Prefab ADUs in Santa Monica
In Santa Monica an ADU needs only a building permit — no design review, no hearing and no parking. We deliver an all-in prefab ADU from our factory in Lathrop — permits, foundation, delivery and installation included — at one fixed price.
Free lot check · zoning, setbacks, utilities · reply with a fixed price
Licensed builder · Our own factory in Lathrop, CA
Real homes we build, start to finish
Quick answer
ADUs in Santa Monica — key facts for 2026
Most Santa Monica homeowners can add a detached ADU of up to 850–1,200 sq ft with only a building permit, no parking and no impact fees under 750 sq ft. Bay Modular delivers a factory-built ADU all-in for $124,900–$271,900 — the same price anywhere in California.
- Can I build an ADU in Santa Monica?
- Yes, on most residential lots. A detached ADU can be up to 850 sq ft (studio or 1-bedroom) or 1,200 sq ft (2+ bedrooms), with 4-ft side and rear setbacks and up to 2 stories or 24 ft.
- How long does a Santa Monica ADU permit take?
- ADUs need only a building permit — no design review or public hearing; state law requires a decision within 60 days of a complete application. Coastal Zone lots may also need a Coastal Commission permit or waiver.
- What fees does Santa Monica charge?
- No impact fees under 750 sq ft (state law). School fees apply only to ADUs over 500 sq ft.
- How much does a prefab ADU cost in Santa Monica?
- Bay Modular: $124,900–$271,900 all-in, the same price as anywhere in California, permits and installation included.
- How many ADUs does Santa Monica build?
- 143 ADU permits in 2025 and 620 from 2021 to 2025.
- What does an ADU rent for in Santa Monica?
- Average asking rent in Santa Monica was $3,438 a month in August 2026 (Zillow), up 23% since January 2021.
Sources: HCD APR 2025, City of Santa Monica ADU and JADU Guide (Nov 2025), Zillow ZORI Aug 2026. Last reviewed October 2026.
Santa Monica in numbers
Santa Monica keeps adding ADUs
Santa Monica issued 620 ADU permits from 2021 to 2025 — 143 in 2025, its highest year in the period.
ADU permits issued in the City of Santa Monica
Source: California HCD Annual Progress Report data (Table A2), City of Santa Monica, permits issued per year. Percent = ADUs among all housing units permitted in the city that year.
average Santa Monica asking rent since January 2021 ($2,796 → $3,438)
Zillow Observed Rent Index, City of Santa Monica, Aug 2026ADU permits issued in Santa Monica in five years (2021–2025)
HCD APR data, 2021–2025Can I build in Santa Monica?
Most Santa Monica lots with a house can add an ADU
Santa Monica treats ADUs as ministerial projects — a building permit is all you need. Here is what matters for most homeowners:
850 sq ft for a studio or 1-bedroom, 1,200 sq ft with 2+ bedrooms (800 sq ft guaranteed) — all our models fit.
Not in the front setback; 4 ft from side and rear lot lines; up to 2 stories or 24 ft for a detached ADU.
No design review and no public hearing — ADUs are ministerial in Santa Monica.
On-site parking isn't required, and a garage you convert or remove doesn't need replacing.
Lots in the Coastal Zone may also need a Coastal Development Permit or Waiver from the Coastal Commission.
No owner-occupancy requirement; short-term rentals of 30 days or less aren't allowed.
Based on the City of Santa Monica ADU and JADU Guide for parcels with a single-unit dwelling (Nov 2025). Not legal advice — rules depend on your exact lot. More in our ADU guides.
New in 2027: under AB 956 (Chapter 791, Statutes of 2026), from January 1, 2027 state law lets you build two detached ADUs on a lot with a single-family home, and HOA rules can’t block an ADU on a lot zoned to allow one.
Costs & fees in Santa Monica
What an ADU costs in Santa Monica
Same all-in price as anywhere in California. Our models are all under 750 sq ft, so none pays impact fees — and four of five pay no school fees.
| Model | All-in price | School fees | City impact fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Backyard Studio120 sq ft · home office or guest studio, not a rentable ADU | $75,900 | $0 | $0 |
| Small Studio256 sq ft | $124,900 | $0 | $0 |
| Large Studio ADU320 sq ft | $154,900 | $0 | $0 |
| 1 Bedroom ADU480 sq ft | $214,900 | $0 | $0 |
| 2 Bedroom ADU640 sq ft | $271,900 | $3,443 | $0 |
Sources: Gov. Code §66311.5; Ed. Code §17620 and State Allocation Board 2026 school fee maximum; Gov. Code §66311.5. Launch pricing runs through December 31, 2026. Comparison is general — every project differs.
Renting in Santa Monica
Renting out an ADU in Santa Monica
average asking rent for all homes in Santa Monica — up 23% since 2021. HUD's 2027 fair rent for a 2-bedroom in the area is $2,964.
