Planning guide · updated November 2026
Monte Sereno is a small, strictly residential city on the southwest side of the Santa Clara Valley, between Los Gatos and Saratoga. Its own Design Guidelines describe a rural residential feel, with steep mountain areas thick with native oak and redwood, gently sloping chaparral and flatter areas crossed by streams. Much of the custom building here is replacement: an older house comes down and a new one is designed for the lot. Every new main house needs a site development permit from the City’s Site and Architectural Commission before a building permit can even be filed. Below is how we plan new homes in Monte Sereno so the design, the site and the construction schedule are understood before the drawings are locked.
Harrod Built takes on new custom homes and whole-home rebuilds in the South Bay and on the Peninsula, including Monte Sereno. Have a Monte Sereno lot, a tear-down or a plan set ready for an estimate? Phone 805-712-8993 or use the form at the bottom of this page.
The short answer
In the City of Monte Sereno, a new main house needs a site development permit, approved by the Site and Architectural Commission at a public hearing, before the building permit application can be submitted. Story poles and netting, certified by a licensed surveyor, show the house on the lot before the hearing. Significant trees, the slope of the lot, creeks, grading and stormwater all shape the site plan, and the old house needs its own demolition permit with the sewer capped and utilities released. The Building Department then runs plan check online, routes the plans to Santa Clara County Fire and applies the City’s reach codes for new construction. (we confirm per lot)
1. Who reviews what
A small city with several reviewers
Monte Sereno provides building permits and inspections, planning and design review, and engineering directly, according to its About Monte Sereno page, and works with other agencies for the rest:
| Agency or office | Its part in a new Monte Sereno house |
|---|---|
| Planning Department | Land use applications, including the site development permit, tree removal permits, zoning checks and the files that go to the Site and Architectural Commission. |
| Site and Architectural Commission | A small commission of appointed residents that reviews the aesthetic and functional sides of structures and sites at public hearings, and can attach conditions to an approval. |
| Building Department | Plan check, building and demolition permits and inspections, all through the City’s online permit portal. |
| Engineering Department | Grading permits, encroachment permits for work in the street, private development review, drainage and stormwater. |
| Santa Clara County Fire Department | The City routes building plans to County Fire’s Fire Prevention Division for fire code review. |
| West Valley Sanitation District | Sewer permits when a project includes plumbing work, and the capping of the old sewer line before demolition. |
| Bay Area Air Quality Management District and PG&E | The air district’s J number and PG&E’s release letter for gas and electric shutoff are both part of the demolition file. |
| Santa Clara Valley Water District | Its design guidelines apply to construction, alteration or grading near the top of bank of a creek or watercourse. |
Summarized from City of Monte Sereno Building, Planning and Engineering pages and handouts, read November 4, 2026.
The Building and Planning counter at City Hall keeps limited hours on set weekdays, and staff can be reached by email or phone outside them, as the Building and Planning Departments page explains. Monte Sereno sits between the Town of Los Gatos and the City of Saratoga and shares its police department with Los Gatos, so we confirm the city limits and pull the City’s records for the lot before anything else. Our Los Gatos and Monte Sereno custom home page describes the kind of homes we take on nearby. (we confirm per lot)
2. Is it a new house?
When a rebuild counts as new construction
Owners sometimes plan to keep a few walls of an older house and rebuild the rest. The City’s new construction policy sets a clear test: unless a set share of the existing exterior walls and a set share of the existing roof area stay in place, the project is treated as new construction. The Building Department makes the final call, and its guidance is strict:
- Walls are measured by length. Wall sections that are raised, wall sections that get new or larger windows or doors, and exterior walls that become interior walls all count as removed.
- Stripping counts as replacing. Taking off both the drywall and the siding of an existing wall counts as building a new wall, except where needed for seismic work or waterproofing.
- Roofs are measured in plan. Framing a new roof over an existing one counts as new roof area.
New construction has to meet every code requirement for a new house, including fire sprinklers, fire access, Title 24 energy compliance, green building standards and the City’s local reach codes. On an older house that needs extensive work, we usually find it cleaner to plan a full new home from the start, so the design, the budget and the permit path all match what will actually be built.
