Remodeling & ADU Contractor in Hermosa Beach

Hermosa Beach is a small, tightly built city, and a large part of it lies in the Coastal Zone. That changes who approves a remodel here: for many projects, it's not only the city. IA Builders is a licensed California general contractor (CSLB #1124696) based in Culver City. We plan remodels, additions and ADUs in Hermosa with both approvals mapped out before design begins.

Permits in Hermosa Beach

Building permits come from the city's Community Development Department, which has Building & Safety, Planning and Code Enforcement divisions at City Hall on Valley Drive. Planning checks zoning, and Building & Safety handles plan check and inspections. The city is also rewriting its zoning code as part of PLAN Hermosa, its General Plan and Local Coastal Program update, so some standards may change over the next few years. We check the rules in effect when your plans are submitted, not when you first called us.

The Coastal Zone and the Coastal Commission

According to the city, Hermosa's Coastal Zone extends inland from the beach to Ardmore Avenue, with some exceptions. That's a large share of the city.

What sets Hermosa apart from its neighbors is who issues coastal permits. Hermosa does not yet have a fully certified Local Coastal Program. Until it does, coastal development permits, exemptions and waivers in the Coastal Zone come from the California Coastal Commission's South Coast District office in Long Beach, not from City Hall. For a project in the Coastal Zone, that means two agencies working in sequence, and the order matters. We find out early whether your project needs a coastal permit, a waiver or neither, and build that step into the timeline.

Walk streets and small lots

Some of the most sought-after homes in Hermosa sit on the walk streets in the Sand Section, which are pedestrian-only streets running toward the beach. Many walk-street homes have a front patio area that is partly in the public right-of-way. Building in that area requires a right-of-way permit from Public Works, and the city limits what can go there, including fence heights. The Coastal Commission has also weighed in on how much of these patios can be enclosed. Because cars can't use walk streets, we plan deliveries, equipment and staging from the alley or the nearest open street from the first site visit.

Away from the walk streets, many Hermosa lots are small and closely spaced, with multi-level homes, duplexes and condos common near the beach. On lots like these, a home remodel that reworks the existing floor plan often gets more out of the house than adding space. When an addition does make sense, a room addition on a small lot needs a careful check of the zoning standards before design. Kitchens and baths often move within the existing footprint, so a kitchen remodel or bathroom remodel here is usually about layout and storage more than square footage.

ADUs in Hermosa Beach

Hermosa regulates ADUs and junior ADUs in Chapter 17.21 of its municipal code, most recently through Ordinance No. 1484, adopted in January 2025. In December 2025, the state Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) reviewed that ordinance and found that parts of it, including the allowed combinations of units and a deed restriction on ADUs, did not comply with state ADU law. HCD asked the city to amend the ordinance or adopt findings defending it. Where a local rule conflicts with state law, state law controls.

In the Coastal Zone, an ADU can also need its own coastal approval. Because these rules are still being updated, we confirm the current standards and the coastal requirements for your lot before you invest in plans for an ADU or junior ADU.

When you're ready to talk about your project, call (213) 816-6465 or use the form on this page.

Frequently asked questions

Who issues coastal permits in Hermosa Beach?

For now, the California Coastal Commission. Hermosa does not yet have a fully certified Local Coastal Program, so coastal development permits and waivers for projects in the Coastal Zone go through the Commission's South Coast District office. The city still issues the building permit.

Is my house in the Coastal Zone?

According to the city, the Coastal Zone runs from the beach inland to Ardmore Avenue, with certain exceptions. If your home is west of Ardmore, it may well be inside. We confirm your parcel before design starts.

Can I build on the patio area in front of my walk-street home?

Within limits. Part of that area is usually public right-of-way, so work there needs a right-of-way permit from Public Works and has to follow the city's rules, such as limits on fence height. Enclosing the space raises extra questions, so we check early.

Can I add an ADU in Hermosa Beach?

Many lots can fit an ADU or junior ADU, but the city's ADU ordinance is being revised after the state's 2025 review, and Coastal Zone lots can need a coastal approval as well. We confirm the current rules for your address first.

Last reviewed October 2026