New Construction in Manhattan Beach
Most new construction in Manhattan Beach starts with a lot that already carries a structure on it. The city was built out from its 1912 incorporation forward on a grid platted in the early 1900s, after sand dunes were leveled across the area in the 1920s and 1930s, and the typical result is a narrow beach-town lot with a vertically stacked floor plan where the kitchen often sits on an upper level rather than at grade. That existing house may be worth remodeling, but when it sits on a tired foundation, runs too small, or cannot carry a second story without rebuilding most of it anyway, a tear-down rebuild is often the cleaner path. Horizon Construction and Remodeling manages new construction in Manhattan Beach from the first lot review through design, engineering, permits with the City of Manhattan Beach Community Development Department Building and Safety Division, demolition, and the final inspection, all under one contract.
Services We Offer
Engineering & Title 24
Permits & Plan Check
New Build ADUs
Our New Construction Process in Manhattan Beach
How We Approach New Construction in Manhattan Beach
Every project starts at the lot level, not the floor plan. Manhattan Beach lots were platted on a tight grid laid out in the early 1900s, and many Sand Section parcels front walk streets and alleys rather than conventional driveways, so we factor in access constraints, material staging and parking before a single line gets drawn. A zoning review, boundary and topographic survey, and soils report establish what the site can carry and what the foundation will need. Structural engineering and Title 24 energy documents are developed alongside the drawings so the plan set enters the City of Manhattan Beach Community Development Department Building and Safety Division complete.
While plans are in review we respond to comments, coordinate utility work, and arrange the asbestos survey and air district notification required before demolition. Once permits issue, the sequence runs in order: foundation, framing, rough plumbing, electrical, mechanical and fire sprinkler lines, insulation, then exterior and interior finishes. One project manager stays on from start to finish and attends every inspection through final sign-off.
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Permitting a new house in Manhattan Beach moves through several agencies, and the starting point is the City of Manhattan Beach Community Development Department Building and Safety Division. A project of this scale rarely clears a single counter. Planning reviews the design for zoning compliance, checking setbacks, building height, lot coverage and total floor area. Building plan check then works through the structural calculations and energy documents, the fire department reviews sprinkler systems and site access, and public works covers grading, drainage, any street trenching and the driveway approach. Demolition of what stands on the lot requires its own permit before any of that begins.
Before a demolition permit issues, most building departments require the gas and electric service to be disconnected and the sewer lateral capped. The South Coast AQMD also requires an asbestos survey and advance notification before most demolition work proceeds. Manhattan Beach lots, particularly in the Sand Section where many blocks front walk streets and alleys rather than conventional driveways, add a layer of logistical planning to this phase. Restricted street frontage limits where materials can be staged, where equipment can park and how deliveries are timed, so that coordination has to be worked out before the first truck arrives.
Utilities get sized for the new structure, not the one being removed. Fire sprinklers, now standard on new single-family construction, often require a larger water meter and service line than the old house ever had. A larger home with contemporary electrical loads and rooftop solar may also need a new service from the utility, and lead times on that work vary. A geotechnical report comes before foundation design. It identifies expansive soils, old fill, groundwater depth and slope stability. In state-mapped liquefaction or landslide zones, a site-specific geotechnical investigation is required. The structural engineer uses that data to size footings, design post-tensioned slabs or grade beams, and lay out the shear walls, hold-downs and beams that California seismic standards call for.
Energy compliance follows Title 24 standards in effect at the time of permit filing, and new single-family homes must include solar PV. Third-party HERS raters verify certain energy measures in the field. If the lot falls within a CAL FIRE Fire Hazard Severity Zone, wildland-urban interface requirements apply: a Class A roof assembly, ember-resistant vents, ignition-resistant exterior cladding and multipane windows with tempered glass. Inspections run through every construction phase, from foundation forms and reinforcing steel through framing, rough mechanical and electrical, insulation and on to final sign-off.
Other Remodeling Services We Offer
A kitchen remodel touches more trades than any other room in the house: layout, cabinetry, plumbing, electrical, ventilation and finishes. Horizon designs and builds kitchen remodels under one contract, from the measured layout to the final inspection.
Whether you envision a classic Southern California pool or a fully customized backyard oasis, Horizon Construction & Remodeling delivers the highest level of quality and service. Our comprehensive pool design and remodeling services cover everything from layout and decking to built-in BBQs and final touches like landscaping. Let Horizon be your trusted partner in transforming your backyard into the perfect outdoor retreat.
If you are planning a complete bathroom remodel or simply want to change your tub, shower, update your plumbing fixtures, or make the space more efficient, our team at Horizon will help you through the process with expert advice, professional craftsmanship, and affordable options with beautiful results. Learn more about our bathroom remodeling services.
Transform your space with our expert interior work services. We offer a comprehensive range of solutions — from space planning and custom design to the selection of high-quality finishes and materials. Our team of experienced professionals works closely with you to create a space that’s both functional and stylish, tailored to your unique needs, goals, and budget. Whether you’re updating a single room or overhauling your entire interior, we bring precision, creativity, and craftsmanship to every project.
At Horizon, we believe your home is more than just four walls — it’s where life happens. It’s the place you relax, gather with family and friends, and create lasting memories. That’s why we offer a full range of exterior work services designed to elevate your outdoor living space. From patios and hardscaping to custom decks and exterior renovations, we help turn your vision into a dream yard that complements your lifestyle and enhances curb appeal.