3. The site development permit
Approval by the Site and Architectural Commission
The City’s projects requiring a site development permit handout lists a new main house first among the projects that need a site development permit approved before a building permit can be submitted. The permit is heard and acted on by the Site and Architectural Commission at a public hearing. The Site and Architectural Commission page explains that the commission is made up of appointed residents and reviews the aesthetic and functional aspects of structures and sites under the Municipal Code and the Residential Design Guidelines. The commission weighs:
- Neighborhood character. Whether the house is compatible with the character of the surrounding neighborhood.
- Visual impact. Whether the orientation and location of the buildings take their visual impact into account.
- Design Guidelines. Whether the architecture and other improvements are consistent with the City’s guidelines.
- Grading and contours. Where it applies, whether the project keeps grading to a minimum and retains the natural contours and slope of the lot.
- Trees and sun. Where it applies, retention of significant trees and preservation of solar access.
- Native landscaping. Where it applies, whether the landscaping emphasizes native materials.
The commission can attach conditions to reduce identified impacts, such as time limits, site planning limits, architectural conditions, setback restrictions and landscape or drainage requirements. We design to the findings from the first concept, because a condition added at the hearing can change the house.
4. The application package
What the commission needs to see
Planning applications are filed online through the City’s online permit portal, with the drawings shared by a file link. The site development permit submittal requirements list what a new house application needs:
- Title sheet and project summary. Lot size, slope, floor area, structural and impervious coverage and grading in one table.
- Site plan. Property lines, required and proposed setbacks, driveways, walls and fences, landscaped areas, and every existing tree near the proposed development with its size, canopy and whether it stays or goes.
- Floor plans, elevations and sections. Area calculations, all four elevations with labeled materials, and allowable and proposed heights tied to the Monte Sereno benchmark system.
- Grading and drainage. A plan stamped by a licensed engineer once grading passes a set quantity, or grading shown on the site plan with a stormwater retention plan for smaller work.
- Landscape plan, 3-D drawing and materials. A separate landscape plan with trees and screening, a 3-D drawing of the shell showing mass and volume, and a color and materials board.
- Neighborhood context. For new homes in the R-1-8 district, a streetscape showing height and mass next to the houses on either side.
- Other items. A historic report when a structure is on the City’s register of historically significant buildings, the stormwater data form, and outreach to all neighbors to share the plans.
The City’s commission meeting and filing dates show that the commission meets monthly, that staff review the first submittal and any resubmittal before a project is scheduled, and that each meeting has a completeness deadline and a story pole deadline ahead of it. The City asks for neighbor outreach because it can head off disputes and challenges, and we treat it as part of the design schedule.
5. Story poles
Showing the house on the lot before the hearing
The City’s story pole requirements and certification form apply to any new structure above a set size, which covers a new main house. Ahead of the hearing:
- Roofline netting. Wide orange plastic netting on stakes or wires outlines the entire roofline and all ridges of the proposed house.
- Footprint and floors. Bright ribbons in different colors outline the building perimeter, each floor level and any first-level decks.
- Trees and fences. Trees proposed for removal are marked in the field, and new fences or walls in the application have posts staked at the proposed height and location.
- Certification. A California registered land surveyor completes, stamps and signs the City’s certification form confirming the poles match the plans within a close tolerance.
- Removal. The poles, netting and footprint outline stay up through the period after the commission’s decision when an appeal can be filed, and come down shortly after if no appeal is received.
We book the surveyor for the poles as soon as the hearing date is set, so a late certification does not cost a month on the commission calendar.
6. Development standards and slope
The measurable envelope for a new house
Monte Sereno has three single-family zoning districts, each with its own summary of development standards on the City’s zoning and development standards page: R-1-8, R-1-20 and R-1-44. Each sets the minimum lot size and frontage, structural and impervious coverage, the maximum size of the main house, setbacks, height and parking. A few features stand out:
- Separate first and second floor rules. Setbacks and height limits differ for one-story and two-story portions of a house, and height can step up as a portion of the house moves farther from the setback lines, up to an overall cap.
- Rules that scale with the lot. Setbacks grow on lots larger than the district minimum, and coverage allowances shrink on larger lots and on sloped lots.
- How floor area is counted. The building heights and basements handout explains that true basements are not counted toward floor area, daylight basements are counted only where the floor above sits high above grade, and the standards count very tall rooms twice and count usable attic space.
- How height is measured. From natural or finished grade, whichever is lower, or from average natural grade where there is a crawl space or basement.
- Sloped lots. The slope density formula applies to lots above a set average slope and is used to determine the zoning standards that apply to an existing lot. The calculation must be stamped and signed by a California registered civil engineer or surveyor.
