Legalizing a non-conforming unit in Redondo Beach
| Governing state law | Gov. Code §§ 66311.7, 66323 |
| Local ordinance | RBMC Title 10, Ch. 2 (Ord. 3264-23, 2023) |
| Apartment units, buildings of 5+ | 10,009 |
| Coastal permit required | Yes — issued by the city |
| Local rent control | None |
| Impact fees on a pre-2020 unit | Prohibited |
| Fire sprinklers | Not triggered |
| Added parking | Not required |
| Review | Ministerial · 60 days |
The coastal question
Redondo Beach has a certified Local Coastal Program for Coastal Zone Area One, certified in 2010, which means the city issues coastal development permits itself rather than routing them to the Coastal Commission. The harbor and pier segment was carved out separately. We confirm which segment a parcel falls in before quoting.
Rent control
Redondo Beach has no local rent stabilization ordinance. Rent increases are governed by the statewide Tenant Protection Act: five percent plus regional CPI to a maximum of ten percent, with units exempt for fifteen years from the date their certificate of occupancy is issued.
What the city can and cannot do
Redondo Beach cannot deny a permit for a pre-2020 unit because it violates building standards or the local ADU ordinance. It can deny only if it finds that correcting the violation is necessary to meet the substandard-building threshold in Health & Safety Code § 17920.3.
That is a far narrower test than full compliance with current code. A unit can fall short of today's standards in a dozen ways and still be permitted, so long as none of them makes the building substandard.
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We'll walk it and tell you in writing whether it qualifies.
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