Home Services in Los Angeles

LA plumbers charge $175–$500 for standard jobs like leak repairs or drain cleaning. Emergency or after-hours calls add $100–$200. Water heater replacement runs $1,000–$2,500. Sewer line repair or replacement (common in older LA neighborhoods) runs $3,000–$10,000. Prices are higher than the national average due to California licensing requirements and cost of living.

Yes. California requires a Contractors State License Board (CSLB) license for any work over $500 including labor and materials. You can verify licenses at cslb.ca.gov. California has some of the strictest contractor licensing laws in the country. Hiring unlicensed contractors can result in fines and voids your ability to file complaints through the CSLB.

Possibly. The City of LA has a mandatory seismic retrofit ordinance for soft-story buildings (apartments and condos built before 1978 with tuck-under parking). Single-family homes aren't required to retrofit, but it's strongly recommended — especially pre-1940 homes without foundation bolting. Costs range from $3,000–$10,000 for basic foundation bolting to $20,000+ for soft-story retrofitting. Some homeowners qualify for FEMA or state rebate programs.

Both work well in LA's massive market. Angi tends to have more established companies with verified reviews. Angi is excellent for getting fast quotes from independent pros, especially for smaller jobs. Given LA's size, also check neighborhood-specific recommendations on Nextdoor. We recommend getting quotes from both platforms.

Basic xeriscaping (removing lawn, adding drought-tolerant plants and mulch) costs $3,000–$8,000 for a typical LA yard. Artificial turf runs $8–$15 per square foot installed. LA's Metropolitan Water District offers rebates of $2–$3 per square foot for removing grass through the Cash for Grass program. Native California gardens require 60–80% less water than traditional lawns.