Newport Beach, CA
Home Builder in Newport Beach, CA for Custom Coastal Estates
Hardey Builds is a home builder in Newport Beach, CA for custom estates and refined remodels on Balboa Island, in Corona del Mar and near the Back Bay. Call (562) 257-8121 to begin.
Custom Homes and Remodels
Custom Home Builder in Newport Beach for Waterfront and Bluff Lots
Many Newport Beach projects begin with a lot worth more than the house on it. When an older beach cottage or a dated two-story no longer suits the family, a custom home build lets the owner start again with a plan composed around views, light and the way they entertain. As a custom home builder in Newport Beach, we work closely with your architect so the drawings and the construction stay in step, down to the last stair tread.
For owners who love their location and want to keep the house, whole home remodeling reworks the layout, finishes and systems without a full rebuild. Home remodeling in Newport Beach often means opening rooms toward the water and replacing tired windows with broad expanses of glass.
The kitchen anchors most of these homes. Our approach to kitchen remodeling in Newport Beach pairs a considered layout with fine cabinetry and counters, and our custom tile installation reflects the craft Mike Hardey practiced before he ever built a house.
Balboa Island, Corona del Mar and Newport Neighborhoods
Each part of Newport Beach builds differently. The Balboa Peninsula mixes older beach cottages with newer condos, and lots there tend to be tight, so staging and deliveries take real planning. On Balboa Island, some dock and bulkhead work still goes to the California Coastal Commission rather than the city.
Corona del Mar is a seaside village with cliffside views, and some of those views are protected. A 2018 appeal of a project on Ocean Boulevard turned in part on a public view the city's coastal program protects, a reminder that height and massing receive close attention there.
Inland, Newport Heights offers established streets close to the coast, and Eastbluff sits between Jamboree Road and the Back Bay, near Fashion Island. Homes in these neighborhoods tend to suit remodels and additions more than full rebuilds.
Coastal Review for Newport Beach Homes
Much of Newport Beach lies in the coastal zone. The Coastal Commission approved the Implementation Plan of the city's Local Coastal Program in January 2017. On January 30, 2017, the city took over issuing most coastal development permits itself. Local approvals now include findings that a project conforms to that approved program.
In practice, a project close to the water can carry two layers of review: the coastal review of what is built and where, and the regular building permit for how it is built. Height, setbacks, public views and water quality measures can all come up before construction drawings are final.
We build these questions into the design phase. Salt air and moisture guide our material choices too, from exterior fasteners and hardware to the finishes we recommend on west facing walls and decks that take the full force of the ocean breeze.
Since 2005
Permits at the Civic Center
Newport Beach Building Permits and the CiViC Portal
The Newport Beach Permit Center sits in Bay C of City Hall at 100 Civic Center Drive, with the Building Division next door in Bay D. Since May 1, 2025, the city has required a CiViC account to apply for permits, whether in person or online, and inspections can be scheduled through the same portal.
Hardey Builds manages that account work for you. We submit plans, pay plan check and permit fees at the right stages, respond to corrections and book inspections as each phase is ready. The city's building code has also been updated to the 2025 California Building Code, effective January 1, 2026, so we plan new work to the current standard.
Review time depends on scope, coastal findings and how complete the first submittal is. We explain each factor at your first consultation so the schedule is realistic from the outset.
Working With a Home Builder in Newport Beach, CA From Nearby
Hardey Builds is based a short drive up the coast in Huntington Beach, which keeps a home builder in Newport Beach, CA close at hand for site meetings and inspections. Mike Hardey founded the company in 2005 as a master tile craftsman, and his team now brings over 20 years of construction experience to each estate and remodel.
Our design sense is modern and sophisticated, often warmed by exposed brick, timber beams and window bays that frame the harbor light. One team directs planning, design coordination, permits, construction, cleanup and the final walkthrough, so you have a single point of contact.
Hardey Builds holds California Contractor License #864044, and the first consultation is complimentary. For owners who want it, financing through Wisetack is available as well.
Neighboring Cities We Also Serve
Newport Beach shares borders and commutes with several nearby cities. We bring the same planning, permit coordination and finish quality to each of them. Each is a short drive from our Huntington Beach base, so site visits and inspections stay simple and easy to schedule:
Every one of these cities runs its own permit office and design rules, and we plan each project around them from the first visit. The coastal reviews that shape a home builder in Newport Beach, CA look very different from the HOA approvals common in Irvine. Knowing both helps us set a realistic schedule wherever you live.
Newport Beach Building Questions
Monday to Sunday, 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM
(562) 257-8121Who issues coastal development permits for a Newport Beach home?
For most projects, the City of Newport Beach does. The city took over coastal development permit authority on January 30, 2017, after the Coastal Commission approved its Local Coastal Program. Some work, such as certain Balboa Island docks and bulkheads, can still involve the Commission. We confirm which agency applies to your address before design is final.
Do I need a CiViC account to pull a permit in Newport Beach?
Yes. Since May 1, 2025, Newport Beach has required a valid CiViC account to apply for permits, both in person and online. When Hardey Builds manages your project, we handle the submittals, fees, corrections and inspection requests through the portal, so you can follow progress without learning the system yourself.
Can I remodel a Balboa Peninsula beach cottage instead of tearing it down?
Often, yes. Many older cottages on the Balboa Peninsula have room for a new kitchen, updated baths, better windows and a more open plan within the existing footprint. We review the structure, the lot and the coastal rules, then lay out the costs and tradeoffs of a remodel against a rebuild so you can decide with clear information.
Your Newport Beach Residence
Plan a Custom Home or Remodel in Newport Beach
A Newport Beach home deserves a builder who respects the views, the neighbors and the coastal rules as much as the finishes. Tell us about your lot or your house, and we will arrange a private consultation on site. Call Monday to Sunday, 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM.