Sebastopol General Contractor
West county building is its own discipline. Most parcels here run on well and septic, many sit outside city limits, and the owners tend to care a great deal about how a house performs, not just how it looks.
Quick Answer
Howard Construction Inc. is a family-owned Class B general contractor serving Sebastopol and west Sonoma County, CSLB license #836369, building since 2000.
We build custom homes, additions, ADUs and remodels throughout Sebastopol, Graton, Forestville and Occidental. Owner Philip Howard is on every job site. Free written estimates: (707) 578-6565.
What building in west county involves
- Well and septic. Most rural west county parcels are unserviced. Adding a bedroom typically triggers an Environmental Health evaluation and sometimes an expanded leach field, $15,000–$55,000. This belongs at the beginning of a project, not after design.
- Permit Sonoma, not a city. Graton, Forestville, Occidental and most land outside Sebastopol's boundary are unincorporated. Review runs 4–12 weeks and often layers in fire-access and septic review.
- Laguna de Santa Rosa floodplain. Parcels along the Laguna may carry elevation and flood-resistant construction requirements.
- Access. Long gravel drives and narrow lanes are common. Delivery trucks and concrete pumps have to physically get there, which is worth confirming before anything is ordered.
- Protected trees. Oaks and heritage trees are protected across much of the county; removal or work within the dripline may need a permit and mitigation planting.
- Older rural housing stock. Farmhouses and cabins here frequently carry unpermitted additions from decades past, which surface during permitting and at resale.
West county owners tend to ask better questions about performance. If you want a genuinely efficient envelope, heat-pump systems, solar with storage, or a build that will hold up without a lot of maintenance, say so at the estimate stage. Those decisions belong in the design, not bolted on at the end.
What we build in Sebastopol
| Service | 2026 range | Guide |
|---|---|---|
| Custom homes | $400–$850/sq ft | Custom home building → |
| Home additions | $350–$700/sq ft | Read → |
| ADUs | $180,000–$420,000 | Read → |
| Garage conversions | $120,000–$220,000 | Read → |
| Kitchen remodels | $45,000–$180,000 | Read → |
| Decks & pergolas | $45–$110/sq ft | Read → |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who issues building permits in Sebastopol?
The City of Sebastopol issues permits inside city limits, with review typically running 4 to 9 weeks. Graton, Forestville, Occidental and most rural land nearby are unincorporated and go through Permit Sonoma instead, which usually takes 4 to 12 weeks and often adds septic and fire-access review.
Can I add a bedroom to a house on septic in west county?
Usually yes, but adding a bedroom typically triggers an Environmental Health evaluation of the existing septic system, and sometimes an expanded leach field costing $15,000 to $55,000. This should be established before design work begins, because septic capacity can determine how large an addition is feasible.
What happens if my rural property has unpermitted additions?
Unpermitted work is common on older west county properties and is resolvable. The usual path is a records search at the building department, an assessment of what exists, then a retroactive permit application with as-built drawings. Verification often means opening walls, and total cost typically runs two to four times what permitting originally would have.
Do you build energy-efficient and solar-ready homes in Sebastopol?
Yes. All new California homes must meet Title 24 energy requirements, and new detached ADUs and new homes are subject to the state solar mandate. Beyond the minimum, we regularly build high-performance envelopes, heat-pump heating and hot water, and solar with battery storage, which is common for west county owners.
Related
Building in west county?
Phil will check your septic feasibility, access, well and jurisdiction before you spend anything on design. Free site visit and a written estimate.
Get Your Free Estimate →