In accordance with California Assembly Bill No. 1332, the City of Bell Gardens is now welcoming preapproval of accessory dwelling unit plans applications to provide for creation of certain [1] proposed new detached accessory dwelling units.

Qualified applicant [2] design professionals should apply for their plans to be included in PADUPP. Upon approval, the preapproved construction documents will be made available on the City’s PADUPP website for use by property owners within the City. The design professional will maintain the copyright to their preapproved design and any homeowner that chooses to use their design must contract them directly to do so.

Homeowners can select preapproved plans by working directly with design professionals to prepare construction documents that represent project and site-specifics. All submitted plans will undergo the standard plan check process to ensure compliance with all applicable codes and regulations. 

Preapproved plans would meet about 80% completion status of the Planning Division (Planning) Type 2 Site Plan Review and Building and Safety Division (Building) permit issuance processes, requiring property-specific modifications, alongside site-specific land use information.

Building’s general requirements include:

• Planning Division approval of application filed here.
• Review of standard drafting convention 24”X36” printed plans with 1/8” site and  plot and ¼” floor plan scales used.
• California Energy Code requirements.
• Soil report.
• Structural calculations.
• Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC), mechanical, plumbing, and electrical details.
• Fire sprinklers.
• For more ADU regulations, see the County of Los Angeles ADU guidelines here.  

No endorsement of the design professional by the City of Bell Gardens is implied by the posting of preapproved detached ADU plans is.

Despite the use of the word “preapproved,” in the case of a discrepancy between submitted plans and any code standard, the latter shall control.

QUALIFIED APPLICANTS

Submittal of the request for a preapproved proposed design will undergo a similar process as a standard plan check review. Please use the below as a check list of what is required for a complete set:

1. Fully dimensioned architectural plan set to include a title sheet, utility plan sheet.
1. Designs shall be provided with options for the installation of fire-rated walls.
2. Designs shall be provided with options for exterior finish materials to ensure compliance with Bell Gardens Municipal Code 9.10.040 Table 9.10B (Development Standards)

1. Complete site (or plot) plan depicting setbacks, easements, lot dimensions, distances between buildings, size(s) of building(s), etc.
2. Fully dimensioned floor plan of each level.
3. Building elevations and cross sections. Show floor and top of roof elevations, natural and finished grade around the perimeter of the building.
4. Fully dimensioned roof plan with referenced construction details.
5. Fully dimensioned foundation plan with referenced construction details.
6. Structural calculations, as applicable.
7. Energy calculations.
8. Door/window schedule. Identify all “egress” door/windows and all other door/window coordinate onto floor plan.
9. Separate permits are required for grading, photovoltaic systems, and fire sprinklers.
10. The applicant is responsible for any required Los Angeles County Fire Department submissions here.
11. Upon obtaining approval from all city departments, the design professional will be notified, and the following information will be added to Building’s PADUPP webpage:

• Designer contact information (provided by applicant)
• ADU description; dimensions, square footage, etc. (provided by applicant)
• Photos or renderings (provided by applicant)

IMPORTANT: Each standard plan will need to be updated when the City of Bell Gardens adopts new building codes, building policies, or zoning regulations.

 PROPERTY OWNERS

To obtain a permit for plans under the Bell Gardens PADUPP, follow these steps:

1. Consult with Planning: Discuss the site address, ADU size, zoning information, and applicable development standards.
2. Contact a Designer: Purchase preapproved plans from a qualified designer.
3. Submit Application: Submit a Type 2 Site Plan Review application via www.citizenserve.com/bellgardens for city staff review.
4. Preapproval Verification: City staff will verify that the plans meet preapproved requirements and issue Planning approval.
5. Forward to Building Services: Once verified, the plans will be sent to Building Services for a plan check review.
6. Departmental Review: Relevant city departments will review the requirements and provide corrections or approvals as needed.
7. Approval and Permit Issuance: After all approvals are granted, the plans will be stamped, and a permit can be issued.

Note: ADUs greater than 750 square feet in size are subject to the imposition of development impact fees.