Santa Barbara is a well-known destination for tourists, making it a great spot for investment. Local attractions include Stearns Wharf, the Santa Barbara Zoological Gardens, the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, and the Santa Barbara Historical Museum. The nearby golf courses are also popular, along with its beaches—particularly for fishing and surfing activities. Additionally, Santa Barabara has numerous wineries that attract wine connoisseurs to visit.

For those who are interested in living close to these places or starting up a business close to an active area, we have created a list of the best construction companies in Santa Barbara. These firms are experienced with building in the area and with collaborating with clients to keep them involved and informed.


Frank Schipper Construction

610 East Cota St. Santa Barbara, CA, 93103

Frank Schipper Construction was created based on the belief that a client-centric business follows the principles of integrity, teamwork, and professionalism. By following these values, the firm can bring value-adding services to clients in the Santa Barbara area. These services include preconstruction, general contracting, and construction management. The clients who typically partner with Frank Schipper Construction are from the health care, arts, education, high tech/clean rooms, commercial interiors, historical renovations, and hospitality sectors.

The Santa Barbara Plaza was a two-phase project that Frank Schipper Construction worked on with architecture firm Paul Poirier & Associates. The first phase required upgrading the building for potential new tenants. The structural upgrades were partnered with new loading docks, rolling doors, and trash enclosures. For the second phase, the firm demolished the existing outdated facade and replaced it with columns, molding, planters, vine racks, and landscaping. The parking lot was redesigned for vehicle and pedestrian safety and improved traffic flow.


Armstrong Associates

1825 State St. Suite 206, Santa Barbara, CA 93101

Armstrong Associates has worked on several projects in the Santa Barbara area for the past 30 years. The team behind these projects are construction professionals with a variety of experiences in the industry—from building and engineering to budget control and scheduling. They provide building, consulting, and construction services to their clients, whether the project is simple or complex in scale.

The Wolf Museum of Exploration + Innovation is a 25,000-square-foot project with a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification. Armstrong Associates worked on creating a space for interactive exhibits. These exhibits are centered on science, technology, engineering, arts, and math.


Young Construction

9 Ashley Ave. Santa Barbara, CA 93103

Young Construction provides clients with project management and other related services. It uses an approach that places importance on quality design, industry standards, and budget and schedule management. To maximize the efficiency of this approach, the team is made of professionals with experience in architectural, civil, electrical, landscape, mechanical, and structural disciplines.

Young Construction is led by brothers Bob Young and Dave Young. The firm was initially founded in Santa Ynez before expanding its operations into Santa Barbara. Bob focuses on the operations and business development aspect for Young Construction, which is why the firm portfolio includes high-end residential and commercial projects. Dave, meanwhile, is in charge of field operations. He uses his background in hands-on construction to oversee the daily field construction through site visits and consistent communication.


Vernon Construction

706 East Haley St. Santa Barbara, CA 93103

Vernon Construction, Inc. is a family-run construction firm based in Santa Barbara. This firm has been in business since 1957 and has seen three generations of contractors. Many of its projects can be found across America; the locations include Malibu, Paso Robles, and Jackson Hole. So far, Vernon Construction’s portfolio features 90 custom residences, 500 multi-family units, and numerous commercial and mixed-use projects.

Mason Beach Hotel is one of Vernon Construction’s commercial projects. It was originally built in 1986 and needed some renovating for the guest rooms and common areas. Partnered with StonePark and Cearnal Collective, the hotel now uses a “beach chic” style.


Allen Construction

201 North Milpas St. Santa Barbara, CA 93103

Allen Construction has served the Santa Barbara area since 1983. Projects in Allen Construction’s portfolio include estates, new homes, remodels, attached dwelling units, and kitchen and baths. The firm has also worked on sustainable and fire rebuilding projects, in part because of founder Dennis Allen’s passion for responsible construction, energy conservation, and sustainability.

The Andalusian Hilltop Estate is a two-acre project. It was built on a ridgetop with views of nearby mountains and the Pacific Ocean. Allen Construction worked on three new custom structures: a 7,635-square-foot home with six bedrooms and seven baths, a 482-square-foot guest home, and a 78-square-foot pool cabana. Other spaces include an outdoor swimming pool and spa, a private putting garden, a bocce court, a personal wine cellar, and multiple terrace stone walls with drought-tolerant landscaping.


