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Five Stars Builders

Southern California

HOA Landscape Approval, Handled In-House

Your community's architectural review committee will not approve a backyard without a plan set. We draw it, submit it, revise it, and pull the city permits so your project moves forward instead of sitting in a review queue.

Request a free estimateCall (818) 740-6519

CSLB #1103138. Serving Southern California.

3D backyard design rendering prepared by Five Stars Builders for HOA submittal

Most new-construction communities in Southern California will not let you touch the backyard until an architectural review committee signs off on a plan. That means a scaled site plan, a plant palette, hardscape materials and elevations, drainage notes, and often a 3D rendering, submitted through whatever portal or paperwork the HOA uses this year. Homeowners who try to assemble that package themselves usually find out the requirements only after the first submission bounces back with corrections. Meanwhile the yard sits as dirt, the association may issue notices, and every week of delay is a week the property looks unfinished.

Five Stars Builders removes that bottleneck by owning the entire path from concept to approved, permitted, buildable plan. Our team drafts the design, prepares the HOA submittal exactly to your community's format, handles every round of revisions directly with the review committee, and files for the city permits your jurisdiction requires on top of HOA sign-off. You are not managing a designer, a separate permit runner, and a landscaper. You are working with one licensed contractor, CSLB License #1103138, who is accountable for the plan and the build behind it.

Why homeowners use us for approvals

One team owns the plan, the paperwork, and the build.

HOA approval is not a side service we outsource. It is built into how we take on every new-home backyard project.

Licensed General Contractor

CSLB License #1103138. The same license that builds your backyard is the one signing the plan set, so the design matches what can actually be built and permitted.

In-House 3D Design & Plan Sets

Site plans, planting palettes, hardscape material call-outs, and 3D visuals are produced by our own design team, formatted for how HOA review committees actually read submittals.

Submittals & Revisions Managed for You

We submit the package, track the committee's response, and turn around revisions directly, so you are not the one relaying redlines back and forth by email.

City Permits & Inspections Included

Beyond HOA sign-off, we file for the city permits your project needs and coordinate inspections, so approval on paper turns into a crew on your property.

What's included

The process starts with a site walk to measure the lot, note grading and drainage, and confirm what your specific HOA requires. From there:

  • A 3D design concept and scaled plan set covering hardscape, planting, and materials
  • A plant palette suited to your soil and microclimate, since clay-heavy fill and coastal-to-inland heat swings across Los Angeles, Orange, Ventura, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties change what actually survives
  • A formatted HOA submittal package matching your community's architectural review requirements
  • Direct handling of committee questions and revision requests until the plan is approved
  • City permit application and issuance where required, on top of HOA approval
  • Inspection scheduling so the finished work passes without a second trip

Nothing moves to construction until the plan is both HOA-approved and permitted. That order matters. Skipping it is how homeowners end up with a finished patio and a violation notice.

What new homeowners ask about HOA approval

Straight answers before you start the process.

01How long does HOA landscape approval take?
It depends on the community and how often the architectural review committee meets, but a complete, correctly formatted submittal moves faster than one with missing information. We prepare the package to match what your specific HOA asks for the first time, which is the biggest factor in avoiding a second review cycle.
02What does the HOA actually need to see in my plans?
Most Southern California HOAs want a scaled site plan, a plant and material palette, elevations for any structures like pergolas or walls, and drainage notes. Some also require 3D renderings. We build the submittal to your community's specific checklist rather than a generic template.
03What happens if the HOA asks for revisions?
We handle it. Revision requests go back to our design team, not to you, and we resubmit directly to the committee. Since we drew the original plan, we already know what can change without breaking the design or the budget.
04Do I still need a city permit if the HOA approves my plans?
Usually yes. HOA approval and a city building permit are separate requirements, and most hardscape, structures, and pools need both. We file for the city permits your project requires and manage inspections as part of the same contract.
05Do I have to present my plans to the HOA myself?
No. We prepare and submit the package on your behalf and respond to committee questions directly. You review the design with us before it goes in, and we keep you updated as it moves through approval.
06Is it worth using one contractor for design, approval, and construction?
For a new-construction backyard facing HOA review, yes. A separate designer, a separate permit expediter, and a separate landscaper each add handoffs where miscommunication and delay creep in. One licensed contractor accountable for the plan and the build keeps the timeline and the design intact.

Related Services

HOA approval is the first step. Here is what typically comes next.

New-Home Backyard
See the full path from bare dirt to a finished backyard, including design, approval, and build.
Hardscape
Patios, pavers, walkways, and walls, designed to match what your HOA and your budget will approve.
Landscaping
Planting, turf, and irrigation plans built around the plant palette your HOA submittal already covers.
Los Angeles County
New-construction backyard and HOA approval work across Los Angeles County communities.
Orange County
New-construction backyard and HOA approval work across Orange County communities.

The next step

Get Your HOA Plan Started

Call (818) 740-6519 for a free design consultation. We will scope your backyard, confirm your HOA's requirements, and give you a clear path to approval.

CSLB License #1103138. Serving Southern California.

Request a free estimateCall (818) 740-6519
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