ADU Builder in Ocean Park, Santa Monica

Start With the Coastal Zone Map in Ocean Park

Before we sketch anything in Ocean Park, we check whether the parcel sits inside the Coastal Zone. Many lots here do, given how close the neighborhood is to the sand. For those parcels, the city says a Coastal Development Permit or a waiver may be required through the California Coastal Commission, on top of the building permit Santa Monica issues.

That extra step does not stop an ADU. It adds paperwork and time, and it can shape the design if coastal standards bear on height, bulk or drainage. Knowing the parcel's status on day one means the coastal track and the city's plan check can run in parallel rather than one after the other.

Ocean Park's Early-1900s Houses and Narrow Lots

Ocean Park grew up as a beach town in the early twentieth century. Its streets still carry Craftsman bungalows, Victorian houses and small apartment buildings from that period, many on lots narrower and shallower than those farther north. Garages tend to be small and old, and yards are often the only outdoor space a household has.

On parcels like these, ground is precious. A detached cottage that covers the yard is rarely the right answer. We look first at converting the existing garage, building a new two-story unit in its place, or carving a junior ADU from part of the house. Any of these can add a home while keeping the small garden that makes these properties pleasant.

• Coastal Zone status checked first
• Garage conversion on the existing footprint
• Two-story ADU replacing an old garage
• Junior ADU inside a bungalow
• ADUs on small apartment lots

Building Up: Two-Story ADUs in Ocean Park

On Ocean Park's tight lots, the city's 24-foot, two-story allowance for backyard units is often what makes an ADU possible at all. Replacing a failing single-car garage with a new two-level structure can give a one-bedroom upstairs and storage, a studio or parking below, all within the old footprint plus setbacks.

Height near the coast deserves extra care. If the parcel is in the Coastal Zone, the coastal review can bear on the design, so we confirm the standards that apply before drawing elevations. Upper windows are placed to catch ocean light and breeze while avoiding direct views into the neighbor's yard a few feet away.

Marine Air, Sandy Soils and Older Construction

Being close to the ocean affects how an ADU is built. Salt air and fog are hard on exterior finishes and metal, so we specify materials and fasteners that resist corrosion. Bathroom and kitchen ventilation need to be sized well, since marine moisture adds to what showers and cooking produce.

Soils near the beach can be sandy, which often calls for a soils report and an engineered foundation. Older houses on the lot may have their own quirks when we tie into them, from aging sewer laterals to undersized electrical service. We look at all of this during the first site review.

Ocean Park Apartments and Multifamily ADUs

Ocean Park has many small apartment buildings among its houses. The 2025 change to state law lets those lots add freestanding units in proportion to the apartments already on site (up to eight), and turn storage or garage space into homes as well. On narrow lots, conversions of carports or storage rooms are often more realistic than new buildings.

Many of these buildings are rent-controlled. If an ADU uses parking that came with a rent-controlled apartment, the Rent Control Department is the office to consult about rent changes. We plan construction so residents keep safe access to their homes throughout.