Bellflower · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Bellflower

Bellflower's accessory-building rules cover its A-E Agricultural Estate and R-3 Multiple Residential zones. A business run from home by phone, mail or fax needs a city business license.

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Key points

Accessory buildings: Bellflower limits accessory buildings to one story or 20 feet, whichever is less, in the A-E zone, and 15 feet in R-3.
Home business: Bellflower requires a home occupation business license for a business run from home by phone, mail or fax; the tax is $50 a year.

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

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Bellflower code Bellflower limits accessory buildings to one story or 20 feet, whichever is less, in the A-E zone, and 15 feet in R-3.

All 11 Bellflower rules on sheds, garages and other accessory structures, with the code text →

Running a business from home

Bellflower code What Bellflower's code adds
Permit	A home occupation business license is required. Applies: A business run from the home by phone, mail or fax. The license tax is $50 per year. § 5.08.450 · code text Every person engaged in a business conducted from his or her residence by the use of his or her phone, mail or fax is required to obtain a home occupation business license

RV and boat parking

Bellflower code No street parking between 12:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. without a permit. 1 to 3 days per permit.

All 4 Bellflower rules on RV and boat parking, with the code text →

Solar panels and EV chargers

Bellflower code The application may be sent by e-mail or delivered to the Building Official. The Building Official must approve an application that meets the checklist and standards; decision within 30 days.

All 3 Bellflower rules on solar panels and EV chargers, with the code text →

Swimming pools

Bellflower code What Bellflower's code adds
Setback from property lines	At least 5 feet from side and rear property lines. Applies: Applies to the pool's substructure. § 17.16.140 · code text The substructure of swimming pools shall be located not less than five feet from any side or rear property line

Pets, chickens and bees

Bellflower code What Bellflower's code adds
Large animals	1 horse, cow, steer, sheep or goat; they may stay for life but cannot be replaced after death. Applies: Applies to former A-1 zoned lots, as of 1998, of 10,000 square feet or more; 1 unit per 5,000 square feet. § 17.92.050 · code text For properties previously zoned A-1 (Agricultural Residential Zone), as of 1998, which were allowed one horse, cow, steer, sheep, or goat; or a unit of 25 hens, capons, fowl, rabbits, or chinchillas on lots of 10,000 square feet or more in increments of one unit per 5,000 square feet; these animals will be allowed to remain on the property for their natural life. Upon the death of the animals they cannot be replaced.

Park and impact fees for new homes

Bellflower code What Bellflower's code adds
Exemptions	Park land or the in-lieu fee is deferred for new units covenant-restricted to low- and moderate-income or senior households. Applies: When the restriction ends, the owner then pays a fee based on the land's value at that time. § 3.36.040 · code text Upon termination of such restriction, the then current owner of the unit shall pay to the City a fee based upon the then current fair market value of the land and in accordance with the density factor in effect at the time the restriction terminates.

Garage and yard sales

Bellflower code What Bellflower's code adds
Permit	A license tax of $5 per day of the sale. § 5.08.380 · code text every person managing, conducting, or operating a garage sale, yard sale or patio sale shall pay a license tax of $5 per day for each day such garage sale, yard sale or patio sale is conducted or operating.

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

Bellflower code One-half parking space for each bedroom. Conditional use permit approved by the Planning Commission.

All 6 Bellflower rules on group homes and residential care, with the code text →

Parking spaces required for homes

Bellflower code What Bellflower's code adds
Parking in the front yard	Parking spaces, garages and carports may not project into a required front or side street yard. § 17.88.030 · code text Parking spaces, garages and carports shall not project into any required front or side street yard and shall be located on the same building site as the residential unit which they serve.

Signs on homes

Bellflower code What Bellflower's code adds
Election and other noncommercial signs	Up to 6 square feet each. Applies: Temporary election season signs in a residential district. § 17.68.155 · code text Each temporary election season sign in a residential district cannot be larger than six square feet. Displayed no more than 45 days before and no more than 7 days after an election. Applies: Temporary election season signs. § 17.68.155 · code text A temporary election season sign is a sign displayed not more than 45 days before, and not more than seven days following, any election in which residents of the City of Bellflower are eligible to vote. Remove within 7 calendar days after the election. Applies: Temporary election season signs. § 17.68.155 · code text Must be removed within seven calendar days after the election to which it relates.

Trash and recycling carts

Bellflower code What Bellflower's code adds
When carts must come back	Containers may not remain after 8:00 p.m. on the designated collection day. Applies: Lots in R zones. § 13.24.050 · code text nor shall any person permit such receptacle or bulky material to remain thereat after 8:00 p.m. on the designated day of collection.
When carts may go to the curb	Not before 6:00 p.m. on the day before collection Applies: R-zoned lots § 13.24.050 · code text nor before 6:00 p.m. on the day immediately prior to the day designated for such collection

Other Bellflower rules on this

Bellflower'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 (Ch. 15.36)
Erosion controls for construction and grading (§ 13.20.120)
Noise rules, including blowers and mowers (Ch. 8.32)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

Can I run a business from my home in Bellflower?

Bellflower requires a home occupation business license for a business run from home by phone, mail or fax; the tax is $50 a year.

What are the pool fence and setback rules in Bellflower?

Bellflower's code: At least 5 feet from side and rear property lines. (Applies to the pool's substructure.) (§ 17.16.140).

What are the garage sale rules in Bellflower?

Bellflower's code: A license tax of $5 per day of the sale. (§ 5.08.380).

Can I run a family child care home in Bellflower?

California law sets this for every city, including Bellflower: 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)).

How many parking spaces does a home need in Bellflower?

Bellflower's code: Parking spaces, garages and carports may not project into a required front or side street yard. (§ 17.88.030).

What signs may I put up at my home in Bellflower?

Bellflower's code: Up to 6 square feet each. (Temporary election season signs in a residential district.) (§ 17.68.155); Displayed no more than 45 days before and no more than 7 days after an election. (Temporary election season signs.) (§ 17.68.155).

When can trash carts go out to the curb in Bellflower?

Bellflower's code: Containers may not remain after 8:00 p.m. on the designated collection day. (Lots in R zones.) (§ 13.24.050); Not before 6:00 p.m. on the day before collection (R-zoned lots) (§ 13.24.050).

General information, not legal advice.

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