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New Construction in Berkeley

Berkeley New Construction

A design-build team that understands Berkeley’s architectural guidelines and builds ground-up homes of lasting quality.

Whether you are building a modern custom home in the Berkeley Hills or an infill property in the flats, we design around your lot’s specific topology and local design review boards. One team handles design, engineering, permits, and construction.

Building New Homes Throughout Berkeley

New construction in Berkeley requires balancing modern structural and energy demands with strict local aesthetic guidelines. From navigating the city’s design review process to meeting rigorous environmental codes, we guide your ground-up project through every municipal hurdle.

Hillside & Flat Foundation Engineering

Whether your lot slopes steeply or sits flat, we engineer robust foundations designed to withstand local soil conditions and seismic standards.

Title 24 & Sustainable Building Standards

Berkeley enforces some of the greenest building codes in the state. We integrate advanced insulation, solar provisions, and energy-efficient systems into every build.

Municipal Utility Infrastructure

We coordinate new service connections for power, water, and sewage directly with local utility districts, ensuring your home is fully integrated.

Neighborhood Logistics

Navigating narrow residential streets requires smart site management. We coordinate deliveries and parking to keep the project clean and neighbor-friendly.

New Construction Process

1. Initial Site Visit: 1 to 1 ½ hrs

Every new construction project begins with a clear understanding of the site and the home you want to build. We start with an on-site walkthrough to evaluate existing conditions, access, and constraints, while learning about your goals, priorities, and long-term vision. By aligning early on scope, budget, and expectations, we set the foundation for a smooth and well-coordinated build.

On-site walkthrough to review the property, site conditions, utilities, access, and overall feasibility
We provide a free preliminary construction cost range based on size, complexity, and performance goals, for example $850k – $1.1M
To proceed, we enter into a preconstruction agreement (PCA), covering design coordination, engineering, budgeting, and permit strategy
New construction planning can range from relatively simple builds to highly complex custom homes, depending on site constraints, jurisdictional requirements, and client selections

2. Design & Material Selection: 2 - 4 months

Once the overall vision is defined, the design process translates that vision into a complete set of buildable plans. For new construction, this phase establishes the home’s layout, structure, and systems from the ground up, ensuring every decision supports performance, livability, and budget control. A well-developed design is essential to an efficient and predictable build.

In-depth consultations to define project goals, spatial needs, performance targets, and architectural direction
Design considerations typically include floor plan layout, structural approach, window and door placement, lighting strategy, material selections, finishes, and exterior expression.
The contractor prepares a detailed and comprehensive list of all project selections and scope items for client review, forming the basis for accurate pricing, permitting, and construction execution

3. Permitting: 2 - 3 months

Once the design is complete, it’s time to submit the plans to the city for approval! This can take a few months, but during this time you can still keep the project moving! While many major selections will already be defined, this phase is when you begin actively selecting and confirming key materials. In new construction, early choices such as tile and finish materials are especially important, as they inform precise layout, dimensions, and coordination of fixtures, niches, and other integrated elements throughout the build.

4. Construction: 1 - 4 months

Finally, our team begins with a careful protection of your surrounding areas. Dust barriers with zipper doors, HEPA air filtration, and floor protection are some of the methods we implement to ensure your home and family are protected from the process. A dedicated project manager and construction team will carry out the work in close coordination with the homeowner, providing clear communication, organized scheduling, and day-to-day oversight to keep the project running smoothly and predictably.

5. Move In

Once final city inspections are approved, we conduct a comprehensive walkthrough of the new home to confirm all systems, finishes, and details are complete and performing as intended. We then review and deliver all close-out documentation, including manuals and warranties, along with a long-term maintenance overview to help you care for and protect your home for years to come.

Our New Construction Work

A look at recent New Construction work from Beyond Green Construction.

What Our Clients Say About Us

Ready to start planning your Berkeley Home?

FAQ

You Ask We Answer

How long does ground-up new construction typically take? +

A custom home build in Berkeley generally spans 9 to 14 months, taking into account the city's detailed plan check and inspection processes.

Can you handle teardowns of existing structures? +

Yes, we manage the safe teardown and environmental clearing of existing buildings before ground-up construction begins.

Do you handle City of Berkeley permits for new construction? +

Yes, we handle all submittals, board reviews, and permit acquisitions directly with the City of Berkeley.

What is the estimated cost per square foot for a new build? +

Pricing varies based on site grading, structural engineering, and finish quality. We provide comprehensive estimates during our preconstruction agreements.

How do you manage architectural design and construction together? +

By keeping architects and builders on the same team, we ensure that your design intent is preserved and built efficiently without budget surprises.