South El Monte

A compact industrial-residential city south of El Monte.

Snapshot

Population

19,287

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

Median home price

$764,494

Redfin, 2026-08

Median rent

$1,752/mo

US Census ACS, 2024

Crime / 1k

37

FBI UCR Table 8, 2024

Median sale price, year over year: -5.4% (falling)Redfin, 2026-08
5-year crime trend: +15.9% (rising)FBI UCR, 2019→2024

Market

Price / sq ft

$510

Redfin, 2026-08

Months of supply

2

Redfin, 2026-08

Median days on market

54

Redfin, 2026-08

Renter-occupied

49.5%

US Census ACS, 2024

Median household income

$72,990

US Census ACS, 2024

Housing units

5,292

US Census ACS, 2024

Developments

No tracked developments for South El Monte yet.

What you can build here — ADU

City department

Typical SFR: 1 ADU + 1 JADU. Height 16 ft detached. State fee exemptions apply. 60-day ministerial clock.

Chapter 17.12. Last verified 2026-08-18. Not legal advice — confirm current requirements with South 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-1 (5,000 sf)2 stories / 28 ft20' / 5' (street 10') / 15'52%
DuplexR-23 stories / 30 ft15' / 5' (street 10') / 15'61%
TownhomeR-2 / R-33 stories / 30–35 ft— / — / —
MultifamilyR-3 / C-R*not sourced**not sourced*

Parking · Per §17.05; open space for multi-dwellings.

Overlays to check · SB 9 lot-split eligible · Density Bonus Law applicable · Mixed-use (C-R) overlay

Base zoning — always check for a project-specific overlay or density-bonus increase. Not legal advice. South El Monte Municipal Code Ch 17.05/17.07 (eCode360). Last verified 2026-08-23. Full zoning code

Advisory Desk

Own property in South 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.