We run the coverage, floor area, height and setback numbers on the survey and the slope calculation before the first concept, then design inside that envelope rather than discovering the limits in plan check.
7. Design Guidelines
What the commission looks for in the architecture
The City’s Design Guidelines apply to new construction and say that improvements must be consistent with them. They are organized around neighborhood compatibility, site compatibility, physical design and landscaping:
- Fit the neighborhood. Architectural style, bulk, height and length should harmonize with neighboring homes. The guidelines describe homes that keep their individuality without dominating the street, and rooflines that limit interference with neighbors’ views.
- Fit the land. Buildings should follow the natural slope and contours, preserve significant trees, and step down a hillside using one-story elements. Cantilevers and stilts over downhill slopes are to be avoided, and houses on prominent hilltops or ridgelines may be required to be one story.
- Break up the mass. Eaves, bay windows, varied elevations and alcoves are encouraged, along with smaller and recessed entries. Large entries that read as two stories are discouraged, and two-story walls should mix one- and two-story elements or add detail.
- Natural materials and colors. Darker and natural colors drawn from the site, wood and stone to soften stucco, and roofs whose form follows the architectural style.
- Landscape and site. Planting buffers for privacy, driveways that follow the contours with natural paving materials, minimal and open fencing in non-reflective materials, and exterior lighting kept off the street, the sky and neighbors.
The City also publishes Objective Design Standards, revised by the City Council in April 2026. They apply to projects that qualify for ministerial review, such as state housing-law projects, while a custom house on a site development permit is judged against the Design Guidelines. We still read the objective standards, because they show how the City thinks about articulation, screening and driveways.
8. Significant trees
The canopy that shapes the site plan
The City’s tree removal permit information define a significant tree by trunk circumference measured above natural grade, with a lower threshold for oaks and redwoods. Removing one needs a tree removal permit. For a new house:
- Who decides. Removal of trees on the City’s unsuitable species list, dead trees and hazardous trees is reviewed by staff. Other removals go to the Site and Architectural Commission at a public hearing.
- The criteria. The commission considers the need for removal, the effect on erosion and surface water given the topography, the number of trees in the neighborhood and the effect on its established standard, and how many trees the parcel can support.
- With a site development permit. The tree submittal requirements for site development permits call for a certified arborist’s report on every tree whose canopy the project encroaches on and every significant tree proposed for removal, a numbered tree index, a landscape plan with replacement trees, and access to the site for the commission, Council and staff.
- Replacement. If removal is approved, the number, size and species of replacement trees are set for each application.
- Protection. Before demolition and through construction, a temporary fence goes up around each tree to be kept, located at the drip line or a set distance from the trunk, and trenching must stay out of the drip lines.
We map the drip lines before the footprint, driveway, utility trenches and staging are fixed. For replacement planting, the City’s list of native trees of Santa Clara County is a useful starting point.
9. Creeks, grading and stormwater
Engineering review of a new house
The Engineering Department page covers grading permits, encroachment permits, private development review and stormwater. The main pieces for a new house:
- Creeks. Construction, alteration or grading near the top of bank of a creek or watercourse must follow Santa Clara Valley Water District design guidelines, which the City references in its design guidelines for land use near streams.
- Grading permits. The grading permit and site improvement requirements explain that larger grading is designated engineered grading and follows a civil engineer’s plan, very large grading goes through a process like a use permit, and plans need contours beyond the property line, drainage details and erosion and sediment control plans.
- The rainy season. Between mid-October and mid-April, grading permits are issued at the City Engineer’s discretion, and an erosion and sediment control plan from a registered civil engineer is required for site disturbance in that window.
- Frontage work. Work in the street needs an encroachment permit, with a business license, certificate of insurance and traffic control plans. The City’s site improvement requirements describe curb and gutter along the frontage, rolled curb where possible to keep the rural character, catch basins where needed and flagged property corners before construction.
- Stormwater treatment. The City’s stormwater handout for large single-family homes explains that single-family projects creating or replacing a large area of impervious surface now need low impact development treatment, such as landscape dispersion, rain gardens, rainwater harvesting or pervious paving, including treatment of runoff from rebuilt street frontage.
- Landscape water use. New landscapes above a set size follow the state model water efficient landscape ordinance excerpted by the City (water efficient landscape ordinance excerpt).
Year-round construction stormwater controls are summarized on the City’s construction stormwater practices sheet. We estimate grading, walls, drainage and stormwater measures from the engineer’s plans, not allowances.
