Westside · LA County
ADU permits in Beverly Hills
Zip codes:90209902109021190212
Beverly Hills is an independent city of about 32,000 people, fully enclaved by the City of Los Angeles between Hollywood, West Hollywood, and Westwood. It runs its own building and planning departments. Beverly Hills was historically one of the most restrictive Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) jurisdictions in California — state preemption (Gov Code §65852.2) forced the city to align with the state baseline starting in 2020, but layers of local design review still drive most of the local complexity.
Independent city — not LADBS
Beverly Hills runs its own building department. Permits go through Beverly Hills Community Development Department ↗, not the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS). Our address checker pulls real zoning + overlay data for any Los Angeles County address. The Beverly Hills ordinance breakdown below covers the city-specific permit path.
Beverly Hills by the numbers
Rounded figures from the 2020 US Census, LA County Assessor parcel data, and the city's own published reports. Estimates only — your specific lot can vary widely.
Population
32,000
2020 Census
Single-family homes
~7,500
LA County Assessor
Median lot size
8,500 sqft
Approximate
Median home value
$3.5M
Zillow / Redfin
What makes Beverly Hills different
Beverly Hills' ADU ordinance is implemented through Beverly Hills Municipal Code Title 10. State preemption sets the floor (1,200 sqft, 16 ft height, 4 ft setbacks) but the city retains design review authority for any ADU visible from a public right-of-way. The Trousdale Estates overlay (north of Sunset, west of Coldwater) has additional view-corridor protections. Plan check is typically 60-75 days for ADUs.
Beverly Hills ADU ordinance — the rules that apply
Last verified: 2026-05-12
The current ADU rules in Beverly Hills, sourced from the city's published ordinance and verified against CA Government Code §65852.2 (which preempts local rules stricter than state baselines). When you see "state default," that means the city can't reduce below this number under state law.
| Max detached ADU size | 1,200 sqft (state default) State preemption — Beverly Hills cannot reduce below. |
| Max ADU height | 16 ft / 18 ft with second-story setbacks |
| Setbacks | 4 ft side / 4 ft rear (state minimum) |
| Design review | Required for any ADU visible from a public right-of-way The default. Adds 30-60 days and an architectural-review fee. |
| Trousdale Estates view-corridor overlay | Additional ridgeline + view-corridor rules Trousdale + parts of north Beverly Hills above Sunset. Reduces effective height for view-blocking ADU placements. |
| Local processing time | 60-75 days for standard ADUs (longer than state minimum due to design review) |
| Pre-approved standard plans | None city-specific |
Active overlays + extra rules in Beverly Hills
City overlays + state-level designations that hit a meaningful share of Beverly Hills parcels. Each affects what you can build, how long it takes, or how much it costs.
City-wide design review for public-facing ADUs
~95% of parcelsDefault for Beverly Hills. If any portion of your ADU is visible from a public street or alley, the Community Development Department reviews materials, scale, and massing. Adds 30-60 days.
Trousdale Estates view-corridor overlay
~12% of parcelsView-corridor + ridgeline protection. Affects parcels in the Trousdale Estates HOA + north Beverly Hills above Sunset Boulevard.
BHUSD school facility fees on ADUs >500 sqft
~100% of parcelsBeverly Hills Unified School District (BHUSD) charges higher-than-typical school fees, currently around $5.89/sqft on the residential rate.
Watch-outs specific to Beverly Hills
Patterns we see across Beverly HillsADU permits. None are dealbreakers — they're just the things people get wrong most often.
- 01
Plan for the design-review timeline upfront
Almost every Beverly Hills ADU triggers design review. Don't book a contractor expecting a quick build — assume 60-75 days for plan check on top of any design-review back-and-forth. Architects experienced with Beverly Hills' review board are worth the premium.
- 02
Trousdale view-corridor rules can effectively cap your height
If your lot is in or near Trousdale Estates and your design blocks a recognized view corridor, the design review can require you to lower the ADU even below the 16 ft state max. Site the structure as far from the corridor sightline as possible during early design.
- 03
BHUSD school fees are higher than other LA-area districts
Beverly Hills Unified charges a higher per-sqft school facility fee than most surrounding districts. A 1,000 sqft ADU adds roughly $5,900 in school fees on top of city building permit fees.
- 04
Don't assume an alley ADU avoids public-visibility design review
Public alleys count as public rights-of-way for design-review purposes. An ADU built along a Beverly Hills alley still triggers design review for the alley-facing elevation.
