Bell Gardens · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Bell Gardens

Bell Gardens requires city approval for new masonry walls and limits how much of the rear yard accessory structures cover. Home businesses need a permit and may not serve customers on site.

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Key points

Masonry walls: Bell Gardens requires city planner approval for new masonry walls, including replacing more than 50% of a wall.
Accessory structures: Bell Gardens limits all accessory structures combined to 45% of the required rear yard area.
Home business: Bell Gardens home businesses need a permit; no customers may be served on the premises and no non-resident employees are allowed.

Each rule below is marked Bell Gardens code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

Fences and walls

Bell Gardens code What Bell Gardens's code adds
Permit	Yes. The city planner must approve new masonry walls. Applies: New masonry walls, including replacing more than 50% of a wall. § 9.32.090 · code text New wall construction on all property subject to the city's jurisdiction must be approved by the city planner.

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Bell Gardens code Bell Gardens limits all accessory structures combined to 45% of the required rear yard area.

All 5 Bell Gardens rules on sheds, garages and other accessory structures, with the code text →

Running a business from home

Bell Gardens code What Bell Gardens's code adds
Customer visits	No customers may be served on the premises. Applies: All home businesses. § 9.20.107 · code text No customer shall be served on the premises, and no pedestrian or vehicular traffic shall be generated beyond that incidental to a residential use.
Employees	Only family members who live in the home may be employed. Applies: All home businesses. § 9.20.107 · code text No person shall be employed by the permittee that is not a family member residing at the dwelling unit subject to the permit.
Permit	A home occupation permit is required. Applies: All home businesses. § 9.20.107 · code text All home occupations are subject to the home occupation operations regulatory permit requirements of this section, as well as all other applicable ordinances of the city, and laws of the county and state regulating home occupations.

RV and boat parking

Bell Gardens code What Bell Gardens's code adds
Size limit	Over 20 feet long, 80 inches wide or 80 inches high, counting mirrors and attachments. Applies: These oversized vehicles may not park on public streets between 2:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. § 13.34.010 · code text For purposes of this chapter, "oversized vehicle" shall be defined as any vehicle, whether motorized or nonmotorized, that exceeds 20 feet in length, or 80 inches in width or 80 inches in height.
Parking on the street	No parking between 2:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. Applies: Applies to oversized vehicles (over 20 feet long, 80 inches wide or 80 inches high) on any public street, park road, alley or right-of-way. § 13.34.010 · code text Except as provided in BGMC § 13.34.020 or otherwise expressly provided to the contrary herein, no person shall park, stop, or leave standing on any public street, park road, alley or right-of-way in the city any oversized vehicle between the hours of 2:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m.

Solar panels and EV chargers

Bell Gardens code What Bell Gardens's code adds
Solar permit process	Fast, nondiscretionary permit for a complete application meeting the checklist and standard plan; over the counter or by mail. § 6.30.060 · code text The building and safety division shall issue a solar building permit, the issuance of which is nondiscretionary, upon receipt of a complete application that meets the requirements of the approved checklist and standard plan.
Review time	Processed within 3 days after the solar permit fee is paid. Applies: Applies to a complete application that meets the approved checklist and standard plan. § 6.30.060 · code text An application will be processed in a timely manner, but within no later than three days, upon payment of the applicable solar building permit fees to the building division through either mail and/or in person (over-the-counter).

Swimming pools

Bell Gardens code No opening larger than 6 inches square. At least 5 feet tall.

All 5 Bell Gardens rules on swimming pools, with the code text →

Pets, chickens and bees

Bell Gardens code What Bell Gardens's code adds
Bees	No, beehives are not allowed. § 15.05.010 · code text No person shall keep or maintain, or suffer or permit to be kept or maintained, upon premises owned or controlled by him or it in the city, a hive of bees.

Park and impact fees for new homes

Bell Gardens code What Bell Gardens's code adds
Exemptions	Rebuilding after fire, explosion or natural disaster adding under 1,000 square feet; work under a valid earlier building permit. Applies: Owners must apply for an exemption; the department grants it. § 3.27.030 · code text The reconstruction of any building destroyed or damaged by fire, explosion, natural catastrophe, or act of God to the extent that the reconstruction does not add to the floor area of the structure which existed prior to its being damaged or destroyed, or where such additional floor area is less than 1,000 square feet.

