ADU Constructionin Bell Gardens, CA
ADU construction in Bell Gardens is approved ministerially, without a hearing, within 60 days of a complete application under Municipal Code 9.20.036. A new ADU may be up to 850 square feet for a studio or one bedroom and 1,000 for two or more, with 4 foot side and rear setbacks and no replacement parking for a converted garage.
Bell Gardens is built out. The City says it has been fully developed since it incorporated on August 1, 1961, on 1,536 acres, and the Housing Element says most residential properties already hold several single-family units on one lot of about 50 by 150 feet. So ADU construction here is mostly about fitting one more unit behind or beside small houses from the 1930s to the 1950s, not about open land.
This page covers lot layout, size and height, garage conversions, plan check, utilities and ground conditions, and fees and rentals. Prices and the phase timeline are on our ADU construction page, and the Bell Gardens overview lists our other trades here. The City's website blocked our tools, so the ordinance text comes from the GoCodebook mirror of the municipal code; confirm it with the Planning Division before you design.
What Bell Gardens' ADU ordinance requires
Where adu construction permits come from in Bell Gardens: City of Bell Gardens Community Development Department, Building and Safety Division.
- BGMC 9.20.036 implements Government Code 66310 to 66342 and requires ADU and JADU applications to be processed ministerially, without a hearing, within 60 days of a complete application. The City must send a list of deficiencies within that period if it denies or deems an application incomplete, and a requested delay tolls the 60 days.
- An ADU or JADU created within the existing walls and roof of a primary dwelling or accessory structure needs only a building permit, with no further review by the community development director, while a newly constructed attached or detached ADU goes through ministerial site plan review by the director, with a dimensioned site plan, floor plans, roof plan and elevations. Approval cannot be conditioned on fixing nonconforming zoning conditions.
- Newly built ADUs in Bell Gardens are capped at 850 square feet for a studio or one bedroom and 1,000 square feet for two or more bedrooms, an attached ADU may not exceed 50 percent of the existing primary dwelling, a converted ADU may not grow more than 150 square feet beyond the existing structure and then only for access, and the minimum size is 150 square feet (BGMC 9.20.036.F).
- BGMC 9.20.036 requires 4 foot first-story side, street side and rear setbacks for new ADUs, no setbacks when converting existing living area, an accessory structure or a structure rebuilt in the same location and dimensions, and says the development standards cannot be applied in a way that prevents an ADU of at least 800 square feet at the allowed height with 4 foot side and rear setbacks.
- Detached ADU height in Bell Gardens is 16 feet, or 18 feet within one half mile walking distance of a major transit stop or high-quality transit corridor, plus up to 2 feet to match the primary roof pitch. An attached ADU may be 25 feet or the primary dwelling's height limit, whichever is lower, and an ADU may not exceed two stories (BGMC 9.20.036.F).
- ADU parking is one space per ADU or per bedroom, whichever is less, and may be tandem or in a setback, but none is required within one half mile walking distance of public transit, inside the primary residence or an accessory structure, in a historic district, where on-street permits are required but not offered to the occupant, within one block of a car share vehicle, or when applied for with a new house. Replacement parking is not required when a garage or carport is demolished or converted (BGMC 9.20.036.F).
- BGMC 9.20.036.F requires an ADU's exterior to match the primary or accessory structures on the lot in material, texture, paint color, trim, window and door details, and its roof to match the roof of the existing primary dwelling or accessory structure in style, material and color, which ties ADU work to the roofing, painting and window trades.
- On a lot with a single-family home Bell Gardens allows one ADU (new or converted) plus one JADU; on a multifamily lot it allows one ADU, or ADUs inside non-livable portions of the existing building up to 25 percent of existing units (or one), or up to eight detached ADUs (or as many as existing units), or up to two detached ADUs with a proposed multifamily building. ADUs may not be rented for less than 31 days (BGMC 9.20.036.F).
Sources for these rules
How do you build an ADU on a Bell Gardens lot that already holds several houses?
Start with what the lot holds today. Municipal Code 9.20.036 allows one ADU, new or converted, plus one junior ADU on a lot with a single-family home. A multifamily lot gets one ADU, or ADUs made from non-livable space such as storage rooms and garages up to 25 percent of the existing units (at least one), or up to eight detached ADUs not exceeding the number of existing units, or two detached ADUs alongside a proposed multifamily building.
That matters here because the Housing Element says two to four detached units per lot is the norm, while the zoning table limits the R-1 zone to one unit per lot and lets the R-2 zone hold up to three. The first job is a survey and a zoning check that count the units legally on the lot, not the buildings you can see. A backyard house that was never permitted is a separate question, covered under legalizing below.
- How many units does the City's record show on the lot?
- Where do the existing buildings sit relative to the 4 foot ADU setbacks?
