Frequently Asked Questions · Lafayette, CA · CSLB #580756
Answers to the Questions Lafayette Homeowners Ask Before Hiring Rhino Builders
Project scope, service area, crew size, CSLB license, and the ADU–JADU distinction — all answered directly.
Company & Credentials
Company and Credentials
Rhino Builders is a licensed, verifiable California contractor with 37 years of active work in the Bay Area. You can confirm a contractor’s license status yourself in under two minutes at cslb.ca.gov — before you ever pick up the phone.
Yes. Rhino Builders holds CSLB License 580756. California’s contractor licensing system is administered by the Contractors State License Board (CSLB), which confirms that a contractor is bonded, carries required insurance, and is legally authorized to pull building permits in California. You can verify license 580756 directly at cslb.ca.gov at any time.
Rhino Builders was founded in 1989 by Mac Tarlton and has been active in the Bay Area for 37 years. Ownership has remained within the same family structure since Shay and Mor Zilber took over the company from Mac.
Shay Zilber serves as CEO, and Mor Perets Zilber is the Owner. They are married and run the company together. Shay leads operations, and Mor oversees company direction and client relationships.
Rhino Builders has 30 crew members. That number matters for project scheduling — it means Rhino can staff multiple active builds at the same time without one project waiting on another to finish.
Project Scope
Project Scope and Minimum Size
Rhino Builders focuses on large-scale residential construction — not small updates or cosmetic repairs.
Rhino Builders focuses on large-scale residential construction: ADU builds, custom homes built from the ground up, room additions, home extensions, full home renovations, full house remodels, structural kitchen and bathroom reconfigurations, pool construction, deck construction, and custom outdoor patio projects. These are projects that require full construction permitting and involve structural, mechanical, or site-prep work.
No. Minor cosmetic updates — tile swaps, fixture replacements, paint, cabinet refacing — fall outside the scope of work Rhino takes on. If your bathroom or kitchen project involves moving walls, relocating plumbing or electrical systems, expanding square footage, or reconfiguring the floor plan, that is the right conversation to have with Rhino.
There is no hard square-footage minimum, but the right question is really about scope. Rhino focuses on projects that require full construction permits, involve structural work, or add living space to a property. An ADU, a room addition, a JADU conversion, or a full-gut renovation qualifies. A single-room cosmetic refresh does not.
ADU & Build Process
ADU and Build Process
Rhino Builders manages the full construction sequence — design coordination, permits, site work, and build — under one contract.
Rhino Builders operates as an end-to-end project management contractor — a delivery model where Rhino handles design coordination, permit filing, site preparation, construction, and final inspection under one contract. The homeowner does not manage permit submissions or coordinate separate trades independently.
A JADU is capped at 500 square feet and must be carved out of space that already exists inside the primary home’s footprint — no new exterior structure is added. Owner-occupancy of the main residence is required. A full ADU has no square footage cap below 1,200 square feet under California state law and can be built as a detached structure, an attached addition, or a garage conversion — it does not need to share walls with the primary home, and owner-occupancy rules differ depending on jurisdiction and project type. The permit process, utility connection requirements, and deed restrictions that apply to each unit type are distinct. Rhino builds both, and the first step on any inquiry is confirming which unit type fits your lot and your goals.
Rhino coordinates the design process as part of the project. You work with one point of contact rather than managing a separate architect relationship alongside a construction contract. The design phase, permit drawings, and build are sequenced together under Rhino’s project management structure.
With a 30-person crew, Rhino can run multiple active projects simultaneously. Rhino’s staffing model means your project gets crew attention on a parallel track — not a waiting list.
Service Area & Scheduling
Service Area and Scheduling
Rhino Builders serves the full San Francisco Bay Area — not just Lafayette.
Rhino Builders’ Bay Area service area covers the full San Francisco Bay Area. The Lafayette office at 3685 Mount Diablo Blvd is the company’s home base, but active project locations include Orinda, Oakland, Pleasant Hill, and surrounding cities across the region. If you are outside Contra Costa County, reach out directly and confirm your city is within Rhino’s current project range.
The project intake process starts with a phone call or contact form submission. You will describe your project type, location, and general scope. Because Rhino focuses on large-scale residential work, that first conversation helps confirm alignment before a site visit is scheduled. Call 925-233-0109 or email office@rhinobuilders1989.com.
The earlier, the better — especially for projects that involve permit applications. ADU permits in Contra Costa County can take weeks to months depending on project complexity and current review volume. Contacting Rhino early in your planning process means permit timelines do not compress your construction window. For custom homes and large additions, the pre-construction phase alone — design, engineering, permits — can run several months before a shovel moves.
Next Steps
Fourteen Questions Answered — Now the Conversation Is About You
Every answer here comes directly from Rhino Builders’ actual operations. CSLB license 580756 is publicly verifiable, and the 37-year history, Zilber ownership, 30-person crew, and large-scale project focus are confirmed company facts.
Ready to talk about what you want to build? The first conversation is a scope conversation — bring your project type and location, and the Rhino team takes it from there.
3685 Mount Diablo Blvd #161, Lafayette, CA 94549