Southern California gives Brentwood homeowners roughly 300 usable outdoor days per year. Most Brentwood backyards use fewer than thirty of them. It is not a problem of climate. It is a problem of design. A rear yard without shade in a city where afternoon sun runs hot. A concrete patio with no connection to the interior. An outdoor environment that was never treated as an environment — just a space behind the house that exists between the back door and the fence.
Canyon-adjacent properties along Mandeville Canyon Road have something even more specific at stake. A rear yard that backs up to conservancy land and does nothing with that edge — no framing of the view, no transition planting, no fire zone-compliant design that addresses both the aesthetic and the legal requirement  is a property operating well below its potential.
What Most Contractors Miss in Brentwood
The fire zone. Canyon-adjacent properties near Mandeville Canyon and Sullivan Canyon sit in the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone. Backyard remodeling projects involving outdoor kitchens, patio covers, pergolas, or any attached exterior structure require Chapter 7A ignition-resistant materials before LADBS will issue a permit. Contractors who miss this deliver non-compliant structures that become a liability at every future transaction. We specify compliant materials in the design phase — never at plan check.The LADBS hillside process. Retaining walls over certain heights, grading that alters drainage to neighboring properties, and structural elements on sloped lots all require stamped engineering documents before LADBS accepts the permit application. Hillside property owners regularly receive bids from contractors who have not accounted for this documentation. The missing plans surface at plan check, and the project is delayed while documents are produced under time pressure.
The outdoor-indoor connection. Most contractors who handle backyard remodeling work from the back door outward — they design the patio without knowing what the kitchen opens to, without consulting the interior floor plan, without considering how natural light from the rear yard affects the interior spaces. We design the outdoor environment in consultation with the interior from the first meeting. The result reads as a single composition rather than an outdoor addition bolted to an unrelated interior.
Canyon-edge planting. Properties that back to conservancy land in Mandeville Canyon need a planting design that manages the transition between the private garden and the wild edge. This requires VHFHSZ-compliant species selection, defensible space management through Zones Zero, One, and Two, and a design that creates privacy and framing at the garden edge without violating fire clearance requirements.
Our Backyard Remodeling Services
No subcontractors sourced from a list. No handoffs between crews. The people who design your outdoor space are the same people on your job site every day.
Covered Outdoor Dining Areas and Pergolas
Attached and freestanding shade structures designed for Brentwood's outdoor character. Canyon properties suit naturalistic timber structures with exposed beam detail. Ridge estates suit more formal covered dining environments connected to the interior. All attached structures require LADBS permits and Chapter 7A-compliant materials on canyon-adjacent VHFHSZ properties. We handle every submission.
Outdoor Kitchens and Fire Features
Integrated grill stations, stone countertops, outdoor utility sinks, refrigeration drawers, and gas fire pits — all specified to fire zone material requirements where applicable. Chapter 7A material specifications for canyon and fire zone properties. Every gas line installation follows 2025 California Title 24 requirements. Outdoor kitchen structures attached to or near the home require LADBS building permits — we file and manage.
Custom Pools and Spas
In-ground build design and construction by a licensed pool contractor — same crew as the patio, outdoor kitchen, and planting work. Hillside Brentwood builds require structural engineering documentation, geotechnical coordination, and VHFHSZ-compliant deck materials. We provide all three as part of the standard scope. One team handles design and build — no separate pool contractor hired mid-project.
Outdoor Lighting Design
Low-voltage LED systems for pathways, dining areas, specimen trees, and canyon-edge planting. Photocell and timer controls included as standard on every lighting system. Electrical permits handled where required. Canyon properties get lighting calibrated to preserve the dark sky character that makes these addresses feel removed from the city despite being minutes from Brentwood Village.
Hillside Terracing and Retaining Walls
Engineered retaining wall systems for sloped Brentwood lots — dry-stack natural stone, segmental block, and poured concrete — with proper drainage planning. We have built on canyon and ridge terrain throughout Brentwood and the Westside. Structural drawings produced in-house where required. LADBS plan check managed through final approval
Brentwood Neighborhoods — What Each Outdoor Brief Looks Like
CSLB Licensed General Contractor (B) — State of California
Licensed Landscape Contractor (C-27) — California
Licensed Pool Contractor — California
30+ Years Serving OC Homeowners — Since 1986
Kansas State University — Horticulture Degree (Tom Stout)
Certified Irrigation & Soil Management Specialist
Frequently Asked Questions
Do backyard projects in Brentwood require LADBS permits?
How does hillside permitting work for retaining walls?
Can you design and build both the outdoor kitchen and the pool
Begin Your Green Journey
We’d love to hear from you. Fill in your details and let’s start planning your perfect outdoor space.