Design Center & Showroom · 614 S Euclid St, Fullerton · Mon–Fri 9am–5pm

Licensed · Bonded · Insured

Residential General Contractor in Orange County and Los Angeles County

Looking for a general contractor in Orange County? Horizon is a licensed Class B builder for remodels, additions, ADUs and new homes in OC and LA County.

Plan Your Project

Tell us about the house. A project manager will call to set up a walk-through.

Prefer to talk? Call (714) 449-9035

18+Years building in Southern California
1,500Projects completed
A+BBB rating

If you’re looking for a general contractor in Orange County, you’re probably past the point of wanting a handyman. The project has structural work, permits, several trades and a schedule that matters. That’s the work a general contractor exists for, and it’s the work Horizon Construction & Remodeling has done for Orange County and Los Angeles County homeowners for more than 18 years.

We hold a California Class B General Building Contractor license, active since 2009. We’re bonded, we carry workers’ compensation for our crews, and we work out of a showroom in Fullerton and an office in Laguna Hills.

What a Residential General Contractor Does

The general contractor is the one company responsible for the whole job. On a typical project we:

  • Turn your goals into a defined scope, drawings and a written contract
  • Bring in a structural engineer and energy consultant when the work needs them
  • Submit plans to the building department and get the permit issued
  • Schedule and supervise every trade: demolition, framing, plumbing, electrical, HVAC, drywall, tile, cabinets, paint
  • Order materials so they arrive when the crew needs them, not three weeks late
  • Call for inspections and fix anything an inspector flags
  • Keep the site safe and clean, and keep you informed
  • Close out the permit and walk the finished job with you

Without a general contractor, all of that lands on the homeowner. Some people manage it on a small job. On a whole house, an addition or a new build, the coordination is a full-time job in itself, and mistakes in sequencing get expensive.

What “Class B” Means and Why It Matters

California’s Contractors State License Board issues different license classes. A Class B General Building Contractor can take on a project that involves at least two unrelated building trades, or any framing or carpentry work, on a structure people live or work in. That’s the license that covers a remodel touching structure, plumbing, electrical and finishes all at once.

A specialty license, like a C-36 plumbing license or a C-10 electrical license, covers one trade. Those contractors do excellent work in their lane, but they can’t legally run a multi-trade remodel as the prime contractor. When you hire a Class B general contractor, the license on the contract matches the job.

Since January 1, 2025, any job worth $1,000 or more in labor and materials, or any job that needs a building permit, requires a license in California. The CSLB’s consumer pages explain the rules, and its online lookup shows any contractor’s status.

General contractor orange county project by Horizon Construction & Remodeling

How to Vet a General Contractor in Orange County

We’d rather you check us than take our word for it. Here’s what to look at with any contractor you’re considering, us included.

  1. License status. Look the license number up on the CSLB site. It should be active, in the right classification, and in the company’s name, not someone else’s.
  2. Bond and workers’ comp. The license record shows whether a contractor’s bond is on file and whether workers’ compensation is in place. If a crew member is hurt on your property and the contractor has no coverage, that can become your problem.
  3. Liability insurance. Ask for a certificate of insurance. It isn’t shown on the CSLB record.
  4. Complaints and judgments. The CSLB record discloses certain complaints and construction-related judgments. The BBB profile and review sites fill in more of the picture.
  5. Comparable work. Ask to see projects similar in size and type to yours. A great bathroom contractor isn’t automatically the right choice for a second kitchen and an addition.
  6. Who’s actually on site. Ask who runs the job day to day and how often you’ll hear from them.
  7. The contract. California home improvement contracts have required elements: a description of the work, a payment schedule, start and completion dates, and specific consumer notices. The down payment is capped by Business and Professions Code 7159.5. Read it before you sign.

Mechanics Liens and How to Protect Yourself

In California, subcontractors and material suppliers who aren’t paid can record a mechanics lien against your property, even if you paid your general contractor in full. That’s why you may receive preliminary notices from suppliers during a project. They aren’t a sign of trouble; they’re how suppliers preserve their rights.

The protection is simple: pay according to the contract schedule as work is completed, and collect lien releases as payments go out. A good general contractor pays subs and suppliers on time and gives you the paperwork. The CSLB publishes plain-language guidance on liens if you want to read more.

