Service Area · Los Angeles County
General Contractor in Manhattan Beach, CA
New homes, additions and remodels across Manhattan Beach, planned for tight Sand Section lots and alleys, view-sensitive Hill Section sites and the roomier lots of the Tree Section.
- Licensed California general contractor
- Custom homes, ADUs & additions
- Permits with the City of Manhattan Beach
- Written, line-item estimates
Manhattan Beach, CA
Building and Remodeling in Manhattan Beach
Owners planning custom homes, second stories, ADUs and whole-house remodels can bring on Simply Construction as their general contractor in Manhattan Beach. Manhattan Beach is its own incorporated city, so plans go through the city's Community Development Department, and near the beach a coastal development permit is often part of the approval along with planning and building review.
From feasibility and design coordination through plan check, inspections and final sign-off, we manage the whole job as a licensed California general contractor. On small lots with neighbors a few feet away, we plan shoring, staging, alley access and neighbor communication before the first permit is filed, because in this city logistics can decide a schedule as much as design does.
Local Knowledge
How Manhattan Beach's Sections Shape a Project
Manhattan Beach builds very differently from one section to the next. The Sand Section, closest to the ocean, is a grid of small lots, alleys and walk streets, the pedestrian-only paths where houses face a landscaped walkway and take their cars in from the alley behind. Early beach cottages there have largely given way to modern multi-level homes built close to their neighbors. The Hill Section, as the name suggests, sits on higher ground with ocean views that make height and massing sensitive. The Tree Section, known for its tree-named streets, has larger lots where older ranch-style houses are steadily replaced by bigger new homes.
The beach neighborhoods lie in the California Coastal Zone, where the city issues coastal development permits under its local coastal program in addition to building permits. Construction here is a logistics exercise: parking near the beach is scarce, alleys are narrow, and a new house often shares tight side yards with homes on both sides. Many new Sand Section homes add a basement to gain space, which means shoring and excavation in sandy soil next to occupied houses.
Services
Construction & Remodeling Services in Manhattan Beach
From ground-up homes to kitchens, here is how each of our services applies to Manhattan Beach properties.
Custom Home Building in Manhattan Beach
Custom home building in Manhattan Beach is mostly tear-down and rebuild, and each section brings its own challenges. In the Sand Section, a small lot and tight side yards push the design upward and often downward into a basement, which calls for shoring engineered to protect the neighbors' foundations in sandy soil. In the Tree Section, larger lots allow more freedom, but the city's floor area and setback rules still define the envelope. We coordinate the survey, soils report, structural design, coastal permit where needed and city plan check.
ADU Construction in Manhattan Beach
ADUs in Manhattan Beach follow state law plus the city's own ADU rules, and in the coastal zone they also need coastal review. On a small Sand Section lot, an ADU is often best placed over a garage facing the alley, while Tree Section lots can sometimes fit a detached backyard unit. State law requires cities to allow at least an 800-square-foot ADU with 4-foot side and rear setbacks, and units under 750 square feet avoid impact fees. We map the lot's options before design begins.
Garage Conversions in Manhattan Beach
Converting a garage makes less sense in the Sand Section, where an alley garage is valuable parking, but it can work well on larger Tree Section and east-side lots with extra covered parking or a long driveway. No replacement parking is required when a garage becomes an ADU under state law. Older garages may need foundation work before they can support a habitable room, so we evaluate the slab and walls and then plan footings, insulation, egress windows and utilities.
Room Additions in Manhattan Beach
Ground-floor additions in Manhattan Beach are easiest on Tree Section and east-side lots, where there is yard space to build into. We start with the city's floor area and setback limits and the condition of the existing structure, then design an addition that ties cleanly into the house. On many older ranch houses, an addition comes with an electrical service upgrade, new roof framing across the whole house and replacement windows, so the result feels like one home rather than two eras.
Second-Story Additions in Manhattan Beach
Second stories are one of the main ways Manhattan Beach owners gain space and, in the Hill Section, better ocean views. The city's height rules and the neighbors' views make massing sensitive, so we model the addition early and review it against the code before full design. Structurally, most older single-story homes need new footings, shear walls and hold-downs, and close to the beach we specify corrosion-resistant connectors for the new framing.
Garage Construction in Manhattan Beach
In the Sand Section, the garage faces the alley and often sits beneath living space, so a new garage is usually part of a full rebuild. On larger lots, a detached garage topped by an ADU can add both parking and a rental or guest unit. We design garage doors, framing and hardware for salt air near the water, and plan alley-side construction so neighbors keep access to their own garages during the work.
Whole-House Remodeling in Manhattan Beach
Whole-house remodels in Manhattan Beach split into two kinds: newer beach houses showing salt wear, and older ranch homes in the Tree Section and on the east side. Near the water, we expect corroded fasteners, windows and flashing and plan to replace them along with interior updates. Inland, the work often means opening floor plans, upgrading electrical service and improving insulation. In both cases, we define the scope against the city's rules so a remodel is not reclassified as new construction partway through.
