Pacific Outdoor Living
(818) 275-8271

Outdoor Living Design and Build in Santa Monica, CA

  • 01Preserve
  • 02Design
  • 03Build
Family-owned and operated Serving California since 1999 Trusted experts in native ecology and drought-conscious design

From water-wise front gardens to compact pools and courtyard patios that open straight off the kitchen, our in-house team designs and builds outdoor spaces for Santa Monica homes, from the bungalows of Ocean Park to the larger lots north of Montana.

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Since 1999 - Licensed & insured - 10,000+ projects completed across the Greater Los Angeles Area

25+ years of experience
10,000+ projects completed
In-house design-build crews
Santa Monica Westside Los Angeles service area
5-star 252 Google reviews 432 Yelp reviews

Pacific Outdoor Living Homeowner Stories

Courtyard patio with landscape design and outdoor living space
Verified Google Review

"To show the professionalism of this company, over half a year after the project wrapped we had a concern that some water running off from a gutter drain on our house had washed away some of the front yard side path. Within days, Jorge had a team out here to install a pipe at the end of the gutter drain to redirect water away from it, and filled the path back in. They did this so fast, we never even knew they were here. They didn't have to do that, especially considered the time between the project ending and the issue coming up, but they did."

Justin McLaughlin
  • Post-project service
  • Warranty support
  • Drainage solution
  • Professional follow-up
Read Justin's Full Review
Modern landscape design with drought-tolerant planting and hardscape
Verified Google Review

"Pacific Outdoor Living replaced the original landscaping with drought-tolerant plants, making the yard look like a completely different home. The transformation was stunning and immediately improved our curb appeal. We were thrilled with how they handled the planting design and modern aesthetic choices."

Christian Bailey
  • Drought-tolerant planting
  • Landscape replacement
  • Curb appeal
  • Water-wise design
Read Christian's Full Review
Outdoor living patio with fireplace and comfortable entertaining space
Verified Google Review

"The new backyard living area turned out beautifully, with responsive people throughout and the project completed within the expected time and budget. Their responsiveness and professionalism made the entire process smooth and stress-free. We were impressed by their commitment to staying on schedule and respecting our budget."

Sam Strom
  • Backyard living area
  • Responsive team
  • On time
  • On budget
Read Sam's Full Review
Modern backyard pool with chaise lounges, umbrellas, stepping pads, and manicured greenery
Verified Google Review

"They did exactly what they promised with amazing quality and fast timing. My project manager Khalil was a pleasure to work with, and the team demonstrated exceptional professionalism and craftsmanship."

Lori Nelson
  • Pool and hardscape
  • Pavers, tile, and coping
  • Fast daily progress
  • Project manager Khalil
Read Lori's Full Review
Schedule a Design Consultation

Why Pacific Outdoor Living

Designed Right. Built Right. Coordinated From Start to Finish.

Santa Monica landscapes deserve more than generic improvement. They need a plan that respects the site, mature nature, biodiversity, and the practical realities of construction.

Designers reviewing property plans and 3D renderings with clients on office monitors
01

Permitting Help Built In

Santa Monica is its own city, so plans go to the City of Santa Monica rather than Los Angeles, and properties near the beach can also fall inside the California Coastal Zone. Our permitting department sorts out which reviews apply to your address during the Site Analysis, before anything is drawn around guesswork.

Pacific Outdoor Living showroom material samples arranged in an outdoor display
02

Wholesale Material Advantages

We buy through long-standing supplier relationships and pass our wholesale material pricing through to you rather than marking it up. Bring your short list to our Sun Valley showroom and compare pavers, porcelain, and stone side by side before anything is ordered.

Pacific Outdoor Living in-house team standing together in the company showroom courtyard
03

One Coordinated Process

Design, permits, materials, scheduling, and construction stay with one team from first measurements to final walkthrough. On a tight Santa Monica lot, where deliveries come down an alley or stage at the curb, that sequencing is what keeps the job clean and the neighbors on your side.

Financing consultation helping clients understand payment options for their outdoor project
04

Enjoy Your Dream Space Now. Pay Over Time.

