Remodeling & ADU Contractor in Redondo Beach

For a remodel, Redondo Beach can feel like two different cities. South Redondo runs along the shore, where the Coastal Zone and smaller, older lots shape what you can build. North Redondo is inland, where most projects follow the city's standard zoning. IA Builders is a licensed California general contractor (CSLB #1124696) based in Culver City. We plan remodels, additions and ADUs in both parts of town and build the city's permit steps into the schedule from the start.

Permits in Redondo Beach

Redondo Beach issues its own permits through the Community Development Department, which has a Planning Division and a Building & Safety Division at City Hall on Diamond Street. On March 31, 2025, the department moved to a new system, the iWorQ Citizen Portal, and planning and building applications now have to be submitted there electronically. Plans, corrections, fee payments, permit issuance and inspection requests all run through the portal. We handle the submittal, upload the drawings and respond to plan check comments for you.

Some projects need a Planning approval before Building & Safety will accept them, and the city offers a check to find out whether yours does. The city also adopted new Building and Planning fees that took effect July 1, 2026. We estimate permit costs from the current fee schedule, not from a neighbor's project a few years ago.

North Redondo and South Redondo

Locals split the city into two halves, and they lead to different kinds of projects:

• South Redondo (ZIP 90277) is the beach side, with King Harbor, the pier, the Avenues and Riviera Village. Lots near the water tend to be small and many houses are older, so the work is often a whole-home remodel that makes better use of the existing footprint, or a carefully planned addition. Properties closest to the shore can also raise Coastal Zone questions.
• North Redondo (ZIP 90278) is inland and has no ocean frontage, so coastal permits rarely come into play. Its single-family neighborhoods and townhomes are where room additions, kitchen updates and backyard ADUs come up most often.

The Coastal Zone

Redondo's Coastal Zone is a strip along the shoreline, largely on the ocean side of Pacific Coast Highway, and it includes King Harbor and the pier area. Unlike some nearby beach cities, Redondo has a Local Coastal Program certified by the California Coastal Commission, so the city itself issues coastal development permits for most of its Coastal Zone. Some projects close to the shore can still be appealed to the Coastal Commission. Before design starts, we look up your parcel on the city's zoning maps so a coastal review doesn't come as a surprise during plan check.

ADUs in Redondo Beach

Redondo amended its ADU rules with Ordinance No. 3264-23 to keep up with state law. According to the city's ADU page, ADUs and junior ADUs that meet the streamlined criteria are approved ministerially with a building permit, with no public hearing, and complete applications are decided within 60 days. Converting existing space and building a new detached ADU each have their own set of standards.

In the Coastal Zone, the city says it applies a "coastal lens" to ADU applications, following the Coastal Commission's July 2026 ADU guidance. State law still streamlines approval, but coastal protections for sensitive habitat, public access and coastal hazards can't be waived. Where the risk to coastal resources is minimal, the city uses categorical exclusions so that some infill ADUs don't need a separate coastal development permit.

Redondo also has a few ADU programs that are useful to know about:

• A pre-approved detached ADU program under state law AB 1332, with its own checklist and affidavit.
• A process under AB 2533 for owners of existing unpermitted units who want to legalize them.

If you're weighing a new ADU, junior ADU or garage conversion, we check which path fits your lot before you pay for plans.

Older homes and historic properties

Redondo Beach has designated historic landmarks and historic districts. Exterior changes to those properties need a Certificate of Appropriateness, and owners of qualifying properties can apply for a Mills Act contract, which can lower property taxes in exchange for maintaining the building. If your house is designated, we plan the exterior design around that review. Interior work, such as a kitchen remodel or a bathroom remodel, is usually simpler, but in an older house it often also means updating the plumbing, electrical and framing behind the walls.

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

Frequently asked questions

How are building permits submitted in Redondo Beach?

Online. Since March 2025, the Community Development Department requires planning and building applications to go through its iWorQ Citizen Portal, which also handles plan review, fees and inspection requests.

Is my Redondo Beach home in the Coastal Zone?

Homes in North Redondo generally are not. In South Redondo, the Coastal Zone covers a strip along the shore, so properties close to the water may be inside it. We confirm the boundary for your parcel on the city's maps.

Can I build an ADU near the beach?

Often, yes. State law streamlines ADU approval, but in the Coastal Zone the city also checks the project against coastal protections. Some infill ADUs qualify for a categorical exclusion from a separate coastal permit.

Does Redondo Beach have pre-approved ADU plans?

Yes. The city runs a pre-approved detached ADU program under AB 1332, with its own checklist and forms. Whether a pre-approved plan fits depends on your lot, the utility locations and how you plan to use the unit.

Last reviewed October 2026