DD Ford Construction

303 Palm Ave. Santa Barbara, CA 93101

DD Ford Construction has four specialized departments: new homes and major renovations, remodels, maintenance, and finish carpentry. This type of setup allows the firm to bring focused and detail-oriented services to its clients. These services include general labor, demolition, framing, project supervision, and project management. By having dedicated teams, DD Ford Construction can focus on the finer details of specific parts of a project.

DD Ford Construction salvaged and converted a dilapidated structure in California. This home now features a more efficient interior floor plan, fixed exterior elevations, and a new landscape plan. As the project is located along California’s central coast, DD Ford Construction recreated the home into an oceanfront oasis.


Projects General Construction, Inc

21 E. Carrillo St. Suite 190, Santa Barbara, CA 93101

Projects General Construction, Inc. is a women-owned and operated firm serving the Santa Barbara area. Because the construction industry is traditionally male-oriented, the firm’s employees understand the importance of guaranteeing the quality of their work to earn client trust. The result of this effort is a team experienced in construction and client communication and collaboration. Projects General Construction works closely with clients, from the initial planning stages to the final walkthrough, to keep them informed and involved.

Along East Mission Street, Projects General Construction worked on the second-story addition for a new master suite. The bedroom has a balcony and a new landing at the top of the stairs with built-in storage. These features have distressed birch wood flooring, which matches the rest of the home. Projects General Construction also worked on a “sanctuary” bathroom with Sonoma tiles and a Carrara tub deck next to the shower. On the first floor, there are new leaded glass door cabinets to match the river stone fireplace surround while the home office has a glass-topped desk and file and storage cabinets.


Castle Construction of Santa Barbara

22 West Calle Laureles, Santa Barbara, CA 93105

Castle Construction of Santa Barbara has 25 years of experience in the construction field. The firm’s team understands each job and customer is unique, which requires tailored approaches. This means its projects do not follow pre-made plans or designs. Plans are customized to fit a client’s needs and wants while being able to match their lifestyle. Castle Construction of Santa Barbara has a boutique-style showroom to help clients along the design and decision-making process.

Castle Construction of Santa Barbara specializes in kitchen, bathroom, and whole home remodeling. It offers design, cabinetry, window installation, and renovation services to clients in the Goleta, Mission Canyon, Montecito, Santa Barbara, Summerland, Toro Canyon, Carpinteria, and Hope Ranch areas. The firm can also gather all the necessary working permits required for each project.


Giffin & Crane General Contractors LLC

800 N. Milpas St. Suite A, Santa Barbara, CA 93103

Giffin & Crane General Contractors LLC works to improve the community by providing custom home services. Co-founders Bruce Griffin and Geof Crane have set the firm’s goal to build and remodel homes that match the homeowner in quality and lifestyle. They lead a team of skilled home builders that follow the firm’s core values of valuing high standards and client care. Available services include catering to new home construction, remodeling, commercial space, interior, kitchen, and bathroom-related needs.

Homeowners of a mid-century sea ranch worked with Giffin & Crane General Contractors LLC to update their structure. The firm did a comprehensive remodel while maintaining its distinct design. Some of the work included opening up interior spaces for natural light and repurposing original single-grain planking for the baseboards and cabinetry. The color palette features grays and blues to emulate summer mornings and afternoons.


Leonard Unander Associates, Inc.

1328 De La Vina St. Suite A, Santa Barbara, CA 93101

Having been established in 1977, Leonard Unander Associates, Inc. (LUA) has built homes in several areas. This includes Santa Barbara, Montecito, Hope Ranch, and surrounding areas. Each home built by the firm features high-quality materials, products, and craftsmanship. Clients can avail of preconstruction, construction, post-construction, and green building services. Testimonials have commended the firm’s professionalism, attention to detail, and ability to deliver on its promises.

LUA worked on a Birnam Contemporary residence in the Birnam Wood Community. The home features a minimalistic, sophisticated, and contemporary design. Its features include metal standing seam roofing, custom millwork, and large pocket doors that lead to the exterior living space. The exterior space has an imported travertine patio, a modern pool, a fire pit, and a dining area. LUA worked with the homeowner, Ronald Frink Architects, and Kris Kimpe Landscape Architecture to complete the project.