Bell Gardens Zoning and ADU Guide for Homeowners

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

Bell Gardens regulates accessory dwelling units in Section 9.20.036 of its municipal code, which allows detached and attached ADUs up to 850 square feet for a studio or one-bedroom and 1,000 square feet for two bedrooms or more, and junior ADUs up to 500 square feet. This guide summarizes the city’s published ADU standards, review timing, parking and rental rules, and what they mean if you own or are buying a home with a converted garage or backyard unit.

Bell Gardens ADU rules at a glance

Governing section	Bell Gardens Municipal Code Section 9.20.036
ADU size	850 sq ft for a studio or one-bedroom; 1,000 sq ft for two or more bedrooms; minimum 150 sq ft; attached ADU no more than 50 percent of the primary dwelling
Junior ADU	Up to 500 sq ft, inside the existing or proposed single-family dwelling; one per lot
Height	Attached: 25 ft or the primary dwelling limit, whichever is lower; detached: 16 ft, or 18 ft near qualifying transit
Setbacks	4 feet side, street side and rear; none for conversions of existing space
Parking	One space per ADU or per bedroom, whichever is less, with several exemptions
Review time	60 days from a complete application
Contact	Planning Division (562) 806-7722, planning@bellgardens.org

Size, height and setbacks

Section 9.20.036 sets the maximum size of an attached or detached ADU at 850 square feet for a studio or one-bedroom unit and 1,000 square feet for a unit with two or more bedrooms, with a 150 square foot minimum. An attached ADU cannot exceed 50 percent of the existing primary dwelling.

An ADU created within existing space cannot be expanded beyond 150 square feet beyond the same physical dimensions, with the extension limited to ingress and egress.

Attached ADUs may be up to 25 feet or the primary dwelling’s height limit, whichever is lower, and no more than two stories. Detached ADUs are limited to 16 feet, or 18 feet within one-half mile walking distance of a major transit stop or high-quality transit corridor. First-story side, street side and rear setbacks are 4 feet, and no setback is required where the unit converts existing living area or an accessory structure.

Junior ADUs

A junior ADU must be built entirely within the walls of an existing or proposed single-family dwelling, may not exceed 500 square feet, and is limited to one per residential lot.

It needs a separate exterior entrance and an efficient kitchen, may share sanitation facilities if an interior entry is provided, cannot be sold apart from the main home, and requires a recorded deed restriction before the building permit is finalized.

The owner must live in either the main home or the junior ADU unless the owner is a governmental agency, land trust or housing organization.

Parking, rentals and review time

The city requires one parking space per ADU or per bedroom, whichever is less, and allows tandem parking or parking in a side or rear setback.

Parking is not required in several cases, including within half a mile walking distance of public transit, inside an existing home or accessory structure, or where a garage is converted. Neither an ADU nor a junior ADU may be rented for fewer than 31 days.

Applications are processed ministerially, without a hearing, within 60 days of a complete application, and the clock is tolled for applicant delays.

Pre-approved plans and fees

The city runs a Preapproved Accessory Dwelling Unit Plans Program and warns that each standard plan must be updated when Bell Gardens adopts new building codes, policies or zoning regulations. Its ADU page also states that ADUs under 750 square feet are exempt from development impact fees. Contact the Planning Division at (562) 806-7722 or planning@bellgardens.org with project questions.

State ADU law and Bell Gardens

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 Bell Gardens 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 Bell Gardens 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 Bell Gardens

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 Bell Gardens page and the Los Angeles County hub.

Frequently asked questions

What is the maximum ADU size in Bell Gardens?

The city’s code allows 850 square feet for a studio or one-bedroom ADU and 1,000 square feet for two or more bedrooms, with attached ADUs capped at 50 percent of the primary dwelling.

How big can a junior ADU be?

Up to 500 square feet, built within the walls of an existing or proposed single-family home.

What are the ADU setbacks?

Four feet on the side, street side and rear for new first-story construction. No setback is required for conversions of existing space.

How long does the city have to review an ADU?

Sixty days from a complete application, under Section 9.20.036.

Can I rent an ADU short term?

No. The code bars rentals under 31 days for ADUs and junior ADUs.

Can I sell my Bell Gardens 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 Bell Gardens
• We Buy Houses in Los Angeles County
• Los Angeles County Property Tax Guide
• Bell Gardens Building Permits Guide
• Bell Gardens Code Enforcement Guide
• All California Guides

Sources

• Bell Gardens Municipal Code Chapter 9.20: Special Uses and Applicable Standards
• City of Bell Gardens: Accessory Dwelling Units
• City of Bell Gardens: Preapproved ADU Plans Program
• City of Bell Gardens: Building and Safety

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