- Are any structures on the lot unpermitted?
How big and how tall can a new ADU be in Bell Gardens?
A new ADU is capped at 850 square feet for a studio or one bedroom and 1,000 square feet for two or more bedrooms, with a 150 square foot minimum. An attached ADU may not exceed 50 percent of the existing house, and a converted ADU may grow only 150 square feet beyond the old walls, and only for access. A detached ADU may be 16 feet tall, or 18 feet within a half mile walk of a major transit stop or high-quality transit corridor, plus up to 2 feet to match the main roof pitch.
New ADUs need 4 foot first-story side, street side and rear setbacks, while a conversion or a rebuild in the same place and size needs none. The code adds that its standards cannot be applied so as to block an 800 square foot ADU at the allowed height with 4 foot side and rear setbacks. On a 50 foot wide lot with a house already standing, those 4 feet decide whether a backyard unit fits.
The ordinance also makes an ADU's exterior match the main house in materials, paint color, trim and window details, and its roof match in style, material and color, which ties the build to roofing, painting and window work.
Can you convert a Bell Gardens garage into an ADU, and do you replace the parking?
Yes, and no replacement parking is required. The code says replacement parking is not needed when a garage or carport is demolished or converted, and an ADU created inside existing walls and roof needs only a building permit, with no further review by the community development director. A conversion may add up to 150 square feet, and only for entry and exit access.
A garage still has to work as a home. The slab needs checking, door openings need infill walls, and the room needs egress, smoke alarms, energy documentation and a bathroom. We did not read a Bell Gardens garage conversion handout, so for a technical list we point to Los Angeles's published conversion bulletin, which asks for a separate bathroom, a separate electrical panel and a separate water shut-off. Our garage conversion steps walk through that Los Angeles checklist; ask Bell Gardens plan check what it requires.
Two parking spaces per unit is the City's normal rule on a lot with four or fewer units, so on a crowded lot ask Planning how the other houses' parking is counted once the garage is gone.
How long does an ADU permit take in Bell Gardens, and what does plan check ask for?
The City's code says ADU and JADU applications are processed ministerially, without a hearing, within 60 days of a complete application, and that an incomplete or denied application must come back with a list of deficiencies. State law, as revised for 2026 by SB 543, adds a 15 business day completeness check and treats an application as approved if the agency does not act within 60 days, in the Government Code ADU sections.
A third-party summary of the City's Building and Safety page says applicants handle any Los Angeles County Fire Department submissions themselves, that plan check wants 24 by 36 inch plans, structural calculations, energy documentation and a soil report where applicable, and that review runs Planning first, then Building plan check, then other departments. The Housing Element says plan check is contracted to an outside engineering firm, so corrections come from that firm, not from the counter.
The City handles these applications routinely. The Housing Element counted 2 ADUs permitted in 2018 and 5 in each of 2019 and 2020, with over 30 approved by June 2021. A web search also lists a City page for a Preapproved Accessory Dwelling Unit Plans Program that we could not open, so ask Planning whether pre-approved plans fit your lot.
Utilities, sewer lines and ground conditions for a backyard ADU
The ordinance says an ADU or JADU within or on a lot with an existing single-family home needs no separate utility connection or connection fee, and that utility extensions must run underground. A utility provider's own charges are a different matter, and a trench from the main house to the back of a 150 foot lot is a real cost. The City owns the sewer collection system, so ask where the new lateral may tie in before you place the bathroom.
Ground is the other question. The County's hazards layer puts 32 of 39 sample points inside Bell Gardens in the State's liquefaction zone, and the Housing Element names the Puente Hills and Elysian Park faults and says the City requires engineering reports to set design standards. The same County layer showed no Alquist-Priolo fault zone at any sample point, so the sources disagree, and we treat fault zoning as an item to confirm with the Building and Safety Division. A soil report and an engineer's foundation design are the practical answer for any new slab here.
ADU fees, rental rules and legalizing an older backyard unit in Bell Gardens
No impact fee may be charged on an ADU or JADU under 750 square feet, and fees on a larger ADU must be proportionate to the size of the main house (BGMC 9.20.036.I). An ADU built before January 1, 2020 without a permit can be legalized without impact fees and without penalty for health and safety noncompliance, which is relevant on lots that already hold several units. An ADU may not be rented for fewer than 31 days.
A JADU must be 500 square feet or less, inside the single-family house, with its own entrance and an efficiency kitchen. The City's code asks for owner occupancy of the home or the JADU, while State law revised in 2026 (AB 1154) requires it only when the JADU shares sanitation with the main house. Ask Planning which reading it applies before you sign a lease.
As the general contractor, MDG Builders (CSLB #1040337) draws the plans, files the application and manages the build, while licensed subcontractors pour the slab, frame, plumb and wire, and each can show a license and a certificate of insurance on request.