10. Taking down the old house
The demolition permit
The City’s demolition permit submittal requirements list what the Building Department needs before an older house comes down:
- Site plan. The location and size of the structures to be demolished.
- PCBs screening form. Required for every demolition applicant. The screening is short for a wood-framed single-family house, but the certification still has to be signed.
- Air district J number. From the Bay Area Air Quality Management District.
- Sewer and septic. A demolition permit from the West Valley Sanitation District confirming the sewer line will be capped, with a district inspection once it is, or Santa Clara County Environmental Health approval where an old septic tank is abandoned.
- Utilities. A PG&E release letter confirming gas and electric service are shut off.
- Trees. A tree protection plan, with fencing in place before demolition starts.
- On site. Dust control at all times, site fencing where the open site would be a hazard, and a City final inspection once the structure and debris are gone.
The West Valley Sanitation District permit information explains how the district reviews the scope and issues its permit, which the City needs for any project with plumbing work. The City also provides a construction waste management plan form for documenting how debris is diverted from the landfill. We line up the utility release, the district permit and the air district number early, because they often take longer than the demolition itself.
11. Fire, wildfire and energy
County Fire, mapped zones and the reach codes
The City routes building plans to the Santa Clara County Fire Department’s Fire Prevention Division for fire code review, as the building permit submittal requirements explain. A few items shape the design of a new house:
- Fire hazard zones. The City posts a fire hazard severity zone map on its forms page. Check the address on the State Fire Marshal’s fire hazard severity zone maps as well; a mapped lot brings in the state wildfire construction chapter, which our fire hazard severity zone guide explains.
- Wildfire hardening. The City shares wildfire safety information from County Fire, which points owners to defensible space, fire-resistant landscaping and materials such as metal, slate or concrete tile roofs, ember-resistant vents and dual or triple pane windows.
- Sprinklers and access. As new construction, a new house has to meet the fire sprinkler and fire access requirements for new homes.
- Reach codes. The reach codes handout explains that, for new construction permits submitted after January 1, 2026, the City requires electric vehicle charging infrastructure in the garage and outside it, and an automatic hot water recirculating system.
The state’s 2025 Energy Code applies to permit applications filed on or after January 1, 2026, and our Title 24 overview explains the energy side of a new house.
12. The building permit
Filing, plan check and the paperwork
Once the site development permit is approved, the building permit application is filed online through the online permit portal, with the plans shared by a file link and the City’s building permit application. The building permit submittal requirements list what a new house needs:
- The plan set. Plot plan with coverage figures, setbacks, easements and trees to stay or go; floor plans; elevations tied to the City benchmark; at least two cross sections; foundation, framing and roof plans; and the Title 24 energy report on the sheets.
- Engineering documents. Structural calculations, hydrology calculations, a geotechnical report, which the City requires for all new structures and hillside conditions, and a conformance review letter from the soils engineer.
- Grading and drainage. A grading and drainage plan tied to the City benchmark, with cut and fill areas, sections and quantities.
- Other agencies. The stormwater data form, the sewer district permit when there is plumbing work, and County Fire review routed by the City.
Plan check comments and status can be viewed online. After a permit is issued, any change to the approved plans needs a revision submittal, as the City’s frequently asked questions sheet explains. Special inspections are documented on the City’s statement of special inspection form, and more forms are on the application and forms page. The application also covers owner-builder declarations, which our owner-builder comparison discusses.
13. Construction in Monte Sereno
Hours, inspections and licenses
The Municipal Code limits construction hours for contractors and homeowners alike, as the City’s hours of construction and holidays flyer explains:
- Hours. Construction is allowed on weekdays and Saturdays within set hours, with shorter hours on Saturdays, and not at all on Sundays or the holidays listed on the flyer. Holidays that fall on a weekend are observed on the nearest weekday.
- Inspections. The inspection information page explains that inspections run on set weekday mornings and are scheduled online or by phone, without a specific time. The job card and the full plan set have to be on site.
- Business licenses. Contractors and subcontractors need a City business license, and a new license is issued each fiscal year rather than renewed, as the business license page and the City’s FAQ sheet explain.
- Stormwater on site. Construction stormwater controls apply year-round, from stabilized entrances to covered materials and protected storm drain inlets.
- Landscape completion. New landscapes covered by the water efficient landscape ordinance finish with a certificate of completion.