Our 5-Step Design and Remodeling Process

Projects We Take on as Your General Contractor

We focus on projects where a general contractor earns their keep: the ones with structure, permits and several trades.

  • Whole home remodeling. Reworking the floor plan, systems and finishes of an existing house under one plan.
  • Complete home renovation. Bringing an older or neglected house back to full working order, inside and out.
  • Room additions, ADUs and structural work. New square footage, garage conversions and detached accessory dwelling units.
  • New construction. Ground-up homes and tear-down rebuilds on your lot.
  • Kitchen remodeling and bathroom remodeling. Often as part of a larger project, so the layout, plumbing and finishes are planned with the rest of the house.
  • Plans and blueprints. Drawings and permit sets, prepared in-house.
Residential General Contractor work by Horizon Construction & Remodeling

How We Run a Job

On every project, you’ll have one point of contact who knows the schedule, the budget and what’s happening on site that week. Before construction starts, you’ll have a signed contract, approved drawings, an issued permit and your selections made. That last part matters more than most people expect. A remodel stalls when a tile choice is still open on the day the tile setter shows up.

During construction we keep a written record of changes. If you decide to add a window or move an outlet, you’ll see the change order and its effect on cost and schedule before the work is done, not on the final invoice.

We also clean up every day. Your house is still your house, even with the walls open.

Working in Orange County and Los Angeles County

Every jurisdiction has its own plan-check process, inspection habits and local amendments to the building code. Over 18 years we’ve pulled permits with dozens of city building departments across both counties, along with OC Public Works for unincorporated Orange County and EPIC-LA for unincorporated Los Angeles County.

That local knowledge saves time. Knowing which cities want a soils report for a modest addition, which ones are strict about setbacks, and how long plan check is running this quarter lets us plan your schedule realistically from day one.

We also handle the non-city approvals that come up in Southern California: HOA architectural review, coastal development permits near the coast through the California Coastal Commission or the local city, and fire-zone requirements in hillside neighborhoods.

Credentials You Can Check

  • California Class B General Building Contractor, issued September 2009
  • Contractor’s bond on file with the CSLB
  • Workers’ compensation
  • EPA Lead-Safe Certified Firm, required for work that disturbs paint in pre-1978 homes (EPA RRP program)
  • Member, National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI)
  • Member, National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA)
  • A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau
  • Best of Houzz recognition across multiple years
  • Angi Super Service Award recipient
Residential General Contractor work by Horizon Construction & Remodeling

Where We Work

Our Fullerton design center and Laguna Hills office put us close to most of Orange County, and we work regularly across Los Angeles County. Common project cities include Anaheim, Irvine, Costa Mesa, Laguna Niguel, San Clemente, Tustin, Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach and Glendale. Browse all Orange County and Los Angeles County areas.

General Contractor Service Areas

We work across four Southern California counties. Each county page links to the city pages, with local permit and housing details for every city we serve.

Frequently Asked Questions

Still have a question?

Talk to a project manager. No pressure, no sales pitch.

Call (714) 449-9035

You can act as your own owner-builder on your own home, but you take on the responsibilities a contractor normally carries, including scheduling, inspections, and potentially employer obligations for anyone you hire directly. For a project with structural work or several trades, most homeowners find a general contractor is worth it.

A general contractor builds. A design-build firm designs and builds under one contract. Horizon is both: we prepare the drawings and run construction, so there’s no gap between the person who drew the plan and the people building it.

Yes. Permits for our projects are pulled under Horizon’s license, and we’re responsible for passing every inspection.

Like nearly every general contractor, we use licensed specialty subcontractors for some trades. They work under our supervision and our schedule, and we’re responsible for their work.

It depends on the current schedule and how long design and permitting take for your project. Plan check alone can take weeks in some cities. Call us and we’ll give you a realistic timeline.

Our focus is larger projects such as whole home remodels, additions, ADUs and new construction. If your project is smaller, call and we’ll tell you honestly whether we’re the right fit.

Talk to a licensed general contractor. Tell us about the project and we’ll come see it. Schedule a consultation or call (714) 449-9035.