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 What Bellflower's code adds
Maximum height	No more than 1 story or 20 feet, whichever is less. Applies: Accessory buildings in the A-E Agricultural Estate Zone. § 17.20.160 · code text Height of each accessory building cannot exceed one story or 20 feet, whichever is less. No more than 15 feet high. Applies: Garages or accessory structures in the R-3 Multiple Residential Zone. § 17.32.180 · code text A garage or accessory structure shall not exceed 15 feet in height or contain more than 600 square feet of floor area.
Size or lot coverage	No more than 1,000 square feet. Applies: Accessory buildings in the A-E Agricultural Estate Zone. Larger buildings may be allowed with a Conditional Use Permit. § 17.20.160 · code text The maximum size of an accessory building is 1,000 square feet. No more than 10% of the lot size or the size of the existing main home, whichever is greater. Applies: Accessory buildings in the A-E Agricultural Estate Zone. § 17.20.160 · code text An accessory building cannot exceed 10% of the lot size or the size of the existing primary dwelling, whichever is greater. No more than 600 square feet of floor area. Applies: Garages or accessory structures in the R-3 Multiple Residential Zone. § 17.32.180 · code text A garage or accessory structure shall not exceed 15 feet in height or contain more than 600 square feet of floor area.
Side and rear setback	At least 3 feet from each side and rear lot line. Applies: Detached accessory buildings or garages in the A-E Agricultural Estate Zone, unless a wall is higher than 10 feet above grade. § 17.20.160 · code text A detached accessory building or garage must be located completely to the rear of the main building, and at least 60 feet from the front lot line, and must be set back a minimum three feet from each side lot line and rear lot line, except a detached accessory building or garage having a wall higher than 10 feet above grade must provide a minimum setback of five feet from each side lot line and rear lot line. At least 5 feet from each side and rear lot line. Applies: Detached accessory buildings or garages in the A-E Agricultural Estate Zone with a wall higher than 10 feet above grade. § 17.20.160 · code text A detached accessory building or garage must be located completely to the rear of the main building, and at least 60 feet from the front lot line, and must be set back a minimum three feet from each side lot line and rear lot line, except a detached accessory building or garage having a wall higher than 10 feet above grade must provide a minimum setback of five feet from each side lot line and rear lot line. At least 5 feet from any side or rear lot line. Applies: Swimming pool substructures in the A-E Agricultural Estate Zone. § 17.20.160 · code text The substructure of swimming pools may be located not less than five feet from any side or rear lot line and the interior finished surface of a swimming pool may be located not less than five feet from the exterior finish of a house or structure. At least 5 feet from any side or rear property line. Applies: Swimming pool substructures in the R-3 Multiple Residential Zone. § 17.32.180 · code text The substructure of swimming pools shall be located not less than five feet from any side or rear property line and the interior finished surface of a swimming pool shall be located not less than five feet from the exterior finish of a house or structure.
Distance from the house	At least 7 feet from the main building. Applies: Accessory buildings in the A-E Agricultural Estate Zone. § 17.20.160 · code text An accessory building may be located at least seven feet from a main building or another accessory building. At least 7 feet from the main building. Applies: Accessory buildings in the R-3 Multiple Residential Zone. § 17.32.180 · code text An accessory building shall be located at least seven feet from a main building and at least three feet from another accessory building.

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 What Bellflower's code adds
Parking on the street	No street parking between 12:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. without a permit. Applies: Applies to RVs and recreational trailers. § 10.12.070 · code text It is unlawful for any person to park a recreational vehicle or recreational trailer on the street between the hours of 12:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. without a permit. 1 to 3 days per permit. Applies: Applies to a resident permit; park within 300 feet of the permit holder's address. § 10.12.070 · code text A resident may obtain a permit to park a recreational vehicle, a recreational vehicle with a recreational trailer attached, or an unattached recreational trailer, for a period of one to three days. Permits for no more than 6 days per month and 50 days per year. Applies: Applies to resident permits. § 10.12.070 · code text Residents may obtain these permits for a maximum of six days per month, and a maximum of 50 days per year.
Living in an RV	Yes, sleeping and other residential use are allowed. Applies: Only when parked overnight under a permit and all permit limits, including day limits, are followed. § 10.12.070 · code text A permittee may park a recreational vehicle or recreational trailer for residential purposes such as sleeping, provided that the permittee complies with all permit restrictions, including limitations on the number of days a recreational vehicle or recreational trailer may be parked overnight.

Solar panels and EV chargers

Bellflower code What Bellflower's code adds
EV charger permit	The application may be sent by e-mail or delivered to the Building Official. § 15.72.050 · code text The Building Official, or designee, will adopt a checklist of all requirements with which the charging stations must comply to be eligible for expedited review. The Building Official must approve an application that meets the checklist and standards; decision within 30 days. Applies: Counted from a complete application; applies if the station has no specific, adverse impact on public health or safety. § 15.72.060 · code text The Building Official must notify an applicant whether the application has been approved, or, alternatively, whether the applicant must obtain an Electric Vehicle Charging Station Use Permit, within 30 days after the submission of a complete application.
Solar permit process	Review covers only the checklist and California Building Standards Code; usually one combined inspection. Applies: Applies to small rooftop home solar systems. § 15.68.040 · code text Review of an application shall be limited to the Building Official's review of whether the application meets the checklist and California Building Standards Code requirements. However, if the Building Official makes a finding, based on substantial evidence, that the solar energy system could have a specific, adverse impact upon the public health and safety, the applicant may be required to apply for a "use" permit.

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.

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How big can a shed or accessory building be in Bellflower?

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

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.

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

Bellflower's code: No street parking between 12:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. without a permit. (Applies to RVs and recreational trailers.) (§ 10.12.070); 1 to 3 days per permit. (Applies to a resident permit; park within 300 feet of the permit holder's address.) (§ 10.12.070).

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

Bellflower's code: The application may be sent by e-mail or delivered to the Building Official. (§ 15.72.050); The Building Official must approve an application that meets the checklist and standards; decision within 30 days. (Counted from a complete application; applies if the station has no specific, adverse impact on public health or safety.) (§ 15.72.060).

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).

Can I keep chickens or bees at my home in Bellflower?

Bellflower's code: 1 horse, cow, steer, sheep or goat; they may stay for life but cannot be replaced after death. (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).

General information, not legal advice.

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