General Contractor in Ontario
Any Ontario project that combines structural work, multiple trades, and a building permit requires a licensed general contractor to carry it through. Horizon Construction and Remodeling holds a California Class B general building license and takes on remodels, additions, and new construction across the city, managing permits, coordinating trades, and handling inspections from the first drawing to final sign-off with the City of Ontario Building Department. The city’s housing runs from Chaffey-era bungalows on the north-side grid through postwar tracts to newer two-story homes in Ontario Ranch, and updating any of them typically pulls framing, plumbing, electrical, and finishes into a single job.
Services We Offer
Room Additions & ADUs
Whole Home Remodels
New Construction
About Working with a General Contractor in Ontario
How We Manage Your Project in Ontario
Every job with a general contractor in Ontario begins with a site visit and a written scope that accounts for what we find on the ground, whether that means an older north-side bungalow built on the Chaffey-era grid or a newer two-story tract home in Ontario Ranch with an open great room. After the visit we prepare drawings, bring in a structural engineer or energy consultant when the work requires one, and write a home improvement contract that lays out the scope, payment schedule, and start and completion dates. Selections are locked in before construction begins, so no tile or fixture choice stalls the crew mid-project.
We submit plans to the City of Ontario Building Department, respond to plan-check comments, and pull the permit under our license. If your property falls under the city’s historic preservation ordinance, we factor in the Certificate of Appropriateness process from the start. One project manager then sequences every trade, orders materials ahead of need, and calls for each inspection. Any change you request gets a written change order showing its effect on cost and schedule before we proceed. At the end we close out the permit, collect lien releases, and walk the finished work with you.
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Permits for general contractor work in Ontario are issued by the City of Ontario Building Department, and the process can carry details that catch homeowners off guard if nobody addresses them early. Ontario is a Certified Local Government, meaning it runs its own historic preservation ordinance and commission alongside state and federal requirements. If your property sits in a historic neighborhood or carries a landmark designation, exterior work may require a Certificate of Appropriateness before the building department will move forward. We look at that question during the estimate phase, so the drawings reflect those requirements from the start rather than coming back from plan check needing revision.
The housing stock in Ontario spans a wide range, from the bungalows laid out on the Chaffey era grid on the north side to the two-story tract homes built in Ontario Ranch since the New Model Colony was annexed in 1999. Older bungalows often have compartmentalized floor plans with a separate kitchen, while newer Ontario Ranch homes typically open the kitchen into a great room. Both configurations come with their own structural and trade considerations, and both require coordinated work across multiple building systems to remodel properly. A Class B general building contractor license covers exactly that kind of multi-trade project, including any work involving framing or carpentry on a structure people live or work in.
A specialty licensee such as a C-10 electrician or a C-36 plumber can do skilled work within a single trade but cannot serve as the prime contractor on a multi-trade remodel. Before signing any contract in Ontario, look up the license number on the Contractors State License Board website. The record will tell you whether the license is active, what classification it carries, whose name it is in, and whether a bond and workers’ compensation coverage are on file.
California’s Business and Professions Code 7159 requires home improvement contracts to be in writing and to include a description of the work, a payment schedule tied to work completed, approximate start and completion dates, and specific consumer notices including cancellation rights. Under Business and Professions Code 7159.5, down payments and progress payments are capped by state law, so a contractor asking for a large sum before work begins is a signal worth taking seriously. Subcontractors and suppliers who go unpaid can record a mechanics lien against your property even when you have paid the general contractor, which is why collecting lien releases as payments go out is standard practice on well-run jobs.
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 General Contractor in Ontario
Horizon Construction & Remodeling Inc. has held a California Class B General Building license since 2009 and is licensed and bonded. The license number on your contract is the same one used when permits are pulled through the City of Ontario Building Department, so there is no gap between who planned the work and who is accountable for it.
We work design-build, meaning drawings, engineering coordination, permitting, and construction all sit under one contract managed by one project manager. That structure matters most on the work a general contractor is built for: whole-home remodels, room additions, ADUs, structural changes, and new construction. A sequencing mistake between trades costs real time and money, and a single point of accountability helps prevent that. Ontario’s housing stock gives us a wide range to work across, from older bungalows on the north-side grid with compartmentalized floor plans, to newer two-story tract homes in Ontario Ranch where kitchens open into great rooms.
If your property sits in a historic neighborhood or carries a landmark designation, exterior work may require a Certificate of Appropriateness from Ontario’s Historic Preservation Commission before the building department will issue permits. We factor that review into planning from the start rather than treating it as a late-stage obstacle.
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General Contractor FAQ
Do I need a general contractor for my project in Ontario?
For any project in Ontario that pulls a permit, crosses two or more unrelated trades, or touches framing, California generally requires a licensed contractor holding the right classification, and on a multi-trade job that means a Class B general building contractor. An owner-builder can legally take the reins on a personal residence, but doing so puts scheduling, City of Ontario Building Department inspections, and any employer obligations for hired workers squarely on the homeowner. On an addition, a full remodel, or a new build, whether the home is a north-side bungalow dating to the Chaffey-era grid or a newer two-story in Ontario Ranch, most homeowners find that managing all of it amounts to a full-time job on top of their actual job.
Who pulls the permit, and who deals with the inspector?
Yes, Horizon pulls permits directly under our license through the City of Ontario Building Department and carries responsibility for passing every inspection from foundation and framing through rough trades to final sign-off. If an inspector flags an issue, we correct it and schedule the re-inspection ourselves. We also close out the permit when the work is done, which keeps everything on record with the city and matters when you refinance or sell.
How long does a general contractor project take?
How long a project takes depends on what you are building and how the City of Ontario Building Department is running at the time. Design and engineering alone can take several weeks to a few months on a larger remodel or addition, and plan check adds more time depending on workload and how many correction rounds come back. A single-room remodel may wrap construction in several weeks, while a whole-home remodel, addition, or new build typically runs many months. We give you a realistic schedule once scope is defined, not a guarantee.
What drives the cost of a general contractor project?
Cost in a general contractor project is shaped first by scope and structure. Adding square footage, relocating walls, or altering a roofline pulls in engineering, framing, and additional inspections, and that work carries real weight in the budget. Bringing electrical service up to current standards, swapping out aging plumbing, or meeting Title 24 energy requirements adds layers to the job as well. Site variables like soil conditions, slope, and access matter, and so does finish selection. In Ontario, exterior work on a designated landmark or a property within a historic neighborhood may also require a Certificate of Appropriateness from the city before the Building Department will issue permits, which is one more reason to sort out every decision before construction begins, since changes made mid-build are the most avoidable way costs climb.
How much can a contractor ask for up front?
California law caps how much a general contractor in Ontario can collect upfront on a home improvement contract, under Business and Professions Code 7159.5, and every payment after that is supposed to reflect work that has actually been completed. A contract demanding a large portion of the total before a single tool is picked up is a warning sign worth taking seriously. Our contracts follow the statute, tie each payment to a defined stage of completion, and include all consumer notices the law requires.
Do you use subcontractors?
Yes, like nearly every general contractor, we bring in licensed specialty subcontractors for certain trades, and those subs work on our schedule and under our direct supervision, which means we stand behind their work. We coordinate everything, so you deal with one project manager rather than a roster of separate trades. Subs and suppliers get paid on time, and we provide lien releases as payments go out, so a preliminary notice is routine paperwork, not a threat to your property.
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Horizon is a licensed Class B general building contractor serving Ontario and the surrounding San Bernardino County communities.