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 What Bell Gardens's code adds
Size or lot coverage	No more than 45% of the required rear yard area. Applies: All accessory structures in the required rear yard area combined. § 9.46.040 · code text All combined structures do not cover more than 45 percent of the required rear yard area.
Side and rear setback	At least 5 feet from the lot line, in a required rear or interior side yard. Applies: Structures over 120 square feet and over 6 feet high in required yards. On lots over 100 feet deep, at least 75 feet from front. § 9.46.040 · code text Accessory structures greater than 120 square feet in area and more than six feet in height may be located within a required rear yard or interior side yard, but not less than five feet, provided such buildings are located: May be placed up to the rear property line. Applies: Structures less than 120 square feet and less than 6 feet high. § 9.46.040 · code text Accessory structures less than 120 square feet in area and less than six feet in height may be located up to the rear property line regardless of the distance from the front property line as long as all combined structures do not cover more than 45 percent of the required rear yard area. At least 20 feet from the center line of the alley. Applies: Detached accessory buildings with an opening more than 6 feet wide that faces an existing or proposed alley. § 9.46.040 · code text Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, a detached accessory building having an opening more than six feet wide facing an existing or proposed alley shall be located not less than 20 feet from the center line of said alley. 4 feet between the accessory building and the side property line. Applies: When a utility pole is on any property line, to give access to the pole. § 9.46.040 · code text Whenever a utility pole is situated on any property line, a distance of four feet shall be maintained between the accessory building and the side property line, providing access to said utility pole.

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 What Bell Gardens's code adds
Pool barrier	No opening larger than 6 inches square. Applies: Applies to the fence or solid structure around the pool; doors and gates are excepted. § 16.32.020 · code text with no opening therein (other than doors or gates) larger than six inches square.
Barrier height	At least 5 feet tall. Applies: Applies to the fence or solid structure fully surrounding the pool or the lot. § 16.32.020 · code text Every person in possession of land within the city upon which is situated a swimming pool, either as owner, purchaser under contract, lessee, tenant, or licensee, shall at all times maintain on the lot or premises upon which the pool is located, a fence or solid structure, completely surrounding such pool, lot or premises, not less than five feet in height
Gates	A self-closing and/or self-latching device that keeps the gate or door closed when not in use. Applies: Applies to all gates or doors through the enclosure, except the door of an occupied dwelling that forms part of it. § 16.32.020 · code text All gates or doors opening through such enclosures shall be equipped with a self-closing and/or self-latching device designed to keep, and capable of keeping, the door or gate securely closed at all times when not in actual use; provided, however, that the door of any dwelling occupied by human beings and forming any part of the enclosure required need not be so equipped.
Maintenance and empty pools	Keep the pool from breeding mosquitoes; empty and keep dry any abandoned or out-of-service pool. Applies: Applies to all owners of property with a pool and all pool operators. § 16.32.040 · code text All owners of property that contain a swimming pool and all operators of a swimming pool shall at all times properly maintain and operate the swimming pool in a manner that does not allow the swimming pool to become a breeding place for mosquitoes, including emptying and keeping dry a swimming pool that is abandoned and/or not in service.
Permit	Plans submitted to the city must show the pool meets the rules; final approval is withheld until it does. Applies: Applies to new swimming pools. § 16.32.030 · code text All plans submitted to the city for swimming pools to be constructed shall show compliance with the requirements of BGMC § 16.32.020. Final inspection and approval of all pools constructed shall be withheld until all requirements of BGMC § 16.32.020 have been complied with.

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.

Who this affects

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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.

How big can a shed or accessory building be in Bell Gardens?

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

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); No parking between 2:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. (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).

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).

What are the pool fence and setback rules in Bell Gardens?

Bell Gardens's code: No opening larger than 6 inches square. (Applies to the fence or solid structure around the pool; doors and gates are excepted.) (§ 16.32.020); At least 5 feet tall. (Applies to the fence or solid structure fully surrounding the pool or the lot.) (§ 16.32.020).

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

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

General information, not legal advice.

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