Beverly Hills ADU plan check
Getting an ADU Permit in Beverly Hills
Beverly Hills approves ADUs through building permit plan check, without a hearing. The process is ministerial, but it is still detailed, and the time it takes depends heavily on what you submit.
How the Beverly Hills ADU Permit Process Works
The city regulates ADUs and junior ADUs in Article 50 of Chapter 3, Title 10 of its municipal code. Review is ministerial. There is no public hearing and no design board vote for a unit that meets the objective standards. The review happens in Building and Safety plan check, with planning and other city departments weighing in as the project requires.
The Community Development Department asks owners to consult a planner before submitting. That consultation is the moment to confirm which development guide applies, how much floor area the lot has left, and whether anything about the parcel calls for special attention. We prepare a site analysis for that meeting so the answers are specific.
State Deadlines on a Beverly Hills ADU Application
California law puts the city on a clock. Since January 1, 2026, the city must decide within 15 business days whether an ADU or JADU application is complete and send written notice listing anything missing. Once the application is complete and a house already exists on the lot, the city has 60 days to approve or deny it.
A denial has to come with a written list of deficiencies and how to fix them. The city must also offer an appeal process, with a final written decision within 60 business days of the appeal. In practice, most ADU permits move through correction rounds rather than denials, and the number of rounds is the main variable in how long a permit takes.
- 15 business days: completeness determination in writing
- 60 days: approve or deny a complete application
- Written list of deficiencies with any denial
- 60 business days: final decision on an appeal
Avoiding Correction Rounds in Beverly Hills Plan Check
Plan check comments tend to cluster around a few issues. Floor area calculations that do not match the city's method. Setback dimensions that do not account for eaves or stairs. Fire separation between the ADU and the main house or neighboring structures. Missing energy compliance forms. Structural details that do not match the soils report on hillside lots. We check each of those before submittal. When comments come back, we answer each one in writing and revise the drawings together, rather than trickling responses back over several weeks. That keeps the review moving and avoids restarting the clock.
If a design deliberately exceeds the objective standards, it needs a Minor Accommodation Permit, which is discretionary. We flag that early so you can decide whether the extra height or area is worth the added step. If the design calls for it, we can still pursue it, with the added review time built into the plan.
ADU Permits Outside Beverly Hills: LADBS and West Hollywood
Several of the neighborhoods we serve border Beverly Hills but sit in another city. Beverly Crest, Benedict Canyon, Bel Air, Holmby Hills, Beverlywood, Carthay and Beverly Grove are in the City of Los Angeles. There, ADU permits come from the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety, with review by City Planning, the fire department and other agencies depending on the lot. Carthay's historic preservation overlay zones add a preservation review for exterior changes.
West Hollywood is its own city with its own ADU ordinance and permit counter. The state deadlines apply to every jurisdiction, but forms, fees, submittal portals and local standards differ. We verify the jurisdiction of each parcel before design starts. Getting that wrong would mean redrawing the set for another city's code.
Inspections and Final Sign-Off for a Beverly Hills ADU
Once the permit is issued, construction proceeds through a series of city inspections: foundation, underground plumbing, framing, rough electrical and mechanical, insulation, drywall and final. Fire-zone lots get additional attention to ignition-resistant details. Utility work involves Southern California Edison for power and the City of Beverly Hills for water.
The project is complete when the final inspection is signed off. At that point the unit can be occupied or rented for terms of 31 days or more under city rules. We also hand over the approved plans and equipment manuals, so the owner has a record of what was built and where the utilities run.
What Managed ADU Permitting Gives Beverly Hills Owners
One Point of Contact for ADU Permits
We handle the planner consultation, the plan check submittal and all correction responses. You are not left translating comments between the city, an architect and an engineer. Questions from the reviewer get answered by the people who drew the set.
ADU Permit Timeline You Can Track
We track the state deadlines for completeness and decision and follow up when a review runs long. Knowing the clock helps you plan financing, tenants and family moves. You see where the application stands at each step.
Permits Drawn for the Build
Because the same team designs, permits and builds, the approved drawings reflect how the unit will actually be constructed. That reduces field changes that would need city revisions later. Inspectors see what the plans show.
Correct Permit Jurisdiction From Day One
A 90210 address may fall in Beverly Hills or Los Angeles. We confirm the permitting city before design starts, so the drawings are made for the right code. The same check covers Benedict Canyon and the West Hollywood border.
ADU Permits: Build and Finish Photos
ADU Permits and Approvals Across Beverly Hills
FAQs
Questions on Beverly Hills ADU Plan Check
How soon does Beverly Hills issue an ADU permit?
The city must determine completeness within 15 business days and act on a complete application within 60 days when a home already exists on the lot. The total time from first submittal to permit depends mostly on how many correction rounds are needed.
Does a Beverly Hills ADU need a public hearing?
No. ADUs that meet the objective standards are approved ministerially through plan check, without a hearing. Only a design that exceeds the standards and goes through a Minor Accommodation Permit enters discretionary review.
Do I need to meet with a city planner before applying?
The city asks applicants to consult a planner before submitting an ADU. It is the best place to confirm the applicable development guide and catch issues before drawings are final.
What permit fees apply to an ADU in Beverly Hills?
Plan check and building permit fees apply to every ADU. Impact fees cannot be charged on an ADU of 750 square feet or less or on a JADU of 500 square feet or less. Above 750 square feet, impact fees must be proportional to the main house's size.
Can I appeal if my ADU application is denied?
Yes. State law requires the city to provide an appeal process and issue a final written decision within 60 business days of the appeal.
ADU consultation
Begin the Beverly Hills ADU Permit Process
Tell us your address and what you want to build. We will confirm which city permits your lot and reach out within 24 hours by phone or email.
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