Beverly Hills Zoning and ADU Guide for Homeowners

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

Beverly Hills publishes ADU Development Guides and a Preapproved ADU Program through Community Development, and its zoning code and maps are available on the city’s Development Codes & Guidelines pages. This guide points Beverly Hills homeowners to the city’s ADU resources, explains how the preapproved plan path works in general terms, and covers what to do if your home has an older garage conversion or unpermitted unit.

The page excerpts I could read do not give a full size table, so confirm figures with Planning.

Beverly Hills ADUs at a glance

Planning and zoning phone	(310) 285-1000
City ADU resources	ADU Development Guides; Preapproved ADU Program property owner guide and submittal checklist
Height (per city guide excerpt)	Per underlying zone or 25 feet, whichever is lower, for the unit type shown
Setbacks (per city guide excerpt)	Sides and rear of 4 feet for one unit type; sufficient for fire safety for another
Zoning resources	Zoning Code & Maps, Development Codes & Guidelines, residential submittal requirements
Building permit	Required for ADUs; the city’s residential submittal list names accessory structures and ADUs
Plan check validity	545 calendar days from payment of the plan check fee
Permit validity	One year, extended 180 days after the last successful inspection

What the city publishes

The city’s ADU Development Guides page lays out development standards by unit type in a table.

The excerpt I could read shows height limited to the underlying zone or 25 feet, whichever is lower, and side and rear setbacks that are 4 feet for one type and described as sufficient for fire safety for another.

The city’s Development Codes & Guidelines page also describes ADUs as attached or detached units and points to zoning resources including maps and codes.

The Building & Safety residential submittal requirements list accessory dwelling units alongside retaining walls over 3 feet, garden walls over 6 feet, swimming pools and spas, and other accessory structures. That means an ADU needs full plans and a building permit, not just a zoning check.

Preapproved ADU Program

Beverly Hills offers a Preapproved ADU Program with a property owner guide and a submittal checklist.

Preapproved plans are designs the city has already reviewed, which can shorten the process because the plans themselves do not need a fresh design review, though the plans must still be fitted to your lot and submitted with a building permit application.

The checklist describes the supporting documents to submit with the preapproved plan. Ask Community Development whether your lot and zone qualify, and what site-specific work remains.

Zoning, lots and the permit path

Beverly Hills has distinct single-family and multi-family zones, a Mixed Use Overlay Zone and a Height District Map that sets height limits for new buildings in multi-family areas.

For single-family lots, the most useful starting point is the zoning code and map, then a call to Planning at (310) 285-1000 to confirm which standards apply to your lot.

Once the design is set, the permit path is the same one described in our building permits guide: submit through the Permit Center, pay plan check fees, and schedule inspections through CitySmart.

State ADU law and Beverly Hills

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 Beverly Hills 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 Beverly Hills 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 Beverly Hills

1. Ask the city for the permit record on any ADU or conversion.
2. Collect plans, inspection records 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 repairs, legalization or showings required.

See also our Beverly Hills page, the Beverly Hills as-is sale page, the Beverly Hills cash offer process and the Los Angeles County hub.

Frequently asked questions

Does Beverly Hills allow ADUs?

Yes. The city publishes ADU Development Guides and a Preapproved ADU Program, and state law requires cities to permit ADUs.

Does Beverly Hills have preapproved ADU plans?

Yes. The city has a Preapproved ADU Program with a property owner guide and submittal checklist. Ask Community Development whether your lot qualifies.

Do I need a building permit for an ADU in Beverly Hills?

Yes. The city’s residential submittal requirements list accessory dwelling units among the work that needs plans and a permit.

What height and setbacks apply to a Beverly Hills ADU?

The city’s guide excerpt shows height per the underlying zone or 25 feet, whichever is lower, and a 4-foot side and rear setback for one unit type. Confirm the figure for your unit type with Planning.

Who do I call about zoning in Beverly Hills?

Community Development at (310) 285-1000.

Can I sell my Beverly Hills 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 Beverly Hills
• We Buy Houses in Los Angeles County
• Los Angeles County Property Tax Guide
• Beverly Hills Building Permits Guide
• Beverly Hills Code Enforcement Guide
• Sell a Beverly Hills House As-Is
• Beverly Hills Cash Offer Process
• Sell My Beverly Hills House Fast
• All California Guides

Sources

• City of Beverly Hills: ADU Development Guides
• City of Beverly Hills: Development Codes & Guidelines
• City of Beverly Hills: Residential Submittal Requirements

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