Backyard Remodeling in Chino
Backyard remodeling in Chino typically begins with a single problem: a patio cover that has seen better days, an outdoor kitchen that never got built, or a yard that simply stopped working. Chino’s history shows up behind the house first. The city was incorporated in 1910, farmed through much of the twentieth century, and dairy-heavy from the 1950s into the 1980s before suburbs filled in from the 1970s onward. Old slabs, mature tree roots, and drainage nobody planned for are common finds on lots throughout neighborhoods like The Preserve, College Park, and Downtown Chino. We handle complete design-build yards and targeted tear-out-and-rebuild projects alike, drawn as one plan and built by one licensed team.
Services We Offer
Covers & Outdoor Kitchens
Drainage & Landscape
Yard Tear-Out & Rebuild
Our Backyard Remodeling Process in Chino
Backyard remodeling in Chino starts with a site visit, because what sits underground determines everything that gets built above it. Chino’s housing stock ranges from mid-century ranch homes north of downtown, many with compartmentalized layouts and older utility runs, to newer two-story plans in communities like The Preserve whose infrastructure is more recent but whose specific plan and design guidelines shape what we can build and how we submit for it. We look at slope, side-yard access, existing structures, and where gas, electrical, and water currently land. We also check whether any existing work was ever permitted, since unpermitted improvements affect what the City of Chino Building and Safety Division will approve going forward.
From there we survey the lot, confirm setbacks and easements, and draw the full scope: decking, covers, outdoor kitchens, drainage, and planting. You make finish selections before demolition begins. We coordinate any required engineering, prepare the permit submittal, and handle HOA documentation where applicable. Underground trades are inspected before burial, then structures and surfaces follow, with final inspections and a walk-through closing out the project.
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Pulling a permit is not optional for most backyard work in Chino. Pools and spas always require one. So do patio covers and California rooms, new gas lines running to a grill, fire pit or pool heater, new electrical circuits, and retaining walls or grading that exceeds local thresholds. That paperwork goes through the City of Chino Building and Safety Division, and we handle the submittal as part of the project. Setbacks for pools, equipment pads, fire features and covered structures vary from one city to the next, so we confirm those numbers during the layout phase rather than discovering a conflict at plan check.
Chino’s south end adds a layer most contractors overlook. The Preserve is roughly 5,435 acres of former dairy and farm ground annexed in 2003, and it operates under its own specific plan and design guidelines. Backyards there are subject to those standards on top of standard city code. Homes in that part of town are also newer two-story plans whose kitchens already open to a great room, which tends to put more pressure on the outdoor space to function as a natural extension of that interior. Where there is an HOA, the architectural review committee typically looks at pools, covers, walls and visible landscaping before the city does, and we build that sequence into the schedule from the start.
Drainage is the part of a backyard remodel that determines whether everything else holds up over time. Every new patio, pool deck and solid roof over a California room converts ground that once absorbed water into a surface that sheds it. We set grades in the drawings so the yard falls away from the foundation on all sides, connect downspouts to drain lines, and add area or channel drains wherever hardscape meets the house. Where the design allows it, we use permeable pavers, gravel or planted areas to slow runoff. Water is directed to an outlet the city approves, typically the street curb, and never across a property line onto a neighbor’s lot. Retaining walls need drainage behind them to stay in place, and many building departments require a permit for any wall taller than four feet measured from the bottom of the footing, or for any wall holding back a slope, driveway or structure.
A few other rules shape the plan before we draw a single line. California’s Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance applies to new and rehabilitated landscapes, and every city adopts it or a stricter local version. Larger permitted landscapes can require a water budget and irrigation plan with the submittal, while smaller rehabs often fall under the thresholds. If your water agency offers a turf replacement rebate, that approval needs to happen before any grass is removed, and the replacement area has to stay permeable. If the address falls within a CAL FIRE mapped Fire Hazard Severity Zone, we treat the first five feet around the house as Zone 0, using hardscape or gravel instead of bark mulch, keeping fire features clear of structures, overhangs and trees, and designing any attached cover with ignition-resistant materials. Finally, when a permit is issued for a new or remodeled pool or spa at a single-family home, state law requires at least two of seven drowning-prevention features to be in place before the project can pass final inspection.
Other Remodeling Services We Offer
A kitchen remodel touches more trades than any other room in the house: layout, cabinetry, plumbing, electrical, ventilation and finishes. Horizon designs and builds kitchen remodels under one contract, from the measured layout to the final inspection.
Whether you envision a classic Southern California pool or a fully customized backyard oasis, Horizon Construction & Remodeling delivers the highest level of quality and service. Our comprehensive pool design and remodeling services cover everything from layout and decking to built-in BBQs and final touches like landscaping. Let Horizon be your trusted partner in transforming your backyard into the perfect outdoor retreat.
If you are planning a complete bathroom remodel or simply want to change your tub, shower, update your plumbing fixtures, or make the space more efficient, our team at Horizon will help you through the process with expert advice, professional craftsmanship, and affordable options with beautiful results. Learn more about our bathroom remodeling services.
Transform your space with our expert interior work services. We offer a comprehensive range of solutions — from space planning and custom design to the selection of high-quality finishes and materials. Our team of experienced professionals works closely with you to create a space that’s both functional and stylish, tailored to your unique needs, goals, and budget. Whether you’re updating a single room or overhauling your entire interior, we bring precision, creativity, and craftsmanship to every project.
