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Malibu, Los Angeles County
ADUs & home additions in Malibu, CA.
Every Malibu ADU is a Coastal Zone project, and many are part of fire rebuilds.
Building in Malibu
Building carefully on the coast.
Malibu is entirely within the California Coastal Zone, so an ADU or addition here has to satisfy both state ADU law and the city's Local Coastal Program.
Many Malibu ADUs are being planned as part of fire rebuilds. A rebuild is new construction, so look for a contractor with new-home and fire-rebuild experience who can plan the main house and the ADU together.
Coastal sites also bring salt air, wind, slope and drainage considerations. Materials, flashing and waterproofing should be planned for the environment, with coastal approvals coordinated alongside the building permit.
What to know in Malibu
- The City of Malibu is entirely within the California Coastal Zone and has a certified Local Coastal Program, so ADUs must comply with both state ADU law and Coastal Act/LCP requirements.
- Malibu's ADU ordinance update adds a local provision for reduced setbacks for fire-rebuild ADUs on beachfront parcels.
- Rebuilding after the January 2025 Palisades Fire is ongoing: by September 2026 the city had issued its 100th rebuild construction permit.
- Under state law, where a certified LCP includes ADU provisions, the coastal permit must be decided within 60 days without a public hearing, alongside the ADU permit.
Project types in Malibu
ADUs and additions in Malibu.
ADUs
Accessory dwelling units of every type, from feasibility and permits through final inspection.
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Garage-to-ADU Conversions
Reuse an existing garage for the fastest, most economical path to a complete ADU.
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Detached ADUs
Freestanding backyard homes with full foundations, framing, utilities and finishes.
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Attached ADUs
Units that share a wall with the main house, including attached-garage conversions.
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Junior ADUs (JADUs)
Up to 500 square feet created within your existing home, with an efficiency kitchen.
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Home Additions
Room additions, kitchen expansions and roof decks built to blend with your home.
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Second-Story Additions
Build up instead of out, with structural evaluation, engineering and framing done right.
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Primary Suite Additions
Master bedroom and bathroom additions with closets, showers and soaking tubs.
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Malibu ADU & addition questions
Do ADUs in Malibu need a coastal permit?
Malibu is entirely in the Coastal Zone, so ADUs must comply with the city's Local Coastal Program as well as state ADU law. Where the LCP includes ADU provisions, state law requires the coastal permit decision within 60 days without a public hearing.
Can I add an ADU to my Malibu fire rebuild?
Often, yes. Malibu's ordinance update includes reduced setbacks for fire-rebuild ADUs on beachfront parcels. The ADU can be planned together with the main rebuild.
What should I look for in a Malibu rebuild contractor?
New-home and fire-rebuild experience, a valid license you can verify on the CSLB website, and familiarity with coastal permits.
Nearby areas
Also serving areas near Malibu.
Free consultation
Planning an ADU or addition in Malibu?
Share a few details about your property and the space you want to add. We will pass your request to a licensed local general contractor who specializes in ADUs and additions, and they will follow up directly.
- Free consultation and site visit
- A realistic budget conversation before you pay for plans
- A licensed general contractor from permit to final