California ADU rules · Los Angeles County
Can I Build an ADU in Redondo Beach?
Yes — you can build an ADU in Redondo Beach. California's statewide ADU law requires every city, including Redondo Beach, to approve a qualifying accessory dwelling unit by right, plus a junior ADU (JADU) on a single-family lot. What varies city to city are the local specifics below.
Can you build one?
ADUs allowed
CA state lawYes — by right
ADUs and JADUs are allowed by right in all residential and mixed-use zones; ministerial approval, no hearing.
Units on a single-family lot
CA state law1 ADU + 1 JADU
At least one ADU and one JADU per single-family lot (a conversion ADU may also be possible).
Units on a multifamily lot
Local ruleconversions (>=1 or 25% of units) + up to 2 detached
City limits detached ADUs on multifamily lots to 2 per lot.
Junior ADU (JADU)
CA state lawAllowed
Up to 500 sq ft, within the walls of an existing single-family home (single-family lots only).
Size & height
Max detached ADU size
Local rule1,000 sq ft
Detached ADUs: 850 sq ft (studio/1-bed), 1,000 sq ft (2+ beds); city cannot reduce below 800 sq ft if all other standards are met.
Max attached ADU size
Local rule850 (studio/1-bed), 1,000 (2+ beds), not less than 800; may use % of primary but not below state minimums
Same size limits as detached; percentage rule cannot reduce below state minimums.
Guaranteed minimum size
CA state law800 sq ft
An 800 sq ft ADU must be allowed regardless of FAR/lot-coverage caps; a city also cannot cap an attached ADU below 850 sq ft (1,000 for 2+ bedrooms).
Max JADU size
CA state law500 sq ft
Max height
CA state law16 ft
16 ft baseline; cities must allow 18 ft within ½ mi of a major transit stop or where the primary dwelling is two-story, and 20 ft on a lot with a multistory multifamily building.
Setbacks
Side setback
CA state law4 ft
A city cannot require more than 4 ft side or rear setback; conversions of existing structures are exempt.
Rear setback
CA state law4 ft
Front setback
CA state lawNo front setback may block the mandatory 800 sq ft / 16-ft / 4-ft-setback ADU; otherwise per base zone
Separation from main house
Local rule5 ft
5 ft required between dwelling and accessory structure unless fire-rated per Building Code.
Parking
Parking required
Local ruleUp to 1 space
1 off-street space per ADU; exemptions for transit, conversions, historic, car share proximity.
Transit parking exemption
CA state lawYes — no parking required near transit & for conversions
No parking may be required within ½ mi walking distance of transit, in a historic district, for an ADU within an existing structure, within one block of car-share, or in certain permit-parking areas.
Garage-conversion replacement parking
Local ruleRequired
Replacement off-street parking required unless remaining parking meets minimum for primary structure(s).
Approval, timeline & cost
Approval path
CA state lawMinisterial (by right)
No public hearing or discretionary design review for a qualifying ADU.
Approval timeline
CA state law60 days
The agency must act within 60 days of a complete application — and the ADU is deemed approved if it does not.
Owner-occupancy
Local ruleOnly for a JADU
Local code recites an owner-occupancy requirement, but California Gov. Code § 66315 bars owner-occupancy requirements for ADUs — enforceable for JADUs only. Verify the JADU covenant with the city.
Impact-fee waiver
CA state lawWaived under 750 sq ft
An ADU of 750 sq ft or less pays no impact fees (the 750 sq ft threshold itself is exempt under § 66311.5); larger ADUs pay fees proportional to the primary dwelling. JADUs (≤ 500 sq ft) are exempt.
Permits required
CA state lawBuilding permit
Only a ministerial building permit — no conditional use permit or discretionary design review for a qualifying ADU.
Redondo Beach-specific factors that can change the answer
State law sets the floor, but these local conditions often decide whether a specific parcel works.
Coastal Zone
ADUs in the coastal zone must comply with the Local Coastal Program for setbacks and fire rating.
Historic Preservation
ADUs subject to Preservation Ordinance (Chapter 10-4) and Mills Act contracts.
Fire (VHFHSZ)
No sprinklers required for ADUs unless required for the primary dwelling.
Redondo Beach caps detached and attached ADUs at 1,000 sq ft (2+ beds) and 850 sq ft (studio/1-bed), limits multifamily lots to 2 detached ADUs, and will require owner-occupancy for new ADUs in single-family zones after Jan 1, 2025. Coastal, historic, and fire zone overlays may further restrict ADUs.
Frequently asked questions
Can I build an ADU in Redondo Beach?
Yes. California's statewide ADU law requires Redondo Beach to approve a qualifying accessory dwelling unit ministerial (by right), plus a junior ADU (JADU) on a single-family lot.
How big can an ADU be in Redondo Beach?
A detached ADU of at least 1,000 sq ft must be allowed, and an ADU of 800 sq ft can never be zoned out by floor-area or lot-coverage limits. A JADU can be up to 500 sq ft.
What are the setback requirements for an ADU in Redondo Beach?
Side and rear setbacks are limited to 4 ft. No front setback may block the mandatory 800 sq ft / 16-ft / 4-ft-setback ADU; otherwise per base zone.
Is parking required for an ADU in Redondo Beach?
Up to 1 space. No parking can be required within ½ mile of transit, for conversions, or for units inside the primary home. When a garage is converted, replacement parking is required.
How long does ADU approval take in Redondo Beach?
A complete application must be acted on within 60 days, with ministerial (by right) — no public hearing or discretionary design review for a qualifying ADU.
Do I have to live on the property to build an ADU in Redondo Beach?
Owner-occupancy: only for a jadu. ADUs under 750 sq ft are also exempt from impact fees.
Sources
- RBMC § 10-5.1506 (Ord. 3253-23 c.s., eff. 4/20/2023)
- RBMC § 10-5.1506(b)(4), (b)(5)
- RBMC § 10-5.1506(b)(5), (b)(6)
- RBMC § 10-5.1506(b)(b), (b)(g)
- RBMC § 10-5.1506(b)(8)
- RBMC § 10-5.1506(b)(10)
- RBMC § 10-5.1506(b)(e)(6)
- RBMC § 10-5.1506(b)(f)
- RBMC § 10-5.1506(b)(g)
- Cal. Gov. Code §§ 66310–66342 (ADU Law)
- HCD 2025 Accessory Dwelling Unit Handbook
- Cal. Gov. Code § 66317 (ministerial approval, 60-day deadline)
- Cal. Gov. Code § 66323 (by-right ADU/JADU, 800 sq ft, 4-ft setbacks)
- Cal. Gov. Code § 66333 (junior ADUs)
- Cal. Gov. Code § 66321 (size minimums & height)
- Cal. Gov. Code § 66322 (ADU parking; § 66334 covers JADU parking)
- Cal. Gov. Code § 66311.5 (impact fees: none for an ADU ≤ 750 sq ft or JADU ≤ 500 sq ft)
Last updated 2026-06-25. This is an AI-assisted summary of Redondo Beach's ADU rules, drawn from its published ordinance and California ADU law — general information, not legal advice, and it may be incomplete or out of date. Verify the controlling rule for your specific parcel with Redondo Beach Planning before relying on it.
Will an ADU work on your Redondo Beach lot?
Ask GoCodebook about your address and get the size, setback, parking and permit rules that actually apply to your parcel — with the exact citation.
Check my parcel free