Beverly Hills · Building on your lot

Building on a hillside in Beverly Hills

Structures in the Hillside Area are limited to 26 feet, with other limits for uphill lots, slope or fill construction and small level pads.

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Key points

Hillside height: Structures in the Hillside Area are limited to 26 feet, with other limits for uphill lots, slope or fill construction and small level pads.

Each rule below links to the section of the Beverly Hills Municipal Code it was read from, with the code text one click away (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

What Beverly Hills's code says

Beverly Hills code What Beverly Hills's code adds
Height on hillside lots	At most 26 feet. Applies: Structures in the Hillside Area; other limits apply to view preservation lots, uphill lots, building over a slope or fill, and small level pads. § 10-3-2503 · code text the maximum permitted height for a structure constructed on a site area in the Hillside Area shall be twenty six feet (26'). Up to 30 feet. Applies: Inside a height envelope starting at 22 feet at the front setback line and rising toward the rear at a 33-degree slope. § 10-3-2503 · code text However, a structure may exceed this height if the structure is constructed within a height envelope that begins at twenty two feet (22') in height at the front setback line and increases toward the rear of the site at a thirty three degree (33°) slope to a maximum height of thirty feet (30'). Up to 30 feet, inside an envelope from 14 feet at the pad setback line rising at 33 degrees. Applies: Uphill lot whose level pad is at least 10 feet higher than any adjacent part of a street. § 10-3-2503 · code text the structures constructed on that site area shall be constructed within a height envelope that begins at fourteen feet (14') in height at the level pad setback line and increases toward the center of the level pad at a slope of thirty three degrees (33°) to a height of thirty feet (30'). At most 30 feet. Applies: The part of a building on the level pad, when the building extends at least 20 feet past the pad edge. § 10-3-2503 · code text the maximum permitted height for that portion of the building located on the pad shall be thirty feet (30'). The maximum permitted height for a structure constructed over a slope shall be twenty two feet (22'). At most 22 feet. Applies: Structure built over a slope; no more than 55 feet from the lowest exposed point to the highest element. § 10-3-2503 · code text The maximum permitted height for a structure constructed over a slope shall be twenty two feet (22'). At most 26 feet. Applies: Within 40 feet of the front setback line, on a site with no level pad or a pad of 750 square feet or less. § 10-3-2503 · code text the maximum height of that portion of a structure within forty feet (40') of the front setback line of the site shall be twenty six feet (26'). At most 22 feet. Applies: More than 40 feet from the front setback line, on a site with no pad or a pad up to 750 square feet. § 10-3-2503 · code text For that portion of a structure located more than forty feet (40') from a front setback line, the maximum height shall be twenty two feet (22').
When hillside rules apply	Slopes steeper than 33.3% (1 vertical in 3 horizontal). Applies: New buildings and additions on or into such slopes must meet hillside seismic design rules; non-habitable accessory buildings and detached decks are exempt. § 1613.9 · code text The purpose of this section is to establish minimum regulations for the design and construction of new buildings and additions to existing buildings when constructing such buildings on or into slopes steeper than one unit vertical in three units horizontal (33.3%).

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

What extra rules apply to a hillside lot in Beverly Hills?

Structures in the Hillside Area are limited to 26 feet, with other limits for uphill lots, slope or fill construction and small level pads.

General information, not legal advice.

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Ask GoCodebook how Beverly Hills's building on a hillside rules apply to your situation and get an answer that cites the section.

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