South Bay permits hinge on which beach city you're in. Manhattan, Hermosa, and Redondo each enforce a local ADU ordinance that's stricter than LA city's, capping detached unit size and adding parking rules in some sub-areas. Coastal Zone status and Palos Verdes geotech are the biggest schedule variables.
What's specific to this area
☐Manhattan Beach: ADU ordinance MBMC §10.24 — local design review for street-facing facades.
☐Hermosa Beach: tight side-yard setbacks on legacy walk-street lots.
☐Coastal Zone parcels (most of MB / HB) require a Coastal Development Permit.
☐Palos Verdes Peninsula: Portuguese Bend Landslide Complex overlays — geotech is mandatory, not optional.
On-the-ground notes
☐Each beach city runs its own ADU ordinance — Manhattan and Hermosa cap detached size below state max.
☐Coastal Zone (most of Manhattan, Hermosa, parts of Redondo) requires CDP review.
☐Palos Verdes parcels add geotech, landslide-zone overlays, and HOA design review on top of permits.