Every ADU Service We Offer in Santa Monica

Picking the Right ADU Type for Your Santa Monica Lot

What kind of unit to build comes first, and the property usually makes that call for you. A deep lot north of Montana can take a two-bedroom backyard cottage. A narrow Ocean Park parcel points toward building over the garage. A small Sunset Park house with an old garage out back is a natural conversion. A duplex in Wilshire Montana or an apartment building in Mid-City falls under the multifamily rules.

We look at the lot, the existing buildings, the alley, the utilities and your goal before recommending a type. Sometimes the answer is more than one unit, phased over several years, since the city lets several ADU types share a single-family parcel.

ADU Design, Permits and Construction Under One Contract

Splitting an ADU between a designer, an expediter and a contractor works, but it puts the owner in the middle when something goes wrong. When the same team draws the plans, gets the permit and builds the unit, the drawings are made to be built and the field crew knows why each detail is there.

You can still hire us for one piece. Some owners come with plans in hand and need a builder. Others want design and permits only. Every service below can stand alone or be combined.

• Site review and feasibility
• Design and engineering
• City or LADBS permits
• Site work and utilities
• Construction through final inspection

Santa Monica ADU Rules That Shape Every Service

A few local facts run through every service we offer. ADU approval in Santa Monica is ministerial under Municipal Code Section 9.31.025, so a compliant project needs a building permit and no hearing. Detached units may reach two stories or 24 feet. No on-site parking is required. Rentals must be longer than 30 days, and owners do not have to live on the property.

Two overlays change the path for some lots. Coastal Zone parcels can need Coastal Commission approval or a waiver. Homes on the California Register of Historical Resources may face added standards. And for addresses in Santa Monica Canyon, Venice, Mar Vista or Sawtelle, all of which are in Los Angeles, LADBS and LA's ADU rules apply instead.

How ADU Costs Come Together in Santa Monica

We do not list prices, because each lot changes the math. Converting an existing structure usually costs less than building new. Utility distance, panel capacity, soils, access and finish level move the total from there. Units of 750 square feet or less avoid impact fees under state law, which can steer design decisions.

After a site review, we give you a scope and budget for the services you need. If a different ADU type would serve your goal at lower cost, we will say so before you commit.