Noise and construction hours

Bell Gardens code What Bell Gardens's code adds
Construction hours on weekdays	8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Applies: Every day; outdoor construction in or within 500 feet of a residential zone that annoys neighbors; a prior city permit or emergency work is exempt. § 16.24.120 · code text Between the hours of 7:00 p.m. of one day and 8:00 a.m. of the next day, it is unlawful for any person within a residential zone, or within a radius of 500 feet therefrom, to operate equipment, or perform any outside construction or repair work

Family child care homes

CA state law California law
Zoning	A small or large family child care home is a residential use and a use by right under all local ordinances, including zoning Health & Safety Code § 1597.45(a)
Business license or fee	A city or county may not charge a business license, fee or tax to run a family child care home Health & Safety Code § 1597.45(b)
Local rules	Local limits on height, setbacks, lot size, health and safety must be the same as for every other home in the same zone Health & Safety Code § 1597.45(e)
Small home	Up to eight children, counting the provider's own children under 10 who live there Health & Safety Code § 1596.78(c)
Large home	7 to 14 children, counting the provider's own children under 10 who live there Health & Safety Code § 1596.78(b)

Group homes and residential care

Bell Gardens code What Bell Gardens's code adds
Homes for 7 or more	Conditional use permit required. Applies: Residential care facilities serving 7 to 15 persons; a written management plan must also be approved before occupancy. § 9.20.137 · code text The property shall be operated in compliance with applicable state, federal, and local law and in conformance with the management and operating plan and rules of conduct submitted as part of the application for a conditional use permit or as identified in the conditions of approval for a conditional use permit.
Distance between homes	At least 300 feet apart. Applies: Between residential care facilities serving 7 to 15 persons. § 9.20.137 · code text A residential care facility serving seven to 15 persons shall not be located any closer than 300 feet to another residential care facility serving seven to 15 persons.

Home alarm permits and false alarms

Bell Gardens code The fine amount is set by resolution of the city council. The fine amount is set by resolution of the city council.

All 4 Bell Gardens rules on home alarm permits and false alarms, with the code text →

Signs on homes

Bell Gardens code Remove within 30 days after the election. One six-square-foot on-site real estate sign for each frontage on a public street; remove within 30 days after the sale, lease or disposition of the property

All 3 Bell Gardens rules on signs on homes, with the code text →

Trash and recycling carts

Bell Gardens code On the curb or parkway in front of the home, only during the hours set for collection Place the container on the premises within 5 feet of the property line.

All 5 Bell Gardens rules on trash and recycling carts, with the code text →

Other Bell Gardens rules on this

Bell Gardens's code also has these chapters. We have not summarized their values on this page yet; read them in the library.

Building in a flood hazard area (§ 6.25.050)
Garage sale days and hours (§ 5.32.010)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Bell Gardens?

Bell Gardens requires city planner approval for new masonry walls, including replacing more than 50% of a wall.

Can I run a business from my home in Bell Gardens?

Bell Gardens home businesses need a permit; no customers may be served on the premises and no non-resident employees are allowed.

Can I park an RV or boat at my home in Bell Gardens?

Bell Gardens's code: Over 20 feet long, 80 inches wide or 80 inches high, counting mirrors and attachments. (These oversized vehicles may not park on public streets between 2:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m.) (§ 13.34.010).

Do I need a permit for solar panels or an EV charger in Bell Gardens?

Bell Gardens's code: Fast, nondiscretionary permit for a complete application meeting the checklist and standard plan; over the counter or by mail. (§ 6.30.060); Processed within 3 days after the solar permit fee is paid. (Applies to a complete application that meets the approved checklist and standard plan.) (§ 6.30.060).

Can I keep chickens or bees at my home in Bell Gardens?

Bell Gardens's code: No, beehives are not allowed. (§ 15.05.010).

What are the noise rules and construction hours in Bell Gardens?

Bell Gardens's code: 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. (Every day; outdoor construction in or within 500 feet of a residential zone that annoys neighbors; a prior city permit or emergency work is exempt.) (§ 16.24.120).

Can I run a family child care home in Bell Gardens?

California law sets this for every city, including Bell Gardens: Zoning: A small or large family child care home is a residential use and a use by right under all local ordinances, including zoning (Health & Safety Code § 1597.45(a)); Business license or fee: A city or county may not charge a business license, fee or tax to run a family child care home (Health & Safety Code § 1597.45(b)); Local rules: Local limits on height, setbacks, lot size, health and safety must be the same as for every other home in the same zone (Health & Safety Code § 1597.45(e)); Small home: Up to eight children, counting the provider's own children under 10 who live there (Health & Safety Code § 1596.78(c)); Large home: 7 to 14 children, counting the provider's own children under 10 who live there (Health & Safety Code § 1596.78(b)).

Where are group homes and residential care homes allowed in Bell Gardens?

Bell Gardens's code: Conditional use permit required. (Residential care facilities serving 7 to 15 persons; a written management plan must also be approved before occupancy.) (§ 9.20.137); At least 300 feet apart. (Between residential care facilities serving 7 to 15 persons.) (§ 9.20.137).

General information, not legal advice.

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