First Permitted Hempcrete Build in LA County

The
Atwater Village
Project

An architecturally designed ADU in the heart of Atwater Village, Los Angeles. Built with hempcrete -- a carbon-negative, fire-resistant material that has been used for centuries and is now making history in LA County.

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1st
Permitted Hempcrete in LA County
CO2-
Carbon-Negative Lifecycle
Class A
Fire Resistance Rating
600+
Year Material Lifespan
Hempcrete being tamped into wall forms during construction of the Atwater Village ADU
ADU
Atwater Village, LA

The Project

A new precedent for
building in Los Angeles.

The Atwater Village Project is the first hempcrete structure to receive a building permit in Los Angeles County. Located in the creative, tree-lined neighborhood of Atwater Village, this architecturally designed Accessory Dwelling Unit replaces conventional concrete block construction with hempcrete walls -- using the hemp plant's woody inner core mixed with lime binder to create a material that is stronger, healthier, and better for the planet.

This is more than a building. It is a proof of concept for a new way of constructing homes in Southern California -- one that addresses wildfire resilience, carbon emissions, and indoor air quality in a single material system.

Location
Atwater Village, Los Angeles
Building Type
Accessory Dwelling Unit
Structure
Hempcrete Walls
Milestone
First Permitted in LA County

The Build

From hemp to home,
built by hand.

Interior hempcrete ADU with exposed timber framing
Workers installing hempcrete with skylights above
Close-up hempcrete wall texture
Exterior of the Atwater Village hempcrete ADU
Builder tamping hempcrete into wall forms
Interior construction with hempcrete walls

Why Hempcrete

Six reasons hempcrete is the
future of building.

Every material choice in The Atwater Village Project was deliberate. Hempcrete delivers performance that conventional materials simply cannot match.

Fire Resistant

Hempcrete is non-combustible and self-extinguishing. It chars rather than burns, slowing fire spread and producing no toxic fumes. Tested and proven to withstand direct flame for over 2 hours.

Class AHighest fire rating for building materials

Carbon Negative

Hemp absorbs 8-15 tonnes of CO2 per hectare during growth. The finished hempcrete wall continues to sequester carbon over its lifetime as the lime mineralizes, locking in approximately 165kg of CO2 per cubic meter.

-165kgNet CO2 sequestered per cubic meter

Breathable Walls

Unlike sealed conventional walls, hempcrete actively regulates humidity -- absorbing excess moisture and releasing it as conditions change. This creates naturally balanced indoor air and eliminates conditions where mold can grow.

40-70%Optimal humidity maintained naturally

Gets Stronger Over Time

The lime binder in hempcrete continues to petrify and carbonate for decades after construction. Unlike concrete, which degrades, hempcrete walls become harder and more durable as they age.

600+Year proven material lifespan

Superior Insulation

Hempcrete provides consistent thermal performance with an R-value of approximately R-2 per inch. But its real advantage is thermal mass -- it buffers temperature swings, reducing HVAC demand dramatically.

R-2+Per inch of insulation value

Pest & Mold Proof

The alkaline lime environment in hempcrete is naturally hostile to mold, mildew, insects, and rodents. No chemical treatments required. The wall itself is the pest management system.

ZeroChemical treatments needed

Built for LA

After the fires,
a better way to rebuild.

Los Angeles County's recent wildfire devastation has forced a reckoning with how we build. As fire codes tighten and rebuilding regulations expand in 2026, hempcrete offers a material that doesn't just meet the new standards -- it exceeds them by a wide margin.

The Atwater Village Project demonstrates that fire-resistant, sustainable construction is not a future ideal. It is being built right now, right here in LA.

Hempcrete doesn't just resist fire. It resists the entire cycle of build-burn-rebuild that has defined construction in fire-prone regions for too long.

Harry Hemp, Hemp Homes by Harry
2hr+
Fire resistance duration
Zero
Toxic fumes when exposed
Self
Extinguishing material
2026
Expanded LA fire codes

Carbon Footprint Comparison

+47kg
Fiberglass
Insulation
+38kg
Concrete
Block
-10kg
Hempcrete
Wall
CO2 equivalent per square meter of wall. Hempcrete is the only building material with a negative carbon footprint.

Sustainability

The only building material that
absorbs more CO2 than it creates.

Hemp grows to full maturity in just four months, absorbing 8 to 15 tonnes of CO2 per hectare -- more than any commercial crop and more than most forests. Once mixed with lime and placed in walls, hempcrete continues to sequester carbon for decades as the lime carbonates.

The result is a building material with a negative carbon lifecycle. The Atwater Village Project will lock away more CO2 than was produced to build it. Every hempcrete wall is a small act of atmospheric repair.

CO2 Absorbed by Hemp
8-15 tonnes per hectare
Growth Cycle
4 months to maturity
Pesticides Required
None -- naturally resistant
Material Weight vs. Concrete
1/8th the weight

Get Started

Ready to build with
hempcrete?

Whether you're an architect, builder, or homeowner considering hempcrete for your next project, Harry can help. Book a free consultation to learn how hempcrete could work for your build.

Text Harry Email Harry

(717) 317-4382  |  heyharry@hemphomes.com