Bellflower Zoning and ADU Guide for Homeowners

Last updated November 13, 2026. Reviewed by the Cash Home Buyers CA team.

Bellflower allows ADUs on residentially zoned properties and regulates them in Chapter 17.17 of the municipal code, which the City Council updated in May 2025. This guide explains what the city’s ordinance says about ADU size, rentals, fees and occupancy, how state law fills the gaps, and what to do if you own a home with a converted garage or an older unpermitted unit.

Bellflower ADUs at a glance

Governing law	Bellflower Municipal Code Chapter 17.17 (Ordinances 1444 and 1446, May 2025), plus Government Code section 66314 and following
Allowed where	Residentially zoned properties, per the city’s Planning FAQ
Maximum ADU size	1,200 square feet of gross area, attached or detached
Rental term	30 days or longer (section 17.17.020B)
JADU owner occupancy	Owner must live in the single-family home or the JADU (section 17.17.020C.3)
Certificate of occupancy	No final certificate for an ADU or JADU before the primary dwelling’s final
Planning phone	(562) 804-1424

What Chapter 17.17 says

The city’s ordinance sets a cap of 1,200 square feet of gross area for an accessory dwelling unit, whether attached or detached. Any rental of an ADU must be for 30 days or longer, so short-term rentals are off the table.

A junior ADU, which is carved out of the existing single-family home, cannot be rented for less than 30 days either, and the owner must occupy the main home or the JADU.

The Building Official will not issue a final certificate of occupancy for an ADU or JADU before the primary dwelling receives its own final. In practice, that means you cannot finish and occupy a backyard unit while the main-house permit is still open.

Fees and utilities

Under section 17.17.040, ADUs are subject to development impact fees proportional to the square footage of the primary dwelling, except where California law exempts them.

Each ADU must install a separate utility connection directly between the unit and the utility, which can carry a connection fee or capacity charge, again except as state law provides. The city may also charge reasonable inspection and construction fees for permits.

Because state law limits some of these charges, ask the city for a written estimate for your specific size and type of unit.

How to start in Bellflower

1. Confirm your zone and lot

The city confirms ADUs are allowed on residentially zoned properties. Ask Planning to confirm your zoning and any overlay or easement issues.

2. Read the development standards

The Planning FAQ links to the city’s ADU development standards, and Planning’s handouts page carries forms and zoning information. Call (562) 804-1424 with questions.

3. Design to the standards

Size, height, setbacks and parking are set by the ordinance and state law, so confirm them in writing before you pay for drawings.

4. Plan check and permits

Submit plans to the Building and Safety Division. See our Bellflower permits guide for how plan check and inspections work.

State ADU law and Bellflower

California’s ADU statute, Government Code section 66314 and following, sets a floor that every city must follow, and local ordinances fill in the details.

The state requires ministerial review within 60 days of a complete application, bars a city from requiring more than a limited set of standards, and generally allows an ADU or conversion inside existing space without added setbacks.

The California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) publishes a handbook and keeps a list of the state requirements. Because state law changes often, treat the city’s current ordinance and handout as the final word on size, height, parking and fees for your lot.

ADUs, garage conversions and selling a Bellflower house

Many older homes have a converted garage or a backyard unit built without permits. Buyers and lenders ask about them, and California sellers generally disclose known unpermitted work. Our guide to selling as-is with unpermitted work explains the rules, and our Prop 13 guide explains how new construction can affect property tax. Before you list:

• Check city records for permits on any ADU, conversion or addition.
• Ask Planning whether the structure could qualify under current rules.
• Estimate plans, fees and corrections needed to legalize it.
• Compare that with selling as-is and letting a cash buyer take on the legalization.

Questions to ask Planning before you design

• Does my lot and zone allow an ADU, a junior ADU, or both?
• Is a pre-approved or pre-reviewed ADU plan available?
• What are the current impact, utility and school fees for the size I am considering?
• Can my existing garage or accessory structure be converted without changing its footprint?
• Are there fire, slope, easement or utility constraints on my lot?

Junior ADUs and garage conversions in more detail

State law treats a junior ADU as a unit of up to 500 square feet created inside the walls of an existing or proposed single-family home, with an efficiency kitchen and a recorded restriction that keeps it from being sold apart from the house.

A garage conversion is a different path: the unit replaces the garage, and state law generally does not require the city to demand replacement parking. Both are common sources of unpermitted space in older Bellflower neighborhoods, which is why buyers’ agents and appraisers ask for the permit record.

If a conversion was done without a permit, the usual fix is to submit as-built drawings, pay the fees and pass inspection, which can take months and cost real money.

Fees, utilities and property tax

State law limits the impact fees a city can charge on smaller ADUs and on conversions of existing space, and it limits when a separate utility connection can be required.

Larger new units can still carry impact fees, school fees and water or sewer connection charges, so ask for an itemized estimate before you commit to plans. New construction is generally reassessed for property tax under Prop 13, which means an ADU can raise the bill for the whole property. Our Prop 13 guide explains how reassessment works.

Why ADUs matter for resale

A permitted ADU can add rental income and appeal for some buyers, but an unpermitted one can complicate financing and appraisal. Lenders typically want permitted living area, and an appraiser may not count unpermitted space.

Because an ADU generally cannot be sold separately from the main home, its value comes through the sale of the whole property.

If you inherited a house with an old backyard unit, or bought one with a converted garage, check what the city has on file before you decide how to sell. Our probate home sale guide covers inherited property.

How to sell a house in Bellflower

1. Check which structures on the property are permitted ADUs, conversions or unpermitted.
2. Collect permits, plans and any city notices.
3. Request a no-obligation cash offer for the house as it stands.
4. Choose your closing date.
5. Close with no legalization, repairs or showings required.

See also our Bellflower page and the Los Angeles County hub.

Frequently asked questions

Does Bellflower allow ADUs?

Yes. The city’s Planning FAQ says ADUs are allowed on residentially zoned properties.

What is the maximum ADU size in Bellflower?

The ordinance caps an attached or detached ADU at 1,200 square feet of gross area.

Can I rent my Bellflower ADU short term?

No. Rentals must be for 30 days or longer under section 17.17.020B.

Do I need to live on site with a junior ADU?

Yes. The owner must occupy the single-family residence or the JADU.

What fees apply to a Bellflower ADU?

Development impact fees proportional to the primary home’s size, a separate utility connection with possible connection fees, and inspection and permit fees, except as state law provides.

Can I sell my Bellflower house with an unpermitted ADU or garage conversion?

Yes. You can disclose it and sell as-is, including to a cash buyer. Our statewide guide explains the disclosure rules.

More guides

• We Buy Houses in Bellflower
• We Buy Houses in Los Angeles County
• Los Angeles County Property Tax Guide
• Bellflower Building Permits Guide
• Bellflower Code Enforcement Guide
• All California Guides

Sources

• Bellflower Municipal Code Chapter 17.17: Accessory Dwelling Units
• City of Bellflower: Planning FAQs
• City of Bellflower: Planning Applications, Permits and Handouts
• California HCD: Accessory Dwelling Units

This guide is general information from public sources, not legal advice. Confirm current rules, fees and hours with the city.