We build the schedule around the City’s hours, the inspection days and the rainy-season grading window, so the site work lands in dry weather.
14. Order of steps
How we usually sequence a Monte Sereno new home
| Stage | What happens | What usually sets the pace |
|---|---|---|
| Lot research | Survey with City benchmark elevations, zoning district, average slope, trees, creeks, sewer or septic, and the fire hazard map. | Surveyor and arborist calendars. |
| Concept and neighbor outreach | A concept checked against the development standards and Design Guidelines, then shared with the neighbors. | Design rounds and neighbor feedback. |
| Site development permit | Full application online, staff completeness review, story poles certified, public hearing before the Site and Architectural Commission, then the appeal window. | Completeness review and the monthly meeting calendar. |
| Building and engineering plan check | Building set with structural, energy, hydrology and soils documents, grading and drainage plans, County Fire review and the sewer district permit. | Correction rounds and consultant turnaround. |
| Demolition permit | Sewer capped, PG&E release, air district J number, tree protection fencing and the PCBs screening form. | Utility and district scheduling. |
| Construction and final | Inspections scheduled through the portal, construction hours, stormwater practices and the landscape certificate at the end. | Construction, weather and the rainy-season grading rules. |
A common sequence for a new house or a full rebuild in Monte Sereno; a steep lot, a creek, significant trees or a variance can each change it.
Our custom home timeline guide puts design, approvals and construction on one calendar. Neighboring cities and towns handle new houses differently; our guides for Los Gatos, Saratoga, Los Altos Hills, Los Altos, Palo Alto, Menlo Park, Hillsborough, Atherton and Woodside and Portola Valley cover their rules.
15. Before you design
Questions to answer about your Monte Sereno lot
- Is the lot inside the City of Monte Sereno, and is there a current boundary and topographic survey tied to the City benchmark?
- Which zoning district is it in, what is its average slope, and what do the development standards allow for coverage, floor area, height and setbacks?
- What do the neighboring houses look like, and is the lot on a prominent hillside or ridgeline?
- Which significant trees are on or near the lot, and where are their drip lines?
- Is there a creek or watercourse on or next to the lot?
- Is the house on sewer or septic, and is it on the City’s register of historically significant buildings?
- Is the address in a mapped fire hazard zone, and will the project create or replace enough hard surface to need stormwater treatment?
- Will the plan keep enough of the existing house to avoid new construction rules, or is a full new home the cleaner path?
Owners who already have an architect send us the drawings and we estimate and build from them; owners starting fresh can have Harrod Drafting & Design, our sister studio, draw the house and the permit set.
How we help
What Harrod Built brings to a Monte Sereno new home
Harrod Built (CSLB #986950) is a family-run general contractor building in the South Bay, on the Peninsula and on the Central Coast. On a new home or a full rebuild in Monte Sereno, our role usually covers:
- Lot review first. City limits, zoning district, slope, trees, creeks, sewer, fire zone and stormwater, all checked before we write an estimate.
- Estimates during design. We estimate from the site development permit set, so the house the commission approves is one the owner is ready to build.
- Site work from real plans. Grading, retaining walls, drainage, stormwater measures and frontage work taken from the civil set, not allowances.
- Trees protected. Fencing, staging and trench routes laid out with the project arborist and kept in place to the final.
- Run to the City’s rules. Posted hours, inspection days, business licenses for every trade and a schedule built around the rainy season.
- Design support. Harrod Drafting & Design can draw the house and the permit set, or we build from your architect’s plans.
- Landscape. Paso Robles Landscaping, our landscape company, handles planting, irrigation and hardscape to the approved landscape plan.
Before hiring any builder, look up the license on the state license lookup; the CSLB’s advice on hiring a contractor and our article on how to check a CSLB license explain what to look for. Nearby we also build in Los Gatos, Saratoga, Palo Alto, Atherton and Woodside and Portola Valley, and farther south in Monterey, San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties, through general contracting or design-build. Our process page walks through the steps from estimate to move-in, and our contract type comparison explains fixed-sum and cost-plus agreements. For the local market, see our page on custom homes in Los Gatos, Monte Sereno and the foothills.
Pricing a new home or a full rebuild in Monte Sereno? Send the address and any drawings you have. We check the zoning district and slope, the coverage and setback envelope, the significant trees, the demolition and sewer steps, the grading, drainage and stormwater path and the City’s construction hours, then send back a written estimate. Phone 805-712-8993 or reach us here.