Need a person, not a wizard?
Routes that fit Beverly Hills
Based on what we know about Beverly Hills, these are the lead types that usually make sense here. Pick whichever fits your situation. All free, no obligation.
Complex permit context
Request a Beverly Hills permit referral
Coastal, hillside, historic, fire-zone, or multi-overlay parcels in Beverly Hills usually mean a permit expediter pays for itself in saved months. We work with vetted Los Angeles permit expediters and expeditors (both spellings) who've handled Beverly Hills projects.
Complex permit context
Request a Beverly Hills permit referral
Coastal, hillside, historic, fire-zone, or multi-overlay parcels in Beverly Hills usually mean a permit expediter pays for itself in saved months. We work with vetted Los Angeles permit expediters and expeditors (both spellings) who've handled Beverly Hills projects.
Talk to our financing broker
Want someone to walk you through your options?
Our in-house broker has 30+ years in LA mortgage and ADU financing. He'll lay out HELOC, construction-to-perm, and ADU-specific products like Renofi against your situation — free, no obligation.
Talk to our financing broker
Want someone to walk you through your options?
Our in-house broker has 30+ years in LA mortgage and ADU financing. He'll lay out HELOC, construction-to-perm, and ADU-specific products like Renofi against your situation — free, no obligation.
Plans that fit Beverly Hills lots
Beverly Hillsdoesn't maintain a city-specific pre-approved plan library the way the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS) does. California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD)-approved prefab (which bypasses local plan check) and custom designer plans are the main paths:
Amenities + civic services in Beverly Hills
Parks, libraries, and the school district that serve the area. Context that matters for renter appeal, family relocation, and long-term resale.
Parks + sports
Roxbury Park
Roxbury Drive, south Beverly Hills
Beverly Hills' largest community park. Tennis, baseball, recreation center, and the Roxbury Park Community Garden.
- Tennis
- Baseball
- Playground
- Community Center
- Picnic
Beverly Gardens Park
Santa Monica Boulevard, Wilshire-to-Doheny strip
Long linear park running along Santa Monica Boulevard. Home to the iconic Beverly Hills sign and the Lily Pond.
Iconic Beverly Hills sign + Lily Pond
- Picnic
- Trails
La Cienega Park
La Cienega Boulevard, east Beverly Hills
Tennis center + community center park on the city's eastern edge.
- Tennis
- Playground
- Community Center
- Picnic
Coldwater Canyon Park
Coldwater Canyon Drive, north Beverly Hills
Hillside park with a sand volleyball court + picnic area.
- Volleyball
- Playground
- Picnic
Libraries
Beverly Hills Public Library
Beverly Hills Public Library
Rexford Drive (Civic Center)
Single-branch independent library system inside the Beverly Hills Civic Center complex. Not part of LA County Library.
Public schools
School assignments vary by exact address. The district + notable schools below cover most of the area.
District
Beverly Hills Unified School District (BHUSD)
Notable schools in the area
- Beverly Hills High School
- Beverly Vista Middle School
- Hawthorne School (K-8)
- El Rodeo Elementary
BHUSD is a single-high-school district, meaning every Beverly Hills public-school student funnels through Beverly Hills High School. Strong driver of Beverly Hills home premiums.
Getting around Beverly Hills
Walkable downtown grid (Rodeo + Beverly Drive); car-dependent in the canyons + north of Sunset. Major Metro D Line extension under construction with two future Beverly Hills stations.
Transit + walkability
Bus lines
- Metro 4 (Santa Monica to DTLA)
- Metro 14 (Beverly Hills to DTLA)
- Metro 16/17 (West Hollywood to Beverly Hills)
- Big Blue Bus Rapid 7
Nearest rail
Metro D Line (Purple) — Wilshire/Rodeo and Wilshire/La Cienega stations (under construction, opening 2027)
Walkability
Downtown Beverly Hills (Rodeo / Beverly Drive / Wilshire) is highly walkable. North of Sunset and the canyons are car-dependent.
Transit parking exemption applies. Lots within ½ mile of a major transit corridor skip the off-street parking requirement for Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) under California state rules. Confirm with the city or county that your specific parcel qualifies.
Nearby airports
Distance + type for each major Los Angeles-area airport reachable from Beverly Hills. Useful for travel, commute, and any flight-path noise concerns on specific parcels.