At Horizon, we believe your home is more than just four walls — it’s where life happens. It’s the place you relax, gather with family and friends, and create lasting memories. That’s why we offer a full range of exterior work services designed to elevate your outdoor living space. From patios and hardscaping to custom decks and exterior renovations, we help turn your vision into a dream yard that complements your lifestyle and enhances curb appeal.
At Horizon Construction & Remodeling, our expert team includes a dedicated design and planning division that works hand-in-hand with licensed architects and structural engineers. We take care of everything — from detailed plans and blueprints to securing city permits — so you don’t have to deal with delays or red tape. Our goal is to streamline the process and provide a fully approved set of documents that aligns with both your vision and city regulations, saving you time and stress.
Why Choose Horizon Remodeling For Backyard Remodeling in Chino
Horizon Construction and Remodeling has held an active Class B general building contractor license since 2009, and that classification matters on a backyard remodeling job in Chino. A backyard project pulls together framing, concrete, electrical, plumbing, gas, and drainage all at once, and a Class B license covers exactly that kind of multi-trade scope. We are licensed and bonded, and we carry a single contract that puts design, engineering coordination, permits, and construction under one project manager rather than leaving you to referee separate specialty contractors.
Permitting runs through the City of Chino Building and Safety Division, and the process can vary depending on where your home sits. Properties in The Preserve, the roughly 5,400-acre master-planned community on the former dairy ground south of downtown, fall under their own specific plan and design guidelines, which can shape what a backyard remodel requires before a permit is issued. We manage that coordination so you are not figuring it out on your own.
Because we work design-build, the people who plan the grades and drainage are the same people who build them. You can review finishes, pavers, and counters in person at our design center at 614 South Euclid Street in Fullerton before anything is ordered. Call (714) 449-9035 to schedule a site visit and get a free estimate on your backyard remodel in Chino.
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Backyard Remodeling FAQ
Do I need a permit for a backyard remodel in Chino?
Most backyard remodeling work in Chino does require a permit, though minor jobs like replacing plants or resurfacing a small patio typically do not. Projects that go through the City of Chino Building and Safety Division include patio covers, California rooms, pools and spas, taller retaining walls, significant grading, new gas lines, and new electrical circuits. In neighborhoods like The Preserve, where development follows its own specific plan and design guidelines, those reviews can add a layer to the process. Gas, electrical, and plumbing runs are inspected before burial, and pool work must include the state’s required drowning-prevention features to reach final approval. We review local requirements during layout, prepare the drawings, pull every permit the scope calls for, and work through plan-check comments until approvals are in hand.
How long does a backyard remodel take?
How long a backyard remodeling project takes in Chino depends on scope, permit timing, HOA review, and how quickly material selections get finalized. Straightforward hardscape and planting work can run a few weeks of construction once permits are approved through the City of Chino Building and Safety Division. A yard that adds a patio cover and outdoor kitchen commonly runs a few months, and design and permitting can take roughly as long as the build itself. Projects in communities like The Preserve may also require review under that area’s specific plan guidelines. Drainage work or engineered retaining walls adds time at the front end. Every proposal includes a project-specific schedule.
What drives the cost of a backyard remodel?
Backyard remodeling costs in Chino vary based on a wide range of site and project conditions, so there is no single figure that applies to every home. Access matters from the start: a yard reachable only through a narrow side gate limits equipment size and increases hand labor. Soil conditions and slope shape excavation and retaining wall requirements, especially on the former dairy and farm ground of The Preserve, where the specific plan and design guidelines add another layer of review. Distance from the gas meter and electrical panel, available panel capacity, patio cover type, material selections, demolition volume, and any HOA submittals all affect the final number.
What's the difference between a backyard remodel and a backyard renovation?
Backyard remodeling in Chino can mean building something new, fixing what has broken down, or both at once. Some projects start with a clear goal, adding hardscape, a covered patio, an outdoor kitchen, or landscaping pulled together into one coordinated plan. Others start with problems: cracked concrete, a rotting deck, poor drainage, or unpermitted structures that have to come out first. In neighborhoods like The Preserve, where homes follow a specific plan with its own design guidelines, that planning step matters even more. Either way, we design the drainage and underground work before any surface goes in.
Can we build the backyard in phases?
Yes, phased backyard remodeling in Chino is common, and the approach works best when the full yard layout is drawn out before any ground is broken. Underground lines for gas, drainage, irrigation, and conduit go in during the first phase so later additions never require cutting through finished concrete. If an outdoor kitchen or fire feature is on the horizon, we sleeve the gas line under the slab now. Phasing does mean multiple mobilizations and separate inspections through the City of Chino Building and Safety Division.
Can you keep my pool and replace everything around it?
In many cases, yes, an aging pool deck can be replaced without draining or demolishing the pool itself. A cracked or lifted surround, loose coping, and a failing expansion joint that channels water under the slab are common problems we address by pulling the old deck, correcting the drainage that caused the damage, and pouring a new surface while the shell stays in place. If the pool also needs resurfacing, new tile, or equipment work, we coordinate both scopes together so the deck is not poured twice. Homeowners in Chino whose properties sit on the former dairy and farmland of The Preserve should note that the area’s specific plan and design guidelines may shape material choices, so we factor that in from the start.
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Horizon is a licensed Class B general building contractor serving Chino and the surrounding San Bernardino County communities.