ADU photos from Bell Gardens and nearby communities
Six ADU scenes tied to Bell Gardens and neighbors such as Cudahy, Downey and South Gate, from slab and framing to finished backyard units. Tap a photo to enlarge it.
What adu construction costs around Bell Gardens
Regional ranges on our ADU construction page run roughly $100,000 to $200,000 to convert a garage and $200,000 to $400,000 for a new detached ADU of 400 to 800 square feet. Two sources anchor them: a UC Berkeley survey of 2018 and 2019 projects found a Los Angeles County median of $100,000 and $90,000 for garage conversions, and Remodeling magazine's 2025 Cost vs. Value report puts a Los Angeles ADU at $178,536. No Bell Gardens price study turned up, and the ADU cost guide explains why the older survey costs run low. The rules that differ between ADU types are laid out in ADU vs JADU in California. Neighboring cities write their own ordinances, so compare Downey, South Gate and Montebello. A backyard unit often pairs with window replacement in Bell Gardens or a room addition in Bell Gardens, and a bathroom remodel in Bell Gardens can upgrade the main house at the same visit.
| What it covers | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Garage conversion to a studio or one bedroom | $100,000 to $200,000 |
| New detached ADU, 400 to 800 sq ft | $200,000 to $400,000 |
| UC Berkeley survey, Los Angeles County median, 2018 and 2019 projects | $100,000 overall. $90,000 garage. $180,000 detached. |
| Terner Center and Berkeley CCI, 2020 | $148,000 Los Angeles estimate. $167,000 statewide average. |
| Remodeling Cost vs. Value 2025, Los Angeles | $178,536 job cost |
| Electrical and plumbing, Angi Los Angeles, January 2026 | Electrical $2,600 to $7,800. plumbing $3,900 to $10,400. |
| City permit and plan check fees | Not priced here |
Other work we manage in Bell Gardens
Bell Gardens ADU questions, answered
Do I need a permit to build an ADU in Bell Gardens?
Yes. Every ADU needs a building permit, and a new attached or detached unit also goes through ministerial site plan review by the community development director. A conversion inside existing walls needs only the building permit. The City must decide within 60 days of a complete application, without a hearing.
How big can an ADU be in California?
In Bell Gardens, a new ADU can be up to 850 square feet for a studio or one bedroom and 1,000 square feet for two or more bedrooms, and an attached ADU may not exceed 50 percent of the existing house. The minimum size is 150 square feet. Detached height is 16 feet, or 18 feet near major transit.
What is the difference between an ADU and a JADU?
An ADU is a full second home on the lot, new or converted, while a JADU is a unit of 500 square feet or less carved out of the single-family house, with its own entrance and an efficiency kitchen. A Bell Gardens single-family lot can have one of each, and a JADU adds no parking requirement.
Do I need to replace parking when I convert a garage to an ADU in Bell Gardens?
No. The City's code says replacement parking is not required when a garage or carport is demolished or converted. The ADU itself needs one space per unit or bedroom, whichever is less, with exceptions such as a half mile walk to public transit. Ask Planning how the other units on your lot are counted.
How long does it take to build an ADU in Bell Gardens?
The City must act within 60 days of a complete application, after 4 to 10 weeks of design, and our planning estimate for construction is 3 to 5 months for a garage and 5 to 9 months for a detached unit. Correction rounds add time, and we found no current City plan check timeline.
How much does it cost to build an ADU in Los Angeles County?
Roughly $100,000 to $200,000 to convert a garage and $200,000 to $400,000 for a new detached ADU of 400 to 800 square feet, and those regional ranges apply to a Bell Gardens lot because no city study exists. Soil work, utility trenching and unit size move the price most, and a written proposal sets the real number.
Can I Airbnb my ADU?
Not for short stays in Bell Gardens. The City's code bars renting an ADU for fewer than 31 days, so a month-to-month lease is the shortest term allowed. We did not read the City's separate short-term rental rules, so ask Planning before you list anything.
Can I convert an unpermitted garage or backyard unit into a legal ADU in Bell Gardens?
Possibly, if it was built before January 1, 2020. The code says such a unit can be legalized without impact fees and without penalty for health and safety noncompliance, though it still needs a permit and inspection. Start with proof of the build date and a survey, and ask Planning what the file must contain.
Can you sell an ADU separately in California?
Generally no, and Bell Gardens follows that. The City's JADU rules bar a separate sale, and State law lets an ADU be sold separately only to a qualified low-income buyer through a qualifying nonprofit or under a city condominium ordinance. We did not read a Bell Gardens condominium ordinance, so assume the ADU stays with the house.
Tell us about your Bell Gardens ADU
Send the cross streets, how many houses already stand on the lot, whether you want a garage conversion or a backyard unit and who will live there, and we will start with the zoning count and the setbacks.