New Construction in Highland
New construction in Highland most often starts with a lot that already has a house on it. The city traces its roots to an 1891 citrus townsite, and most of the housing stock grew up during the tract-building decades around incorporation in November 1987, leaving a mix of early bungalows near the old Palm Avenue core and single- and two-story tract homes where the kitchen sits behind a wall away from the family room. Those houses can be worth remodeling, but when the structure is too small, the foundation is worn out, or adding a second story means rebuilding most of the frame anyway, a tear-down rebuild is often the cleaner path. Horizon Construction and Remodeling manages new construction in Highland from the first lot review through design, engineering, permits, demolition, and final inspection, all under one contract.
Services We Offer
Engineering & Title 24
Permits & Plan Check
New Build ADUs
Our New Construction Process in Highland
How We Approach New Construction in Highland
Every project of new construction in Highland begins with the lot itself, not the floor plan. A zoning review, boundary and topographic survey, and soils report tell us what can be built and what the foundation will require. From there, design takes shape through site plans, floor plans, and elevations refined with you until the layout fits how your household actually lives. Many tract homes built in the decades surrounding Highland’s 1987 incorporation have kitchens separated from the family room by a wall, and a ground-up build is a chance to open that relationship between spaces from the start. Structural engineering and Title 24 energy documents are prepared alongside the drawings so the plan set enters the City of Highland Building and Safety Division complete and ready for review.
While plans are under review, we answer any comments, coordinate utility work, and handle the asbestos survey and air district notification required before demolition begins. If your property sits near the Palm Avenue historic core within the Highland Historic District, exterior scope warrants a preservation review before work proceeds. Once permits issue, demolition is followed by foundation, framing, rough plumbing, electrical, mechanical, and fire sprinkler lines, then insulation and interior and exterior finishes. One project manager oversees the entire sequence and is present for every inspection through final sign-off.
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Highland’s building permit process runs through the City of Highland Building and Safety Division, and on a new house the review touches several departments at once. Planning checks the design against zoning requirements such as setbacks, height limits, lot coverage and floor area. Building plan check works through the structural and energy documents. The fire department reviews sprinkler systems and site access, and public works handles grading, drainage, street trenching and the new driveway approach. If an older structure is being cleared first, demolition requires its own permit, and most building departments want gas and electric service disconnected and the sewer lateral capped before that permit issues. The South Coast AQMD also requires an asbestos survey and advance notification before most demolitions proceed.
One point that applies specifically to Highland: part of the original 1891 citrus townsite along Palm Avenue falls within the Highland Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2001. Any exterior work on properties inside that boundary warrants a preservation review before plans go to building and safety. Highland’s housing stock ranges from early bungalows near that historic core to the single-story and two-story tract homes built during the growth decades surrounding the city’s incorporation in November 1987, so the applicable standards can vary considerably from one parcel to the next.
Utility sizing follows the new house, not whatever was there before. Required fire sprinklers frequently mean a larger water meter and a bigger service line. A house with modern electrical loads and solar may need a new utility service entirely, and that work carries its own scheduling lead time separate from the building permit process.
Foundation design starts with a geotechnical report that identifies expansive clay, old fill, groundwater and slope conditions. In state-mapped liquefaction or landslide zones a site-specific investigation is required. The structural engineer uses those findings to size footings or specify a post-tensioned slab, then designs shear walls, hold-downs and beams to meet California seismic requirements. New single-family homes must comply with current Title 24 energy standards, include solar PV, and if the lot sits in a mapped Fire Hazard Severity Zone, wildland-urban interface requirements apply to roofing, vents, exterior materials and glazing. Inspections are staged from foundation through framing, rough-ins and insulation to the final sign-off.
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 New Construction in Highland
Horizon Construction and Remodeling has been building in Southern California since 2009 as a licensed and bonded Class B general building contractor. New construction is the most involved work a residential contractor takes on, and we treat it that way from the first conversation about your lot to the final walkthrough with the city inspector.
