Beaumont Zoning and ADU Guide for Homeowners

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

Beaumont publishes separate pages for single-family ADUs, multi-family ADUs and junior ADUs, with size, setback and conversion rules from its Planning Department. This guide summarizes what the city’s ADU pages say, how garage conversions are treated, and what to check before you sell a house with an extra unit. The pages are excerpted here, so confirm the full standards and any recent state-law updates with Planning at 951-769-8518.

Beaumont ADU rules at a glance

Where allowed	Lots zoned residential, including residential mixed-use, developed with existing or proposed housing
Detached ADU size	Up to 850 sq ft for a studio or one-bedroom; up to 1,200 sq ft with two or more bedrooms
Minimum unit size	150 sq ft, per the city’s multi-family ADU page
Setbacks	Minimum side and rear setbacks of four feet or less; confirm the exact wording with Planning
Garage conversions	The garage door must be removed and replaced with windows or a door, with conditions on street-facing doors
JADU	Allowed within the walls of a proposed or existing single-family residence; state law caps it at 500 sq ft
Planning contact	951-769-8518 or planning@beaumontca.gov
Review period	State law requires ministerial review within 60 days of a complete application

Where Beaumont allows ADUs

The city’s single-family ADU page says an accessory dwelling unit can be permitted on lots zoned for residential use, including residential mixed-use, that are developed with existing or proposed housing. Beaumont breaks its guidance into three pages: single-family ADUs, multi-family ADUs and junior ADUs.

Start with the page that matches your property, because the rules for a single-family lot are not the same as those for a lot with an existing multi-family building.

Size and setbacks

For a detached single-family ADU, the city says the maximum unit size is 850 square feet for a studio or one-bedroom unit and 1,200 square feet for a unit with two or more bedrooms. The multi-family page repeats those maximums and lists a minimum unit size of 150 square feet.

The city’s page also states that minimum side and rear setbacks are four feet, and it mentions that a limited addition of up to 150 square feet can accompany certain conversions.

The excerpts we could read were cut off in places, so check the full page and the municipal code for the conditions, especially if your lot is small, sloped or irregular.

Garage conversions

The city’s JADU and ADU pages explain that when a garage is converted to an ADU, the garage door shall be removed and replaced with either windows or a door, provided the door does not face the street, with exceptions the page spells out.

If you converted a garage years ago without a permit, the old garage door may still be visible from the street, which is often how a buyer’s agent or inspector first notices the problem.

That is a good reason to look at what the city has on file before you list.

Junior ADUs

The city allows junior ADUs within the walls of a proposed or existing single-family residence. State law limits a junior ADU to 500 square feet and requires an efficiency kitchen, an owner-occupancy covenant and a recorded deed restriction. Ask Planning how Beaumont applies owner occupancy on your lot.

If you are selling a house that already contains a junior ADU, ask the city whether the restriction was recorded, because the next owner will inherit it.

State ADU law and Beaumont

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 Beaumont 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 Beaumont 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 Beaumont

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 Beaumont page and the Riverside County hub.

Frequently asked questions

Does Beaumont allow ADUs?

Yes. The city’s pages allow ADUs on lots zoned residential, including residential mixed-use, that are developed with existing or proposed housing. It publishes pages for single-family ADUs, multi-family ADUs and junior ADUs.

How big can a Beaumont ADU be?

The city says a detached single-family ADU can be up to 850 square feet for a studio or one-bedroom and up to 1,200 square feet for two or more bedrooms.

What setbacks apply?

The city’s page lists minimum side and rear setbacks of four feet. Confirm the exact wording and any exceptions with Planning.

What happens to the garage door in a conversion?

The city says the garage door must be removed and replaced with windows or a door, with conditions on doors that face the street.

Are junior ADUs allowed?

Yes, within the walls of a proposed or existing single-family home. State law limits them to 500 square feet.

Can I sell a Beaumont house with an unpermitted ADU?

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 Beaumont
• We Buy Houses in Riverside County
• Riverside County Property Tax Guide
• Beaumont Building Permits Guide
• Beaumont Code Enforcement Guide
• La Quinta Building Permits Guide
• Indio Building Permits Guide
• All California Guides

Sources

• City of Beaumont: Single Family Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU)
• City of Beaumont: Single Family ADUs, detailed standards
• City of Beaumont: Multi-Family Accessory Dwelling Units
• City of Beaumont: Junior Accessory Dwelling Units
• City of Beaumont: Planning FAQ
• 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.