Kitchen Remodeling in Manhattan Beach
In Sand Section homes, the kitchen is sometimes placed on an upper floor to catch light and views, which affects how plumbing, gas and ventilation run through the house. We plan duct routes and drain slopes early and choose appliances and hardware that tolerate salt air. In Tree Section ranch houses, kitchen remodels often open the kitchen to a family room, with an engineered beam replacing a bearing wall and new circuits for modern appliances.
Bathroom Remodeling in Manhattan Beach
Bathroom remodels in Manhattan Beach range from primary suites in newer multi-level homes to original baths in older ranch houses. We build with full waterproofing, properly vented exhaust fans to handle coastal humidity, and fixtures with finishes that hold up near the ocean. An outdoor shower is a practical addition close to the beach, and we plumb and drain it correctly so sand and water stay out of the house.
Fire Rebuilds in Manhattan Beach
Manhattan Beach is not a wildfire area, so fire rebuilds here usually follow a house fire. We handle the insurance scope, demolition of damaged areas and a rebuild to current code through the city's building division, with coastal clearance where the lot requires it. On a closely spaced Sand Section block, we also plan how to protect the adjacent homes from dust, debris and vibration during demolition and reconstruction.
Junior ADUs (JADU) in Manhattan Beach
A junior ADU in Manhattan Beach can turn a ground-floor bedroom suite into a unit of up to 500 square feet, a good fit in multi-level homes where a lower floor already has its own entrance. It needs at least an efficiency kitchen, and the owner must live in the main home or the JADU. Because it stays within the existing structure, it adds no height or floor area on lots where both are tightly limited.
SB 9 Lot Splits & Duplexes in Manhattan Beach
SB 9 can allow a second unit or a lot split on qualifying Manhattan Beach lots. Each new parcel must be at least 1,200 square feet and at least 40 percent of the original lot, and the owner must sign a three-year residency affidavit. Near the beach, coastal review still applies, and on narrow Sand Section lots, fitting two units with alley access and parking takes careful design. We evaluate each parcel's zoning and size before design.
Patios, Decks & Outdoor Living in Manhattan Beach
Outdoor living in Manhattan Beach often happens on roof decks and balconies with ocean views, especially in the Sand and Hill Sections. We build them with durable waterproofing over living space, stainless hardware and glass or cable railings that meet code. On walk streets, the front patio is a big part of a house's character, and the city regulates what can extend into the public walk-street area, so we confirm those rules before designing it.
Why Choose Us
Why Manhattan Beach Homeowners Choose Simply Construction
Contracts Written the Way California Law Requires
California caps a home improvement down payment at $1,000 or 10 percent of the contract price, whichever is less, and after that a contractor may only bill for work completed or materials delivered. Our contracts follow that structure: a line-item scope, a payment schedule tied to finished milestones, and written change orders before any extra work begins. You always know what you are paying for and why.
Straight Answers on Feasibility
Some lots cannot fit the project an owner has in mind. We check zoning, setbacks, height limits, easements, slope and utility capacity early, and we tell you plainly what is achievable before you spend money on full drawings. When state law opens a path that the local code seems to block, as ADU and SB 9 rules often do, we explain how it applies to your property.
Care for Your Street and Your Neighbors
Large projects happen next door to people who live there. We plan staging, dumpster placement, deliveries and working hours around Manhattan Beach rules, keep the site secured at the end of each day, and give you notice before loud or disruptive phases such as demolition, concrete pours or crane lifts, so you can give your neighbors a heads-up too.
Nearby Service Areas
We Also Build Near Manhattan Beach
FAQ
Building in Manhattan Beach: Common Questions
Do I need a coastal development permit to build in Manhattan Beach?
Often, yes. The city's beach-side neighborhoods are in the California Coastal Zone, and new homes, additions and some remodels there need a coastal development permit, which the city processes along with its planning review. Whether a lot needs one, and which process applies, depends on its location and the scope of work, so we check both at the start.
What makes building on a Sand Section walk street different?
Walk-street homes face a pedestrian-only walkway, so vehicle access, deliveries and staging all happen from the alley behind. The front yard faces a public path, and the city regulates what can extend into it. Lots are small and houses sit close together, so shoring, dust control and neighbor protection are major parts of the plan for any rebuild or basement.
Can I add an ADU to my Manhattan Beach home?
In most cases, yes. State law requires the city to allow ADUs, including at least an 800-square-foot unit with 4-foot side and rear setbacks, and the city must act on a complete application within 60 days. In the coastal zone, coastal review is added. On small lots, an ADU above an alley garage or a junior ADU within the house is often the most practical option.
Start Your Project
Start Your Manhattan Beach Project
Tell us what you are planning. We will visit the property, talk through options and costs, and send a written, line-item estimate.
Licensed California General Contractor · CSLB [CSLB LICENSE # PLACEHOLDER]