Zillow Observed Rent Index, City of Santa Monica, Aug 2026 · HUD FY2027 FMR ADU for rental incomeSanta Monica doesn't allow short-term rentals of 30 days or less in an ADU — plan on long-term tenants.
There's no owner-occupancy requirement for an ADU in Santa Monica.
A new ADU is exempt from California's statewide rent cap (AB 1482) for 15 years after its certificate of occupancy.
Same money, other options
Yearly income per dollar, before taxes and costs. An ADU wins because you already own the land. Full comparison →
Sources: City of Santa Monica ADU and JADU Guide (Nov 2025); Civil Code §1947.12. Comparison: HUD FY2027 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale area ($2,964) × 12 ÷ $271,900; U.S. Treasury (Oct 6, 2026); FTSE Nareit (Sep 2026); Zillow ZORI ÷ ZHVI, LA metro (Aug 2026); FDIC (Sep 2026). Not legal or investment advice.
Permits in Santa Monica
How your Santa Monica permit works — we handle it
Free lot check
Zoning, coastal status, setbacks, sewer and power for your Santa Monica address.
Plans & submittal
Our HCD-approved plans plus your site plan for the building permit — no planning application.
City review
Building plan check only; Coastal Zone lots add a Coastal Commission permit or waiver.
Decision in 60 days
State law requires a decision on a complete ADU application within 60 days. Your ADU is built in our factory meanwhile.
Install & move in
Delivered from our Lathrop factory, installed in about a week, inspected, then your Certificate of Occupancy.
Based on the City of Santa Monica ADU and JADU Guide and Gov. Code §66317. Santa Monica also runs a Preapproved ADU Program (AB 1332).
Why now
Start your Santa Monica ADU with zero risk
Lock in launch pricing, see exactly what you get, and only decide once you have a fixed price for your lot.
All-in from $75,900 — everything included
- Backyard Studio (home office)$75,900All-in · fixed in writing
- Small Studio$124,900All-in · fixed in writing
- Large Studio ADU$154,900All-in · fixed in writing
- 1 Bedroom ADU$214,900All-in · fixed in writing
- 2 Bedroom ADU$271,900All-in · fixed in writing
Zero-risk start
- Free lot check & quoteNo obligation, no credit card.
- One fixed all-in priceDesign, permits, delivery and install — one number.
- HCD-approved plansState approval #1585366, financed and appraised like a home.
- 2-year warrantyOn materials and workmanship.
Visit our factory in Lathrop, CA and walk through a finished ADU.
Santa Monica ADU questions
Read our ADU guides, see all of California, or call (209) 214-6845.
Can I build an ADU on my lot in Santa Monica?
Most Santa Monica residential lots can add a detached ADU of up to 850 sq ft (studio or 1-bedroom) or 1,200 sq ft (2+ bedrooms), with 4-foot side and rear setbacks. We check your address for free.
How much does an ADU cost in Santa Monica?
Our all-in prices are the same as anywhere in California: from $124,900 for a Small Studio to $271,900 for a 2 Bedroom ADU, with launch pricing through December 31, 2026. No impact fees under 750 sq ft, and school fees only above 500 sq ft.
How long does an ADU permit take in Santa Monica?
ADUs need only a building permit — no design review or hearing — and state law requires a decision within 60 days of a complete application. Most projects take 4–6 months from signing to keys.
Do I need parking for an ADU in Santa Monica?
No. Santa Monica requires no on-site parking for ADUs; in the Coastal Zone, the Coastal Commission may have its own requirements.
Can I build an ADU in the Santa Monica Coastal Zone?
Yes. You may also need a Coastal Development Permit or Waiver from the California Coastal Commission — we handle the paperwork.
Can I rent my Santa Monica ADU on Airbnb?
No. Short-term rentals of 30 days or less aren't permitted in Santa Monica ADUs.
Can Bay Modular deliver to Santa Monica?
Yes. We build in our Lathrop factory and deliver statewide at the same all-in price, including the Westside of Los Angeles County.
Is an ADU a better investment than a rental property in Santa Monica?
For most homeowners with room on their lot, yes: you don't buy land. A 2 Bedroom ADU at HUD's 2027 fair rent for a 2-bedroom in the LA-Long Beach area ($2,964) earns about 13.2% a year on its price before costs, vs. about 3.7% for a typical LA-metro rental home (Zillow, Aug 2026). Not investment advice.
Free · no obligation
Can you build an ADU on your Santa Monica lot?
Send your Santa Monica address. We'll check zoning, coastal status, setbacks and utilities, and send a fixed all-in price — permits included.
HCD-approved plans (#1585366) · 2-year warranty · factory in Lathrop, CA
Sources: California HCD Annual Progress Report data, Table A2 (City of Santa Monica, 2021–2025, updated Oct 2026); Zillow Observed Rent Index, City of Santa Monica (Aug 2026); HUD FY2027 Fair Market Rents (Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale); City of Santa Monica ADU and JADU Guide (Nov 2025) and Preapproved ADU Program. Prices: Bay Modular, October 2026. Not legal advice.