Service Area
General Contractor Serving the San Francisco Bay Area
Otto and Sons Construction is a licensed California general contractor based in Antioch, Contra Costa County. We build throughout the East Bay and greater Bay Area, from Fremont to Concord to San Ramon, handling the permits, the inspections, and the work itself.
Our home base is Antioch, which puts us in the middle of Contra Costa County. We work regularly in Concord, Walnut Creek, Pleasant Hill, Lafayette, Orinda, and the Tri-Valley cities -- Dublin, San Ramon, Pleasanton, and Livermore. On the Alameda County side we take on projects in Oakland, Fremont, Hayward, and Union City. The Bay Area has one of the densest concentrations of mid-century housing in California. Much of what we do is bringing 1950s and 1960s homes up to what owners and buyers expect today -- a kitchen that matches the square footage of the house, a bathroom addition to a three-bed-one-bath, or a full structural remodel. We work with Alani directly, and so do you.
What We Build in San Francisco Bay Area
Kitchen and Bathroom Remodels
Most East Bay homes from the 1950s and 1960s were built with small, compartmentalized kitchens and single bathrooms. We open walls, relocate plumbing, and rebuild these spaces to current function and current code. We handle structural work if load-bearing walls are involved.
Room Additions and ADUs
California law has significantly expanded ADU rights over the past several years. Whether you are adding a detached unit, converting a garage, or building a room addition over an existing foundation, we manage design coordination, permit submittals across the relevant city or county department, and construction through final inspection.
Full Home Remodels
Many mid-century homes in Concord, Walnut Creek, and Pleasant Hill need more than one updated room. We take on whole-house remodels that address the layout, the envelope, the electrical panel, and the finishes in one permitted scope of work rather than a series of disconnected projects.
Commercial Tenant Improvements
We build out office, retail, and light industrial spaces across the Bay Area. We are familiar with the ADA access requirements, fire separation rules, and mechanical coordination that tenant improvement permits require in cities like Fremont, Oakland, and Pleasanton.
Concrete and Foundation Work
Given the seismic exposure in this region, foundations are not an afterthought. We pour slabs, repair cracked foundations, and perform cripple-wall bracing as a standalone scope or as part of a larger remodel. We work to the current CBC seismic provisions on every foundation job.
Building in San Francisco Bay Area
The Bay Area sits on one of the most active seismic systems in the country. The Hayward Fault runs directly under Oakland, San Leandro, and Berkeley. The Concord Fault traces through central Contra Costa County and is capable of producing a magnitude 6.7 earthquake; researchers have recently confirmed its active trace runs beneath urban Concord neighborhoods, not just alongside them. When we open walls or pour new footings, we design to current CBC seismic requirements, not just the minimum that gets a permit stamped. Parts of Oakland, Alameda, and the bay-fill areas of Fremont sit on liquefiable soils, which means foundation decisions are not one-size-fits-all. We pull soil reports when the site warrants it and we build accordingly. On the permit side, the Bay Area has no single building authority. Unincorporated Contra Costa County runs permits through the county Building and Planning Department in Martinez. Incorporated cities -- Concord, Walnut Creek, Pleasanton, Fremont, Dublin, San Ramon -- each run their own departments with their own submittal checklists and review queues. A residential addition in Dublin carries a roughly 10-business-day plan review for most projects, with over-the-counter review available for single-story additions under 500 square feet. For unincorporated Contra Costa County, a complete residential addition submittal typically runs 6 to 14 weeks through plan check depending on project complexity; incomplete submittals are the leading cause of delay. As a licensed GC we manage the submittal, respond to correction letters, schedule inspections, and track the permit through to final. All projects with permit applications submitted on or after January 1, 2026 must comply with the 2025 California Building Code and the 2025 Title 24 energy standards. Key changes for residential work include: wall insulation minimums increased (R-15 for 2x4 framing, R-21 for 2x6 framing); R-6 minimum duct insulation on all supply and return ducts; duct leakage tightened to 5 percent maximum; and heat pump systems are now prescriptively required for both space and water heating in new single-family construction and ADUs. We design every job to current code from the start so there are no surprises at inspection.
Cities We Serve
San Francisco Bay Area Construction FAQ
Do I need a permit for a kitchen remodel in Walnut Creek or Concord?
Yes, in most cases. Any work involving electrical, plumbing, or structural changes requires a permit. In incorporated cities like Walnut Creek and Concord, permits are pulled through the city's building department. We handle the application, plan set, and inspections as part of our contract.
How long does a permit take in Contra Costa County versus Alameda County cities?
For unincorporated Contra Costa County, plan review on a residential addition typically runs 6 to 14 weeks from a complete submittal. Incomplete submittals -- missing structural calculations, energy compliance documentation, or accurate setback information -- are the leading cause of that timeline stretching. Cities vary: Dublin runs about 10 business days for most residential additions and offers over-the-counter review for single-story additions under 500 square feet. We track your permit from day one and respond to any correction requests promptly so nothing sits.
My 1960s East Bay home has a soft story or cripple wall. Does that affect a remodel?
It can. When we open walls or touch the foundation, we look at what is there. Older East Bay homes on the Hayward or Concord fault corridors often have unreinforced cripple walls or minimal anchor bolts. If we find a deficiency, we tell you what it costs to address it. Ignoring it and closing the wall back up is not how we work.
Does Otto and Sons work in San Francisco or just the East Bay?
We are based in Antioch and most of our work is in Contra Costa and Alameda Counties. We do take select projects in San Francisco and across the broader Bay Area. Call us at (925) 435-4516 and we can tell you quickly whether the project is a fit.
What does the 2025 California Building Code change for my remodel?
For permits submitted on or after January 1, 2026, the 2025 California Building Code and 2025 Title 24 energy standards apply. For residential remodels and new construction the main changes are: wall insulation minimums increased to R-15 for 2x4 framing and R-21 for 2x6 framing; all supply and return ducts must be insulated to at least R-6; duct leakage is now capped at 5 percent; and new single-family construction and ADUs must use heat pump systems for both space and water heating. We design your scope to current code from the start so there are no surprises at inspection.
Are you licensed and insured for Bay Area work?
Yes. CSLB License #1104751, active. We carry $1 million in general liability and full workers' compensation. You can verify the license directly at the CSLB website. Our BuildZoom score is 114, which puts us in the top 2 percent of California contractors.
Serving San Francisco Bay Area
Based in Antioch, building throughout the Bay Area. Call (925) 435-4516 or email alani@ottoandsonsco.com to talk through your project.