We work design-build, meaning design, engineering coordination, permits, and construction all run under one contract with one project manager. That structure matters in Highland, where permits are issued through the City of Highland Building and Safety Division and plan check comments need fast, accurate responses. California Title 24 energy requirements and CALGreen compliance go into the drawings from the start, so those items do not arrive late as change orders. If your property sits along the Palm Avenue historic core, exterior work may also require a preservation review before permits move forward, and we factor that into the schedule upfront.
Highland’s housing ranges from early citrus-era bungalows near the old townsite to the single-story and two-story tract homes that filled in around incorporation. Whatever the lot and whatever the program, we coordinate every trade involved and manage the process through to completion. Call (714) 449-9035 to talk through what your Highland property can support.
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New Construction FAQ
Should I rebuild or remodel my house in Highland?
The right choice depends on your specific house and lot. Rebuilding tends to make sense when the foundation has serious problems, when nearly every system needs replacing and most walls would move anyway, when you want a second story the existing frame cannot carry, or when zoning allows a larger or better-positioned structure. In Highland’s older Palm Avenue core and East Highlands Ranch neighborhoods, where homes range from early citrus-era bungalows to later tract houses with closed-off kitchens, the existing layout and structural condition often drive that decision. If the frame is sound and the main goal is a new floor plan and updated finishes, a whole-home remodel is usually simpler to permit through the City of Highland Building and Safety Division. We walk the property with you and give a straight comparison before you commit to either path.
What permits does a new home need?
New construction in Highland moves through several permit layers: a demolition permit for the existing house, a building permit for the new structure, and typically grading, utility, and driveway permits from public works, with plans reviewed by the City of Highland Building and Safety Division alongside planning, fire, and public works sign-off. Properties in a fire hazard severity zone face additional fire-code review, and if your lot sits within the Palm Avenue historic core, exterior scope may warrant a preservation check before submittal. We prepare the documents and manage all comments and resubmittals on your behalf.
How long does it take to build a new home?
Timelines for new construction in Highland vary by project, but design and permitting alone can run as long as the build itself. Plan check through the City of Highland Building and Safety Division commonly takes several months, and that window stretches further when planning review, fire-zone conditions, or hillside grading is involved. Construction of a custom home typically runs close to a year, with larger footprints or sites requiring heavy earthwork adding more time. Weather, utility scheduling, and inspection availability all play a role, so we work out a realistic schedule for your specific lot after the feasibility review.
What drives the cost of building a new home?
New construction in Highland is budgeted first by size and complexity, with second stories, long spans, and many corners adding cost quickly. Foundation type depends on soil conditions and slope, and site work like demolition, grading, retaining walls, and utility upgrades varies considerably given Highland’s mix of older citrus-era lots and postincorporation tract parcels. Fire-zone requirements and finish level add further to that figure, and city impact fees and school fees on new square footage differ by city and district. After feasibility, we break the budget into these categories so your choices are clear.
Do new homes in California need solar and fire sprinklers?
Yes, new single-family homes in Highland must meet several statewide requirements, and we design to all of them from the start. The California Residential Code requires automatic fire sprinklers in new one- and two-family homes, which affects both water service sizing and how ceilings are laid out. Solar PV has been mandatory on new single-family homes since the 2019 energy standards, and the 2025 Title 24 update builds on that for permits filed on or after January 1, 2026. CALGreen adds requirements covering water use, construction waste recycling, indoor air quality, and EV charging readiness, all of which go through the City of Highland Building and Safety Division.
Can you build an ADU along with the new house?
Yes, and starting fresh makes it the most practical time to include an ADU. Sizing water, sewer, and electrical service for both units at once is far simpler than adding capacity later, and the site plan can be drawn from the start to give each unit a private entry and outdoor area. State law allows ADUs on most single-family lots, though setbacks, height limits, and parking rules still apply in Highland. Permits go through the City of Highland Building and Safety Division, and we can pull them for the ADU alongside the main house or handle it as a separate project. We build guest houses as well.
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Horizon is a licensed Class B general building contractor serving Highland and the surrounding San Bernardino County communities.