Flexible monthly payment options through our partners Wells Fargo Bank and Lyon Financial let you build the whole plan now instead of breaking a Santa Monica project into years of smaller phases.

Schedule Your Site Analysis See Service Map

Designing for Santa Monica

What to Consider When Planning a Santa Monica Outdoor Space

View through open glass doors to a pale stone dining terrace under umbrellas, with loungers on a raised terrace and a clipped hedge beyond

Ocean Air, Small Lots, and a City That Watches Its Water

Santa Monica sits right on the coast, and that shapes everything outdoors. The marine layer keeps summers mild and mornings gray, salt air works on metal fixtures and furniture, and plants that bake happily in the Valley can sulk here while coastal natives and Mediterranean shrubs thrive.

Lots vary a great deal across the city. Much of Ocean Park is small lots, cottages, and rear alleys, while the blocks north of Montana carry larger parcels and mature street trees. On the smaller lots the patio usually doubles as a living room, so the line between kitchen and yard has to be designed rather than left over.

Santa Monica runs its own permitting, designated landmarks and historic districts have their own review, and parts of the city fall inside the Coastal Zone. We confirm what applies to your parcel first, then plan the garden, hardscape, and any pool around it.

Talk With a Designer Free Guide

Designing for Santa Monica

City Review, Coastal Weather, and Making a Small Lot Work

Santa Monica's own permitting path, its marine climate, and its mix of tight and generous lots all change how an outdoor project here should be planned.

Flagstone steps between boulders rising through a gravel and river-rock front garden of agaves and flax to a white stucco home with a tile roof
01

City of Santa Monica Review

Santa Monica permits its own projects, landmark and historic-district properties go through a separate review, and some parcels sit in the Coastal Zone. We check all three for your address before the design is finalized.

Concrete walkway pads with gravel joints curving into a paver driveway, edged by turf and a bronze-finish path light
02

Marine Layer and Salt Air

Gray mornings, a steady onshore breeze, and salt in the air are part of life here. We specify corrosion-resistant fixtures and hardware and choose plants that do well with cool, damp mornings rather than inland heat.

Paver drive running between a dark-painted house and a block retaining wall, lit by a copper wall lantern and string lights
03

Small Lots and Rear Alleys

Much of the city, Ocean Park especially, is narrow lots served by rear alleys. We plan access, staging, trash and parking areas, and side yards so every foot of the property earns its place.

Close-up of a low, flowering groundcover with a lounge chair blurred in the background
04

Lawn Replacement Done Right

Plenty of Santa Monica owners are trading thirsty lawn for groundcovers, gravel, and low-water planting. We plan grading, soil prep, and drip irrigation so the new landscape establishes well instead of looking sparse for years.

Discuss Your Property

Services for Complete Outdoor Living

One Coordinated Team for the Entire Backyard

Our Santa Monica work can bring planting, hardscape, pools, ponds, patios, kitchens, lighting, and construction details into one cohesive design-build plan.

Flagstone-pattern paver path between clipped shrubs, blue fescue, and red kangaroo paw, leading to a covered wood swing with palms beyond

Coastal Garden Design

Planting plans built for marine-layer mornings and salt air, with shrubs, grasses, and perennials chosen for how they actually perform near the ocean.

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Bed of agave, jade, and echeveria rosettes planted along the edge of a paver walkway

Water-Wise Landscapes

Lawn replacement, succulent and Mediterranean planting, and drip irrigation for a city that takes its water use seriously.

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Raised spa with herringbone-tile walls spilling into a dark-finish pool, bordered by pale concrete decking with grass joints

Pools & Spas for Compact Lots

Spas, plunge pools, and lap-style pools sized to fit a Santa Monica yard with room left over for living.

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Walled courtyard with lounge chairs, ottomans, and an umbrella on a paver patio, planters of red flowers and cordyline, and concrete stepping pads set in river rock

Courtyards & Patios

Walled courtyards and paver or porcelain patios that extend the house outdoors and stay comfortable through cool, gray mornings.

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Compact outdoor kitchen with a built-in grill, stainless doors, and a refrigerator in a plaster island beside a dining table, against a block wall

Outdoor Kitchens

Grill islands and prep counters fitted into tight footprints, with stainless and finishes chosen to hold up to coastal air.

