Pictured: Modern Ranch, Templeton
Solvang · Santa Ynez Valley
Luxury Custom Home Builder in Solvang, CA
New custom homes and teardown rebuilds inside Solvang city limits, from a family general contractor that plans City design review, building permits and the budget before construction starts.
- LicensedCSLB #986950
- Your teamMichael & Chris Harrod
- Office1345 Riverside Ave, Paso Robles
- WhereSolvang & Santa Barbara County
Solvang
What building a high-end home in Solvang really takes
Solvang is an incorporated city in the Santa Ynez Valley, known for its Danish village core, quiet residential streets and oak-studded hills just outside downtown. High-end homes here sit on city lots and hillside parcels with valley and mountain views, often with a guest house, courtyard or pool courtyard tucked out of the wind.
Because Solvang is its own city, planning and building permits run through City Hall rather than Santa Barbara County. Most new homes need a Development Permit and design review before Building Division plan check. That city path is the main difference between a Solvang lot and an unincorporated valley parcel in Santa Ynez, Los Olivos or Ballard.
Harrod Built is a licensed general contractor (CSLB #986950) led by Michael and Chris Harrod. We build to your architect’s plans or design-build with our studio, and we price the work from the drawings early so the design stays inside the budget you set. Our office is in Paso Robles, more than an hour north, and we staff Solvang work for that drive.
What we build here
- New custom homes and teardown rebuilds
- Hillside and in-town estate homes
- Courtyards, guest houses and outdoor living
- Foundations, grading and drainage on valley and hillside soils
- Fire-resistant roofs, siding, vents and windows
- Pools, terraces and planting with our landscape company
Building here
What to know before building in Solvang
City permits, not County
Solvang is incorporated, so planning and building permits run through the City. Unincorporated Santa Ynez Valley parcels go through Santa Barbara County Planning & Development instead. We confirm which applies to your parcel first.
Planning and design review
The City of Solvang Planning Division reviews projects for consistency with the General Plan and zoning. Most construction needs a Development Permit, and the Design Review Committee and Planning Commission review design where the City requires it. Conditional uses need a Conditional Use Permit.
Building Division path
After planning approval, construction drawings go to the Building Division. Submittals are electronic by email. See the City’s building permit application page for the checklist, plan review, corrections, issuance and inspections.
Fire and hillsides
Hills around Solvang carry wildfire rules for roofs, vents, siding, windows and defensible space. See building in a fire hazard zone and building on a hillside lot.
Valley context
For ranch and vineyard parcels outside city limits, see our Santa Ynez Valley luxury page and building a custom home in the Santa Ynez Valley.
Contract type
Fixed price or cost-plus changes how risk and allowances work. See fixed price vs cost-plus.
Areas we serve
Where we build in Santa Barbara County
Custom homes, remodels, additions and ADUs across San Luis Obispo, Monterey and Santa Barbara counties.
Santa Barbara County
Planning guides
Budget and planning guides
Cost to build a custom home in SLO County
What drives the budget on a Central Coast custom home, and how to get a real number.
ADU cost on the Central Coast
Detached, attached or conversion: what moves the price of an ADU or guest house.
Home remodel cost in Paso Robles & SLO County
Kitchens, baths, whole-home remodels and additions: the cost drivers we see.
Do you build in Solvang?
Yes. We build new custom homes and teardown rebuilds inside Solvang city limits, and on nearby valley parcels when the project is a full new home or larger rebuild.
Do you take remodels in Solvang?
Solvang is more than an hour from our Paso Robles office, so we focus on new custom homes and teardown rebuilds there. Our design studio can still draw remodel and addition plans for Solvang homes.
Can you work with my architect?
Yes. Many Solvang homes are drawn by an outside architect, and we price and build from those plans. We can also review drawings for cost before they go to the City.
How do we start?
Call or send the form with the address and a few notes. We start with a site visit and a review of any plans or reports you have.
One family, three companies: plans for big custom homes, remodels and additions from Harrod Drafting & Design, and pools, hardscape and planting from Paso Robles Landscaping, our landscape company. See also our Solvang page, Santa Ynez Valley luxury homes, Santa Ynez, Los Olivos and luxury homes in Santa Barbara.
Start your project
Building in Solvang? Tell us about your project.
A few details help us call you back with useful answers about budget, schedule and permits.
805.712.8993michael@harrodbuilt.com
1345 Riverside Ave, Paso Robles, CA 93446
CSLB License #986950
