Thinking about building a custom home? There’s certainly a lot to consider. Getting some expert insight can give clarity on what you need and what can be expected.
Here at Letter Four, we offer several options to help you explore possibilities and lay the groundwork for your project. First, we recommend going through a preliminary consultation call so that we can learn about your needs and suggest the right steps to take next. Our firm currently offers two options for consultation calls, outlined below.
Free
Perfect for: When you’re still feeling out what a custom home build entails, and you need to hear what process a professional team would use. We’ll gather your project goals and concerns and give you the information you need to decide how best to move forward.
What’s Included: Zoom call up to 30 mins with Alex, our Office Manager
Free
Perfect for: When you’d like to get some expert input on a few of your project’s goals or concerns and how a professional team would approach them. You’ll come away with an idea of what your unique project is likely to need, and a complete plan for what steps should be taken next.
What’s Included: Zoom call up to an hour with Lauren & Jeremy, our Architect & General Contractor
The recent wildfires have devastated Los Angeles, leaving many in our community without homes and facing the daunting task of rebuilding their lives. At Letter Four, we understand the challenges ahead and we're here to help you navigate the path to recovery.
As licensed architects and contractors with a focus on custom homes, our work over the last 14 years has been to provide thoughtful, personalized support and guidance. We hope this page helps guide you as you start the rebuilding and recovery process and provides reliable resources.
Mayor Bass Issues Executive Order to Help Property Owners with Post-Fire Rebuilds
In response to recent fires, Mayor Bass has issued an executive order to expedite the rebuilding process for property owners whose structures were damaged or destroyed. The order facilitates "like for like" reconstruction, allowing property owners to rebuild structures up to 110% of their previous size without undergoing the standard permitting process.
To streamline this effort, the city will establish a centralized permit center, operational seven days a week, staffed by various city departments and representatives from federal and state agencies. Key measures include expedited reviews requiring departments to complete initial assessments within 30 days, concurrent departmental reviews, and prompt inspections and utility clearances.
The executive order also waives certain requirements to accelerate rebuilding. Notably, eligible projects are exempt from the city's all-electric building mandate, demolition permits (with prior notification to the Department of Building and Safety), and specific discretionary reviews such as Coastal Development Permits and specific plan compliance. Additionally, property owners are permitted to place a recreational vehicle or temporary residence on-site during construction and have up to seven years to obtain permits and three years to complete construction once permits are issued. The Department of Public Works is tasked with developing a comprehensive debris cleanup plan to address hazardous materials and watershed concerns.
Links To Helpful, Legitimate Resources
Fill out the form below to book a call and discuss your rebuild:
1 Zoom meeting
Add. meeting(s)
1 site meeting
Past Permit Record Review and Summary
Project Code Summary
Project Scope Write-Up
Preliminary Project Schedule + Phasing
Rough Budget Range
Conceptual Design Package
Airtable Setup
3 Sketched Options
Preliminary Pricing Document
Proposal for remaining project phases
Additional Recommended/Required
As-builts (Consultant)*
Boundary/Topographic Survey (Consultant)*
Sketches
Recommended
Included/ Required
1 Zoom meeting
Add. meeting(s)
1 site meeting
Past Permit Record Review and Summary
Project Code Summary
Project Scope Write-Up
Preliminary Project Schedule + Phasing
Rough Budget Range
Conceptual Design Package
Airtable Setup
3 Sketched Options
Preliminary Pricing Document
Proposal for remaining project phases
Additional Recommended/Required
As-builts (Consultant)*
Boundary/Topographic Survey (Consultant)*
Sketches
Recommended
Included/ Required
1 Zoom meeting
Add. meeting(s)
1 site meeting
Past Permit Record Review and Summary
Project Code Summary
Project Scope Write-Up
Preliminary Project Schedule + Phasing
Rough Budget Range
Conceptual Design Package
Airtable Setup
3 Sketched Options
Preliminary Pricing Document
Proposal for remaining project phases
Additional Recommended/Required
As-builts (Consultant)*
Boundary/Topographic Survey (Consultant)*
Sketches
Recommended
Included/ Required
Accessibility: If you are vision-impaired or have some other impairment covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act or a similar law, and you wish to discuss potential accommodations related to using this website, please contact our Accessibility Manager at (323) 275-1140
