Most yards in Los Angeles sit unused. Behind a gate in Bel Air. Behind a fence in Hancock Park. Flat and forgotten in Mar Vista. They hold potential nobody has unlocked.
Stout Design Build is a family-owned landscape design firm serving Southern California for over 30 years. Tom Stout holds a Horticulture degree from Kansas State University. One team designs and builds no handoffs, no gaps.
Note: If your project requires stamped architectural plans, MWELO documentation, or a grading permit, see our Landscape Architect page. If you need physical construction grading, drainage, retaining walls, or irrigation systems see our Landscape Construction page. This page covers residential yard design: planting plans, outdoor transformations, drought-tolerant gardens, and full design-build installations.
Custom Outdoor Design Services Built for Your Property
Outdoor design in Southern California is never one-size-fits-all. A yard in Pacific Palisades fights coastal wind. A hillside in Bel Air erodes every winter. A flat Mar Vista backyard bakes in inland heat with clay-heavy soil.
Before we draw anything, we walk your property. We read the soil, sun movement, drainage, and grade. We ask how you live. Your answers and your land together form the plan. Nothing comes from a template.
What Does Our Consultation Include?
A full site walk where we assess soil, drainage, sun, and grade. You walk with us and describe how you want the space to feel. We return with a concept built for your specific property not a catalog design.
Every Backyard Remodeling Service
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.
Custom Patios & Outdoor Living Areas
Covered patios, pergolas, and shade structures designed for how your family actually uses the space. We build with materials suited to your specific OC location coastal lots near Huntington Beach need sealed, salt-resistant surfaces.
Outdoor Kitchens & Fire Features
Built-in grills, concrete or stone countertops, sinks, refrigerators, and gas fire pits. Everything designed as one cohesive outdoor living environment not individual pieces bolted together. For material specs and cost-per-sqft breakdowns, see our dedicated hardscape page.
Custom Patios & Outdoor Living Areas
Covered patios, pergolas, and shade structures designed for how your family actually uses the space. We build with materials suited to your specific OC location — coastal lots near Huntington Beach need sealed, salt-resistant surfaces.
Pergolas, Shade Structures & Seating
Freestanding and attached pergolas, shade sails, and built-in seating walls. OC's year-round outdoor climate makes covered seating the single highest-used feature in any backyard remodeling project we complete.
Hillside & Sloped Lot Solutions
Terraced outdoor living areas, retaining walls, grading, and drainage for lots with grade changes. Most contractors walk away from slopes over 4 feet. We have built on hillside properties in Laguna Beach, Aliso Viejo, and San Clemente where the grade change exceeded 8 feet.
When to Start Your OC Backyard Remodel Season by Season
Orange County’s mild climate means construction runs year-round. But timing your project right saves money, avoids permit delays, and gets your outdoor space ready when you actually want to use it.
Best availability, permit offices less backlogged. Start now, enjoy the space by spring.
Far far away, behind the word mountains, far from the countries Vokalia and Consonantia, there live the blind texts. Separated they live in Bookmarksgrove right at the coast
High demand — schedule early. Best for planting native landscapes after install.
Peak season. Longer lead times. If you want a summer outdoor space, start your backyard remodeling project the previous fall
Before & After Three Outdoor Spaces We Transformed
These are real OC yards with real grades, real HOA requirements, and real families who wanted to use them.
Permits, Licensing, and Your Protection
Every project we build is fully permitted and properly closed. Permitting protects your investment, your insurance coverage, and your ability to sell your home on your terms. We handle permit submission, tracking, inspection coordination, and final sign-off as part of our standard scope.
 Our CSLB license and bond information are available before any contract is signed. Verify any contractor at cslb.ca.gov. Confirm the license is active and the class covers your project scope. Request a certificate of workers’ compensation. Under California law, no contractor may ask for more than 10 percent or $1,000 upfront, whichever is less.
Stout Design Build vs. Other OC Backyard Contractors
Over 5,000 licensed general contractors operate in Orange County. Here’s what separates the ones worth hiring.
| What Matters | Stout Design Build | Typical OC Contractors |
|---|---|---|
| GC + Landscape + Pool license | âś“ All three active | Usually one, sometimes two |
| Permit management | âś“ Fully handled | Often extra cost or not offered |
| HOA submission package | âś“ Included, first-round approval focus | Often left to homeowner |
| Same design & build team | ✓ Always | Rarely — separate subcontractors |
| Hillside lot experience | ✓ Extensive — Laguna, Aliso, SJC | Most walk away from grade changes |
| Same-day response | ✓ Yes | 48–72 hrs average |
ADU Construction and Garage Conversions
California AB 2221 opened the door for homeowners across Orange County to add income-producing space. Huntington Beach offers a Pre-Approved ADU Plan Program under California AB 1332 for a 1-story detached 490 square foot ADU. Using the pre-approved plan saves design time and speeds permit issuance. Newport Beach ADU plan check fees range from $850 to $1,700 for conversions with building permit fees of $850 to $2,100 after approval. Coastal Zone properties in Newport Beach may also require a Coastal Development Permit.
 Irvine ADU projects contact the Planning Division at planning@cityofirvine.org or 949-724-6308. Irvine’s Pre-Approved ADU Standard Plan Program streamlines plan check. San Clemente ADU submittals go to City Hall at 910 Calle Negocio during business hours. Laguna Beach ADU projects require Coastal Development Permit review in most cases. We handle all permit coordination and agency review processes.
Licenses, Awards & Where to Find Us
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
How much does a backyard remodel cost in Orange County?
Do I need a permit for a backyard remodel in OC?
Can you work on HOA-governed properties?
How long does a backyard remodeling project take in Orange County?
Do you handle sloped and hillside lots?
Begin Your Green Journey
We’d love to hear from you. Fill in your details and let’s start planning your perfect outdoor space.