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Curving paver driveway at dusk between white stucco walls with lantern-topped pillars, leading to a Spanish-style home

Landscape Lighting

Low-voltage lighting for entries, steps, and patios, using brass and copper fixtures that weather well this close to the beach.

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Completed backyard with pool, spa, fire pit, and outdoor living space at sunset

Complete Backyard Remodel

Planting, hardscape, pool, kitchen, and lighting designed as one Santa Monica plan and built by one crew, so the yard comes together at once instead of in pieces.

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Our Process

A Clearer Path From Idea to Finished Space

Our proven design-build process turns your goals into a coordinated plan before construction begins, helping reduce uncertainty, avoid costly surprises, and keep the project moving forward.

Step 1 of 5
Step 01: Site Analysis, Pacific Outdoor Living design process 01
Step 01 of 5

Site Analysis

This initial investment helps guarantee your project is Designed Right, Built Right, on time, and on budget. It gives our team the accurate information needed to plan confidently and avoid costly surprises later.

Learn more about Site Analysis
SERVICE AREA

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  • 25+ years of experience
  • In-house crews
  • Complete design-build team
Pacific Outdoor Living Interactive service area
Pacific Outdoor Living service area map Custom interactive map showing Pacific Outdoor Living service areas, focused on Pacific Outdoor Living.

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Nearby Communities

Outdoor Living Services Near Santa Monica

Pacific PalisadesBrentwoodVeniceWestwoodCulver CityMalibu
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Local FAQs

Questions About Planning a Project in Santa Monica

Does Pacific Outdoor Living serve Santa Monica?

Yes. We design and build throughout Santa Monica as part of our Westside service area. The address checker on this page will confirm your exact property.

Is my Santa Monica property in the Coastal Zone?

Some properties are, generally the areas nearest the beach. It depends on your parcel, and it can add a review step for certain exterior work, so we confirm it during the Site Analysis and build it into the schedule.

My home is a designated landmark or sits in a historic district. Can I still remodel the yard?

Usually, yes. Visible exterior changes on a designated property can need review by the city's Landmarks Commission, so we design with the character of the house in mind and prepare drawings with that review in view.

What plants actually do well this close to the ocean?

Coastal natives, Mediterranean shrubs, ornamental grasses, and many succulents handle the marine layer and salt air well, while plants that need summer heat to bloom often disappoint. We build the palette around your exposure, because a yard a few blocks from the sand behaves differently from one farther inland.

What does a backyard remodel cost in Santa Monica?

Lot size, access, the amount of hardscape, and whether a pool or kitchen is involved all move the number. A consultation and Site Analysis give you a budget grounded in your actual property rather than a rough guess. Learn About Financing Options

How do I choose the best landscape design-build company in Santa Monica?

Choose a landscape design-build company that understands how design, construction, and the way you want to live outdoors fit together. Ask to see finished projects, not just renderings, and find out who will actually build what gets drawn. At Pacific Outdoor Living our designers develop the plan and our own in-house crews build it, a process refined over more than 10,000 projects across Greater Los Angeles and the Central Coast since 1999.

What should I look for when hiring a landscape contractor in Santa Monica?

Look beyond price. The best landscape contractor near you is the one with real design expertise, quality craftsmanship, a portfolio of completed projects, clear communication, and a proven process from the first meeting to the final walkthrough. Local experience matters too: a contractor who knows the permitting, soils, and neighborhood character in Santa Monica will plan more accurately.

What permits do I need for a pool or outdoor kitchen in Santa Monica?

Permit requirements in Santa Monica depend on the improvements being proposed. A new pool or spa needs a building permit, and the gas, electrical, and plumbing behind an outdoor kitchen or fire feature, retaining walls, and patio covers commonly need approvals too. Our in-house permitting department maps those requirements during design and typically pulls the permits a project needs, which keeps the plan and the schedule realistic.

Ask About Your Property

Ready to Plan Your Outdoor Space?

Start with a conversation about your property, priorities, and the way you want to live outdoors in Santa Monica.

Schedule a Design Consultation