which jobs in Pasadena skip a building permit?
The City's exempt list covers painting, tiling, carpeting, cabinets and counter tops, non-masonry fences up to 6 feet, retaining walls up to 4 feet, and small decks, sidewalks and driveways that meet its conditions. It does not name re-roofing or windows. A zoning permit may still apply, so confirm with the Permit Center before you start.
Did the Eaton Fire change the building rules in Pasadena?
It changed the rebuild path more than the whole code. The fire destroyed 185 structures in Pasadena, the Council reduced or waived plan check and permit fees for eligible rebuilds in August 2025, and the City lists optional 2022 codes. Interim Ordinance 7455 also barred SB 9 applications in Very High zones inside the fire boundary.
Does MDG Builders build the work itself in Pasadena?
No. MDG Builders is a general contractor, CSLB #1040337, that designs the scope, handles the permits and manages the schedule, while licensed specialty subcontractors do the roofing, framing, tile and other field work. You can ask for every subcontractor's license number and certificate of insurance before work starts.
Describe your Pasadena project
Send the street address and a sentence about the work. We check the parcel for a landmark district, fire zone or hillside before we call back, so the first conversation starts with the permit path.