El Monte

A large, transit-served city pursuing significant transit-oriented development.

Snapshot

Population

106,109

US Census ACS, 2024 / FBI UCR Table 8, 2024

Median home price

$788,978

Redfin, 2026-08

Median rent

$1,736/mo

US Census ACS, 2024

Crime / 1k

24.8

FBI UCR Table 8, 2024

Median sale price, year over year: +4.5% (rising)Redfin, 2026-08
5-year crime trend: +20.9% (rising)FBI UCR, 2019→2024

Market

Price / sq ft

$480

Redfin, 2026-08

Months of supply

4.1

Redfin, 2026-08

Median days on market

52

Redfin, 2026-08

Renter-occupied

59.8%

US Census ACS, 2024

Median household income

$68,030

US Census ACS, 2024

Housing units

30,333

US Census ACS, 2024

Developments

What you can build here — ADU

City department

Typical SFR: 1 ADU + 1 JADU. Attached max 850-1,000 SQFT / 50% of primary. State fee exemptions apply. 60-day ministerial clock.

§17.110.030. Last verified 2026-08-18. Not legal advice — confirm current requirements with El Monte's planning department. See the statewide ADU floor every city sits on top of.

What you can build here — zoning standards

Zone(s)DensityHeightSetbacks F / S / RLot coverage
Single-familyR-1A (7,260 sf) / R-1B (similar)2 stories / 30 ft20' / 5' / 10'35%
R-1C (10,000 sf)1.5 stories / 25 ft
DuplexR-21 unit / 5,445 sf2 stories / 30 ft20' / 5–10' / 10–20'
TownhomeR-2 / R-3 multi-family2–3 stories / 30–40 ft
MultifamilyR-3 / R-41 unit / 3,111–1,740 sf2–3 stories / 30–40 ft

Parking · Per code tables; open space for MF min 600 sf/unit or 25% GFA.

Overlays to check · SB 9 lot-split eligible · Density Bonus Law applicable

Base zoning — always check for a project-specific overlay or density-bonus increase. Not legal advice. El Monte Municipal Code Title 17 Tables 17.20-2, 17.24-2; Housing Element Table 33. Last verified 2026-08-23. Full zoning code

Housing assistance

El Monte runs its own housing department. See every affordable-housing resource across the San Gabriel Valley, including 211 for emergency shelter.

Advisory Desk

Own property in El Monte?

Get a preliminary read on what your parcel can support — zoning, density, and feasibility, grounded in local land-use data. No obligation, no sales pitch.