Redondo Beach Zoning and ADU Guide for Homeowners

Last updated November 13, 2026. Reviewed by the Cash Home Buyers CA team.

Redondo Beach regulates accessory dwelling units in its residential zoning code, and the city’s planning page points to ADU Ordinance No. 3264-23 as the current ordinance. This guide summarizes the city’s ADU standards as published on its planning page and in the municipal code, explains the difference between streamlined and other ADUs, and covers what to do if you own a home with a converted garage or older unpermitted unit.

Redondo Beach ADUs at a glance

Current ordinance	ADU Ordinance No. 3264-23, linked from the city’s ADU page
Junior ADU	Entirely within a single-family home, no larger than 500 square feet
Streamlined detached new unit (single-family)	Up to 800 square feet, at least 4 feet from side and rear lines, 16 feet high (18 feet near transit)
Other ADUs	One per lot, 4-foot side and rear setbacks, living area limits of 850 square feet for a studio or one bedroom and 1,000 square feet for more than one bedroom (code text)
Two-family or multifamily	Up to two detached ADUs per lot, plus conversions of unused space up to 25 percent of existing units, with at least one allowed
Impact fees	None on an ADU under 750 square feet (code text)
Rentals	The city says rentals under 30 days are not allowed

Streamlined ADUs

The city’s page describes four streamlined categories. For a single-family lot, a unit within existing space, or within an existing accessory structure with an addition of no more than 150 square feet for access, qualifies, as does a new detached unit of up to 800 square feet.

For two-family and multifamily lots, the page lists conversions of unused livable space and new detached units with setback and height limits, with up to two detached units per lot.

The code text adds that a streamlined detached unit must sit at least 4 feet from the side and rear lot lines and may not exceed 16 feet in height, with two extra feet allowed to match the main roof pitch.

Other ADUs

ADUs that do not meet the streamlined tests are limited to one per lot. The code requires side and rear setbacks of at least 4 feet and a minimum of 5 feet between a dwelling and an accessory structure.

Height is 16 feet, 18 feet near transit or for a detached unit beside a multistory multifamily building, and up to 25 feet or the main home’s limit for an attached unit not over two stories.

Living area is capped at 850 square feet for a studio or one-bedroom unit and 1,000 square feet for larger units, and limits based on lot coverage or similar rules cannot push a unit below 800 square feet. The minimum is 150 square feet.

Coastal and local issues

The city’s page says a detached ADU must keep at least a 4-foot setback unless a coastal resource constraint dictates otherwise. Parts of Redondo Beach lie in the coastal zone, so ask Planning whether your lot needs a coastal review. The code also sets a minimum 20-foot setback between detached dwelling units on the same lot, which can affect backyard planning for lots with an existing second home.

How to start

1. Confirm your zone

Ask the city which residential zone applies and whether your lot is in the coastal zone.

2. Read the current ordinance

Use the city’s ADU page and Ordinance No. 3264-23, and confirm any later amendments with Planning before you pay for drawings.

3. Plan check

Plans go through the Building Division. See our Redondo Beach permits guide for how plan check and inspections work.

4. Know the enforcement side

The city lists garages converted without permits as a code enforcement issue. Our code enforcement guide explains how cases proceed.

State ADU law and Redondo Beach

California’s ADU statute, Government Code section 66314 and following, sets a floor that every city must follow, and local ordinances fill in the details.

The state requires ministerial review within 60 days of a complete application, bars a city from requiring more than a limited set of standards, and generally allows an ADU or conversion inside existing space without added setbacks.

The California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) publishes a handbook and keeps a list of the state requirements. Because state law changes often, treat the city’s current ordinance and handout as the final word on size, height, parking and fees for your lot.

ADUs, garage conversions and selling a Redondo Beach house

Many older homes have a converted garage or a backyard unit built without permits. Buyers and lenders ask about them, and California sellers generally disclose known unpermitted work. Our guide to selling as-is with unpermitted work explains the rules, and our Prop 13 guide explains how new construction can affect property tax. Before you list:

• Check city records for permits on any ADU, conversion or addition.
• Ask Planning whether the structure could qualify under current rules.
• Estimate plans, fees and corrections needed to legalize it.
• Compare that with selling as-is and letting a cash buyer take on the legalization.

Questions to ask Planning before you design

• Does my lot and zone allow an ADU, a junior ADU, or both?
• Is a pre-approved or pre-reviewed ADU plan available?
• What are the current impact, utility and school fees for the size I am considering?
• Can my existing garage or accessory structure be converted without changing its footprint?
• Are there fire, slope, easement or utility constraints on my lot?

Junior ADUs and garage conversions in more detail

State law treats a junior ADU as a unit of up to 500 square feet created inside the walls of an existing or proposed single-family home, with an efficiency kitchen and a recorded restriction that keeps it from being sold apart from the house.

A garage conversion is a different path: the unit replaces the garage, and state law generally does not require the city to demand replacement parking. Both are common sources of unpermitted space in older Redondo Beach neighborhoods, which is why buyers’ agents and appraisers ask for the permit record.

If a conversion was done without a permit, the usual fix is to submit as-built drawings, pay the fees and pass inspection, which can take months and cost real money.

Fees, utilities and property tax

State law limits the impact fees a city can charge on smaller ADUs and on conversions of existing space, and it limits when a separate utility connection can be required.

Larger new units can still carry impact fees, school fees and water or sewer connection charges, so ask for an itemized estimate before you commit to plans. New construction is generally reassessed for property tax under Prop 13, which means an ADU can raise the bill for the whole property. Our Prop 13 guide explains how reassessment works.

Why ADUs matter for resale

A permitted ADU can add rental income and appeal for some buyers, but an unpermitted one can complicate financing and appraisal. Lenders typically want permitted living area, and an appraiser may not count unpermitted space.

Because an ADU generally cannot be sold separately from the main home, its value comes through the sale of the whole property.

If you inherited a house with an old backyard unit, or bought one with a converted garage, check what the city has on file before you decide how to sell. Our probate home sale guide covers inherited property.

How to sell a house in Redondo Beach

1. Check which structures on the property are permitted ADUs, conversions or unpermitted.
2. Collect permits, plans and any city notices.
3. Request a no-obligation cash offer for the house as it stands.
4. Choose your closing date.
5. Close with no legalization, repairs or showings required.

See also our Redondo Beach page and the Los Angeles County hub.

Frequently asked questions

Does Redondo Beach allow ADUs?

Yes. The city says ADUs are allowed with proper approvals and building permits.

What is the size limit for a streamlined detached ADU?

For a new detached unit on a single-family lot, the city’s page lists up to 800 square feet.

How big can a junior ADU be?

A junior ADU must be entirely within a single-family home and no larger than 500 square feet.

Can I rent my ADU short term?

The city says rentals of less than 30 days are not allowed.

Are impact fees charged on small ADUs?

The code text says no impact fees apply to an ADU under 750 square feet. Confirm current fees with the city.

Can I sell a Redondo Beach house with an unpermitted ADU or garage conversion?

Yes. You can disclose it and sell as-is, including to a cash buyer. Our statewide guide explains the disclosure rules.

More guides

• We Buy Houses in Redondo Beach
• We Buy Houses in Los Angeles County
• Los Angeles County Property Tax Guide
• Redondo Beach Building Permits Guide
• Redondo Beach Code Enforcement Guide
• All California Guides

Sources

• City of Redondo Beach: Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU)
• Redondo Beach Municipal Code: Residential Zones (ADU standards)
• California HCD: Accessory Dwelling Units

This guide is general information from public sources, not legal advice. Confirm current rules, fees and hours with the city.