Sources: City of Monte Sereno Building and Planning Departments, application and forms, inspection information, zoning and development standards, Engineering Department, Site and Architectural Commission, About Monte Sereno and business license pages and the online permit portal; and the City’s building permit submittal requirements, building permit application, demolition permit submittal requirements, new construction policy, reach codes handout, fire hazard severity zone map, projects requiring a site development permit, site development permit submittal requirements, story pole requirements, building heights and basements handout, slope density formula, Design Guidelines, Objective Design Standards, design guidelines for land use near streams, R-1-8, R-1-20 and R-1-44 development standards, tree removal permit information, tree submittal requirements, native trees list, grading permit and site improvement requirements, construction stormwater practices, stormwater handout for large single-family homes, water efficient landscape ordinance excerpt, hours of construction flyer, sanitation district permit information, construction waste management plan form, County Fire wildfire safety information, commission meeting dates, special inspection form and frequently asked questions sheet. State sources: OSFM fire hazard severity zone maps, the CEC’s 2025 energy standards and the CSLB, all reviewed November 4, 2026. This page is a general overview, not legal or code advice; what applies to a given lot is decided by the City of Monte Sereno and the other agencies involved.
Who issues building permits in Monte Sereno?
The City of Monte Sereno Building Department, through the City’s online permit portal. For a new house, the Site and Architectural Commission first approves a site development permit, Engineering handles grading and street work, and the City routes plans to Santa Clara County Fire for fire code review.
Does a new house in Monte Sereno need design review?
Yes. A new main house needs a site development permit, heard by the Site and Architectural Commission at a public hearing, before the building permit application can be submitted. The commission weighs neighborhood character, visual impact, the Design Guidelines, grading, trees, solar access and landscaping.
Are story poles required in Monte Sereno?
For any new structure above a set size, which includes a new house. Netting outlines the roofline and ridges, ribbons outline the footprint and floor levels, and a California registered land surveyor certifies the installation before the hearing. The poles stay up through the appeal period.
When does a rebuild count as new construction in Monte Sereno?
When too little of the existing exterior walls and roof area stays in place under the City’s policy. The project then has to meet all new construction requirements, including fire sprinklers, fire access, Title 24, green building standards and the City’s reach codes.
Can I remove trees to build in Monte Sereno?
Significant trees, defined by trunk size with a lower threshold for oaks and redwoods, need a tree removal permit. With a new house, a certified arborist reports on affected trees, the commission reviews removals at the hearing, and replacement trees are set for each approval.
What does Monte Sereno need before an old house is demolished?
A demolition permit with a site plan, the PCBs screening form, an air district J number, a sanitation district permit to cap the sewer or County approval to abandon a septic tank, a PG&E release letter and a tree protection plan, with tree fencing up before work starts.
Planning guides
Budget and planning guides
Building or remodeling in Los Gatos
Architecture and Site review, hillside standards and story poles in the Town next door.
Building or remodeling in Saratoga
Saratoga’s design review paths, hillside rules, protected trees and County Fire.
Building a new home in Los Altos Hills
Site development review, Fast Track, floor area by slope, story poles, oaks and the Town permit path.
Building or remodeling in Los Altos
Design review, the Zoning Administrator, daylight plane, protected trees and the City permit path.
Building or remodeling in Palo Alto
Individual Review for two-story homes, protected trees, flood zones, basements and deconstruction.
Building a new home in Menlo Park
When a use permit applies, floor area, heritage trees, demolition and the City permit path.
Building a new home in Hillsborough
ADRB design review, story poles, protected trees, demolition and the Town’s construction rules.
Building or remodeling in Woodside and Portola Valley
ASRB and ASCC design review, story poles, geology, significant trees, grading and the fire district.
How long a custom home takes
Design, approvals, permits and construction laid end to end.
Building a new home in Cupertino
R1 zoning, one-story and two-story paths, consulting-architect review, hillside rules, protected trees and County Fire.
Building a new home in Campbell
R-1 path to Building, New House Determination, protected trees, historic listings and County Fire.
Building a new home in Sunnyvale
Design Review levels, Eichler and heritage guidelines, protected trees and the City’s own fire review.
Building a new home in Almaden
Single-Family House Permit, hillsides, ordinance-size trees, WUI fire rules and the City of San José permit path.
Start your project
Planning a new home in Monte Sereno? Tell us about your property.
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