At Horizon Construction & Remodeling, our expert team includes a dedicated design and planning division that works hand-in-hand with licensed architects and structural engineers. We take care of everything — from detailed plans and blueprints to securing city permits — so you don’t have to deal with delays or red tape. Our goal is to streamline the process and provide a fully approved set of documents that aligns with both your vision and city regulations, saving you time and stress.
Why Choose Horizon Remodeling For New Construction in Manhattan Beach
Horizon Construction and Remodeling is a licensed and bonded Class B general building contractor, in business since 2009 and active across Southern California for over 15 years. A new home is the largest single investment most homeowners make, and we encourage you to verify our license and bond on the CSLB website before you commit to any contract. We work as a general contractor across all phases of the project, meaning design coordination, engineering, permitting, and construction are managed under one agreement with one point of contact throughout.
Manhattan Beach permits go through the City of Manhattan Beach Community Development Department Building and Safety Division, and we build the requirements of that process into our schedule from the start. California Title 24 energy requirements, fire sprinkler provisions, and CALGreen standards get incorporated at the design stage rather than arriving late as change orders.
Many Sand Section lots front walk streets and alleys rather than standard driveways, which affects how materials are staged and how crews access the site. We account for those access constraints during pre-construction planning. Call (714) 449-9035 to discuss your Manhattan Beach lot and what a new build there realistically involves.
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New Construction FAQ
Should I rebuild or remodel my house in Manhattan Beach?
Whether a rebuild or a whole-home remodel makes more sense depends on the house and the lot. A new build tends to be the right call when the foundation has serious problems, when nearly every system would need replacing and most walls would move anyway, when you want a second story the existing structure cannot carry, or when zoning allows a larger or better-sited footprint. On the narrow, vertically stacked lots common throughout the Sand Section, Tree Section, and Hill Section, those conditions come up more often than you might expect. If the structure is sound and you mainly want a new layout and updated finishes, a whole-home remodel is generally simpler to permit through the City of Manhattan Beach Community Development Department. We walk the property with you and give a straight comparison before you commit.
What permits does a new home need?
New construction in Manhattan Beach typically requires a demolition permit for the existing house, a building permit for the new structure, and grading, utility, and driveway permits through public works, with plans reviewed by the City of Manhattan Beach Community Development Department Building and Safety Division and sign-off from planning, fire, and public works as well. Lots in the coastal zone may also need a coastal development permit, and properties in a fire hazard severity zone face additional fire-code review. We prepare all submittals and manage comments and resubmittals throughout the process.
How long does it take to build a new home?
Design and permitting often take as long as the build itself, and plan check through the City of Manhattan Beach Community Development Department Building and Safety Division commonly runs several months, sometimes longer when planning review, coastal considerations, or fire-zone requirements enter the picture. Construction on a custom home frequently runs close to a year, and sloped lots in the Hill Section, constrained alley access in the Sand Section, or heavy site work can extend that further. Weather, utility scheduling, and inspection availability all play a role, so we work out a realistic schedule for your specific lot after the feasibility review.
What drives the cost of building a new home?
Cost on a new construction project in Manhattan Beach is driven by size, complexity, and site conditions first. Second stories, long spans, and irregular floor plates add to the structural load, and foundation type shifts depending on soil conditions and how much a lot slopes. Because Manhattan Beach was built out on a grid platted over leveled sand dunes, individual lots vary more than they might look from the street, so demolition, grading, retaining walls, and utility upgrades can each carry their own price tag. Coastal and fire-zone material requirements add another layer, as does the finish level you choose throughout the home. City impact fees and school fees on new square footage are set by the City of Manhattan Beach and the local school district, so those numbers depend on your specific project. Once we have reviewed feasibility, we break the budget into these categories so you can see exactly where your decisions move the numbers.
Do new homes in California need solar and fire sprinklers?
Yes, new single-family homes in Manhattan Beach must meet California Residential Code requirements for automatic fire sprinklers, which affects both water service sizing and how ceilings are laid out, along with solar PV mandates that have applied since the 2019 energy standards, with the 2025 Title 24 requirements adding further obligations for permits filed from January 1, 2026. CALGreen layers on top of that with standards covering water use, construction waste recycling, indoor air quality, and EV charging readiness. On the narrow lots common across the Sand Section, Tree Section, and Hill Section, where vertical floor plans already shape how systems are routed, we account for all of it from the first day of design so nothing has to be retrofitted later.
Can you build an ADU along with the new house?
Yes, a new construction project is the ideal time to include an ADU, and we can permit it alongside the main house or handle it as a separate project entirely. Sizing water, sewer and electrical service for both units at once is straightforward when everything is planned from the ground up, and the site plan can give each unit its own entry and outdoor space. On the narrow grid lots that define neighborhoods like the Sand Section and the Tree Section, those layout decisions matter early, since alley access and limited frontage shape where entries and utility connections can realistically go. State law allows ADUs on most single-family lots, though setbacks, height and parking requirements still apply, and final approval runs through the City of Manhattan Beach Community Development Department Building and Safety Division. We also build detached guest houses for owners who want that option instead.
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Horizon is a licensed Class B general building contractor serving Manhattan Beach and the surrounding Los Angeles County communities.