Custom Home Builders in Montecito, CA

New custom homes in Montecito, built as your architect drew them, with design review, coastal permits and foothill sites planned from the first number.

Start your project Call 805.712.8993

LicensedCA License #986950
Your teamMichael & Chris Harrod
Focus hereNew custom homes & larger projects
OfficePaso Robles, up the 101

Montecito

Talk to a builder before the drawings are done

Harrod Built is a family custom home builder led by brothers Michael and Chris Harrod. In Montecito we focus on new custom homes and major projects, usually with an architect our clients already trust.

We check the drawings against the budget as they develop, flag details that will be hard to build, and order long-lead items in time. One of our project managers, or Chris or Michael himself, runs each out-of-town job, with an update every week.

What we build here

New custom homes
Guest houses and ADUs as part of the property
Pools, patios and outdoor kitchens
Landscape with Paso Robles Landscaping

Building here

Building in Montecito

Coastal permits

Much of the South Coast sits inside the California Coastal Zone, where a new home needs a coastal development permit, and some decisions can be appealed to the California Coastal Commission.

Design review

Montecito projects go through Montecito’s own design review board and are measured against the Montecito Community Plan, on top of Santa Barbara County permits.

Foothill lots

Foothill lots often mean steep grades, retaining walls, drainage and geotechnical work. That belongs in the budget from the first number, not halfway through construction.

Fire zones

Many foothill parcels sit in mapped high fire hazard zones, which brings ember-resistant construction under Chapter 7A of the California Building Code and defensible space.

More on building in Santa Barbara County

Process

How the job runs

The same way we run every Harrod Built project: a licensed family team and one point of contact from start to finish.

See our full process

01
One licensed family team
Harrod Built is run by brothers Michael and Chris Harrod (CSLB #986950). Michael is the licensed general contractor and stays involved from the first design conversation to the final walkthrough.
02
One point of contact
Chris runs the job day to day: the schedule, the subcontractors and the details. You always know who to call.
03
Permits and pre-construction
Our team handles the permit process, site prep and pre-construction logistics, and keeps you informed before ground is broken.
04
Updates, finishes, walkthrough
Regular updates through every phase, help with finish selections, and a final walkthrough before handover, backed by our warranty.

FAQ

Common questions

Something else on your mind? Call Michael at 805.712.8993.

You’re based in Paso Robles. Do you really build in Montecito?

Yes. Santa Barbara County is part of our service area. Here we focus on new custom homes and major projects, and a Harrod Built project manager, Chris or Michael leads each job.

How long do approvals take?

Coastal permits and design review can take many months before construction starts. We give you a realistic schedule once we’ve seen the property and know which approvals apply.

Can you look at a lot before we buy it?

Yes, and it’s free. We’ll walk the property with you and talk through access, slope, water, septic and the likely permit path while you can still walk away.

Where we build