Los Angeles International (LAX)
~10 miInternational
Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR)
~10 miRegional / domestic
Santa Monica Airport (SMO)
~5 miGeneral aviation
Scheduled to close in 2028 per the 2017 FAA-City of Santa Monica consent decree.
Community + landmarks in Beverly Hills
Annual events, landmarks, and the places that anchor the area's identity. Context for renter appeal and long-term resale.
Annual events
Beverly Hills Concours d'Elegance
June (Father's Day weekend) · since 1994
Classic + exotic car show on Rodeo Drive. Free public admission; benefits local charities.
Source ↗Beverly Hills Art Show
Two weekends — May + October · since 1973
Outdoor juried art fair in Beverly Gardens Park. Held twice yearly since the 1970s.
Source ↗Beverly Hills Pride
Early June
Annual Pride event hosted by the city. Includes a flag-raising ceremony at City Hall.
Source ↗
What makes Beverly Hills Beverly Hills
Luxury shopping district
Rodeo Drive
Three-block stretch between Wilshire and Santa Monica Boulevards. The most internationally-recognized retail street in Los Angeles.
Historic estate
Greystone Mansion + Park
1928 Doheny family estate, now a public park. Filming location for hundreds of movies + TV shows.
Historic hotel
Beverly Hills Hotel + The Pink Palace
1912 hotel on Sunset Boulevard. A defining Beverly Hills landmark and the historical center of the city's hospitality district.
Nearby areas to Beverly Hills
Other Los Angeles-area pages worth a look. Each one runs different Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) rules depending on jurisdiction — we show you what changes when you cross a city or county line.
LA City
Hollywood →
Dense, small-lot, transit-rich, entertainment-industry rental market. Smallest median lot size of any well-known LA neighborhood.
LA City
Hollywood Hills →
Highest per-project ADU spend in LA. Most ADUs here are owner-use, not rental — guest houses, studios, in-law units.
LA City
Pacific Palisades →
Post-fire rebuild zone. Most regulated permit terrain in LA (coastal + hillside + fire). Higher per-project spend than anywhere except Hollywood Hills.
Frequently asked questions about Beverly Hills ADUs
›Can I build an ADU in Beverly Hills?
Yes. Beverly Hills allows ADUs under its local ordinance, aligned with California Government Code §65852.2 (the state baseline that preempts overly-strict local rules). Most single-family lots can host one ADU plus one JADU. Permits go through Beverly Hills Community Development Department, not LADBS — see the ordinance table above for the specific rules.
›How does Beverly Hills differ from LA City for ADU permits?
Three main differences: the permit agency (Beverly Hills Community Development Department vs. LADBS), the local ordinance details (each city has some flexibility above the state baseline), and the timeline (some cities are faster, some slower than LA's 60-day plan check). See the ordinance breakdown above for the specifics on each.
›How much does it cost to build an ADU in Beverly Hills?
Median home value in Beverly Hills is around $3.5M, which usually means lot economics support a quality ADU build of $200K–$400K all-in. Hillside, coastal, or VHFHSZ lots add 7–25% on top. HCD-prefab units (Connect Homes, Cover, Plant Prefab) bypass local plan check entirely and typically run $190K–$350K turnkey.
›Does Beverly Hills have pre-approved standard plans like LA's YOU-ADU?
No. Unlike LADBS, Beverly Hills does not maintain a city-specific pre-approved plan library. The two faster paths are an HCD-approved prefab (factory-certified, skips local plan check) or a custom designer drawing for your lot. The slower path is a fully custom architect-led design.
›Will the PermitPathLA wizard work for my Beverly Hills address?
Yes. The wizard pulls real zoning, overlay, and parcel data for any Los Angeles County address, including Beverly Hills. What you'll see today: feasibility for your specific lot, the overlays that apply, and a routing summary pointing at Beverly Hills Community Development Department for the permit submittal. Deeper Beverly Hills-specific permit walkthroughs are next on the roadmap as we expand from LADBS into the independent-city ordinances.
Ready to see what your Beverly Hills lot can do?
Our free address checker pulls real zoning, overlay, and parcel data for any Los Angeles County address — including Beverly Hills. Start there and we'll surface what applies to your specific lot.
Check your address →Reviewed by Yair Harpaz, Founder, PermitPathLA. California DRE-licensed broker with 30+ years of Los Angeles real estate and mortgage industry experience.
Beverly Hills ordinance data last reviewed .
See an error or stale rule? corrections@permitpath.la
Primary sources: Beverly Hills planning · Beverly Hills Community Development Department permits