Bellflower, CA Accessory Structures: ADU Rules (2026)
ADU rules in Bellflower, CA, also called accessory dwelling unit regulations or granny flat ordinances, cover setbacks, owner-occupancy, parking, and permit requirements.
Key Facts
- CO sequencing
- primary home finalized first
- Covenant recorded with
- LA County Recorder
- Covenant form approved by
- City Attorney
- Applies to
- ADU and JADU
Summary
Bellflower will not finalize an ADU or JADU certificate of occupancy until the primary home already has one, and owners must first record a covenant with the County Recorder.
The Building Official will not issue a final certificate of occupancy for an Accessory Dwelling Unit ("ADU") or Junior Accessory Dwelling Unit ("JADU") before the Building Official issues a final certificate of occupancy for the primary dwelling(s). Before the Building Official issues any final certificate of occupancy for an ADU and/or JADU, the property owner must record with the County Recorder a covenant, in a form approved by the City Attorney, satisfying applicable law, including this section.
B. ADU may not be used in violation of this code, and any rental of the ADU must be for a term of 30 days or longer;
C. JADU must include the following:
1. The JADU may not be sold separately;
2. The JADU has size and attribute restrictions required by this code;
3. The property owner must occupy either the single-family residence in which the JADU is permitted, or the newly created JADU.
4. The JADU cannot be rented for any period less than 30 days. (Ord. 1443, 4/28/2025)
Full Breakdown
Bellflower Municipal Code Section 17.17.020(A) sequences accessory dwelling unit approvals: the Building Official will not issue a final certificate of occupancy for an ADU or JADU until the primary dwelling has its own final certificate of occupancy. Before that final ADU/JADU sign-off, the property owner must record a covenant, in a form the City Attorney approves, with the Los Angeles County Recorder, confirming the unit satisfies applicable law. This local sequencing and recording step sits inside California's broader ADU law (Gov. Code Sections 66310-66342), which requires cities to process compliant ADU applications ministerially rather than through discretionary review.
Violations & Fines
Requesting final ADU inspection before the primary dwelling has a certificate of occupancy, or skipping the recorded covenant, will hold up or block the Building Official's final sign-off.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a final inspection on my ADU before my house?
What is the recorded covenant requirement for?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bellflower
How Bellflower compares: Easiest Cities to Build an ADU·California rules heatmap·Compare Bellflower to another location·View the California accessory structures overview
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ADU Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Los Angeles County handle adu rules.