Custom Home Builder in Ventura County
New homes built from your architect's plans, on city lots or rural parcels with septic and wells, including rebuilds after wildfire. We pour the foundation, frame the house and finish it.
Custom Homes & New Construction with LE Construction
Building a custom home is the largest project most families ever take on, and the builder's job is to turn a set of drawings into a house that matches them, passes every inspection and comes in close to the budget. LE Construction builds new homes for clients who want materials and detailing a production builder does not offer, from custom millwork to arched openings and exposed beams.
We hold both a B General Building and a C-8 Concrete license, so the footings, slab or stem walls are poured by the same contractor that frames and finishes the house. On hillside lots, that includes stepped foundations and retaining walls. One of the projects in our gallery shows foundation forms set on a slope before the pour.
Rural lots around Somis, Piru, the Ojai Valley and other unincorporated areas bring their own steps: septic system design and approval, well water, agricultural zoning, fire department access and review by the County of Ventura. We plan for those before the design is final, because they can change where the house sits on the lot.
What our custom homes include
Build from your plans
We work from your architect's drawings, review them for buildability and cost, and coordinate with the architect and engineer through construction.
Foundations and site work
Footings, slabs, stem walls, retaining walls and drainage, poured under our C-8 license.
Framing and structure
Wood framing, shear walls, hold-downs and roof framing to the engineer's design, inspected at each stage.
Custom finish work
Millwork, built-ins, arched openings, tile and stone, with the trim and detailing that set a custom home apart.
Rural parcels
Coordination with septic designers, well contractors, County Environmental Health and the fire department for access and water supply.
Fire rebuilds
Rebuilding homes lost to wildfire, built to Chapter 7A wildfire standards, with debris clearance confirmed and permits handled.
Our custom homes specialties
Each of these has its own page with more detail on how we plan and build it.
How a custom homes & new construction project runs
Every step below is in writing before work starts, so you know what happens next and when.
Step 1: Lot and plan review
We visit the lot and review the plans or the concept with you, looking at access, slope, utilities, zoning and fire-zone status.
Step 2: Preconstruction estimate
A detailed estimate based on the plans, with allowances for finishes still to be chosen and a construction schedule.
Step 3: Plan check and approvals
We follow the plans through city or county plan check, Environmental Health for septic and wells, and fire department review.
Step 4: Foundation and framing
Site work, utilities, foundation, framing and roof, each inspected before the next stage begins.
Step 5: Systems and insulation
Plumbing, electrical, mechanical, fire sprinklers and insulation, followed by their inspections.
Step 6: Finishes, final and move-in
Drywall, cabinets, tile, flooring, trim and fixtures, then the final inspection, a walkthrough and your keys.
What we often find
These are the conditions we look for at the estimate, so they are in the price instead of turning into change orders.
Plans that are over budget
Designs are often drawn before anyone prices them. We review plans early and suggest changes that keep the design intent and lower cost.
Septic and well constraints
Septic leach fields need suitable soil and space, and wells need setbacks. Those limits can move the house on the lot.
Fire access and water supply
Rural and hillside lots may need a wider driveway, turnaround space or a water tank to satisfy the fire department.
Long-lead materials
Windows, custom cabinets and some finishes take months to arrive. Ordering them early keeps the schedule moving.
Ventura County specifics
Local conditions that change how we plan this work here.
County of Ventura review
In unincorporated areas, the Resource Management Agency handles planning and building, and Environmental Health reviews septic and wells.
Fire hazard zones
Much of the foothill land around Ojai, Santa Paula, Somis and the Conejo Valley is in mapped fire hazard zones, where new homes must meet Chapter 7A standards.
Fire sprinklers
California requires automatic fire sprinklers in new one- and two-family homes, which affects water service size on rural lots.
What drives the cost
We put the price in writing before work starts. These are the choices and conditions that move it most.
Size and design complexity
Square footage, rooflines, ceiling heights and the number of corners all drive framing and finish costs.
Site conditions
Slopes, retaining walls, long driveways and poor soils add to site work and foundation costs.
Rural infrastructure
Septic systems, wells, water storage and utility extensions are costs a city lot does not have.
Finish selections
Cabinets, stone, windows and fixtures can move the budget more than any other category.
For published cost figures and what moves them here, read our Custom Home Cost per Square Foot in Ventura County.
Energy upgrades in a project may qualify for GoGreen Financing.
Custom Homes by LE Construction
Photos from our own jobs.
What custom homes clients say
Real Google reviews from LE Construction clients, quoted word for word.
EXCELLENT
5.0 out of 5, based on 17 Google reviews
Custom Homes near you
We offer custom homes in 0 communities. Pick yours for local permit notes and details.
Talk to us before the plans are final
Bring your lot and your ideas. We will look at the site, review the plans and tell you what it will take to build.
Custom Homes FAQs
Do you design custom homes or only build them?
We build from plans drawn by an architect or a residential designer, and we can recommend people to work with if you do not have one yet. We like to be involved early, while the design is still flexible, so we can price it and suggest changes before the plans are final.
What does a rural lot add to building a new home?
Usually a septic system designed for the soil and the number of bedrooms, a well or a water connection, and fire department requirements for access and water supply. Agricultural zoning can affect where and how large the house can be. In unincorporated Ventura County, the County reviews all of it. We plan for those items before the house is drawn.
Can you rebuild a home lost in the Mountain Fire?
Yes. Rebuilds go through the same plan review and inspections as other new homes, built to current code including Chapter 7A wildfire standards. The County of Ventura approved permit fee waivers for Mountain Fire rebuilds and lets them skip the separate zoning clearance step. We help you with plans, permits and construction.
How long does it take to build a custom home?
Design and approvals often take as long as construction itself, especially on rural lots that need septic and well approvals. Construction time depends on size, complexity and how quickly finishes are selected and delivered. We give you a schedule with the estimate and update it at each stage.
Related services
Helpful pages
- Custom Home Cost per Square Foot in Ventura County
Cost guide
- Rebuilding After the Mountain Fire: Permits, Fee Waivers & Timeline
Seismic & Fire
- About LE Construction
Licensed since 2008, in business since 1999
- Request a free estimate