CITY OF BELL

Building in the City of Bell

The zoning code’s objectives include categorizing, designating, regulating, and restricting the best spot and use of buildings, structures, and land to serve the needs of agriculture, residences, commerce, industry, and other purposes in appropriate places; regulating and limiting the height, number of stories, and size of buildings; administering property development standards; and promoting public health, safety, welfare, and general prosperity to preserve the community.

The residential zones are designed to accommodate residential areas with different densities to allow family living there, as well as the necessary supplementary and auxiliary services and uses connected to such living spaces. The following list identifies the precise objective and function of each residential zone:

R-1 (Low-Density Residential)

Zone R-1 was established to allow for the development of residential zones solely for one-family homes, with a maximum density of 8.7 dwelling units per acre. To enable the growth of single-family home development in surrounding suburbs.

R-2 (Medium Density Residential)

Designed to allow for a maximum of 15 housing units per acre of attached or detached two- and three-family homes.

 R-3 (High-Density Residential)

Designed to build multiple-family residential zones with four or more units per lot and no more than 30 homes per acre.

The purpose of commercial zones is to create locations where businesses can operate, where items can be sold and distributed, where services can be provided, where public events can be held, and where other similar commercial activities can be carried out. The following list identifies the precise intention and goal of each business zone:

 M-U (Mixed Use Residential/Commercial).

A blend of business and residential uses was established to give the community options for live-work and downtown living.

C-S(Commercial Service and Professional). 

Designed to offer space for developing commercial, professional, and associated uses in or close to residential neighborhoods where those uses can efficiently serve the general public.

 C-3 (Medium Commercial)

Founded to meet the local general business needs of a town. This zone mixes more general commercial uses where a wide variety of retail and service companies are required to cater to the local community with neighborhood commercial uses and light retail uses that serve the local population.

C-4 (Heavy Commercial)

Established to meet the demands of the local business community. Facilities for very active commercial operations and specialized service providers in this area need a central position among a sizable metropolitan population. Additionally, it enables the growth of wholesale industries and significant financial and administrative hubs that might support an entire region.

C-M (Commercial/Manufacturing)

Designed to offer commercial zones with limited and regulated manufacturing and wholesaling operations related to commercial usage. Standards are meant to limit uses to those that can be operated cleanly and quietly, control the intensity of services, and lessen impacts on neighboring regions.

The zoning map is found in the Knowledge Center.

One tool the City uses to control construction is permits. The purpose of permits is to guarantee that every new development in the City is secure and livable. For this reason, the City has enacted several rules, including the California Building, Mechanical and Plumbing, and Electrical codes. Additionally, there are regulations at the federal, state, and local levels that regulate the construction, such as those that address energy efficiency.

There are several types of permits based on the type of construction: structural, plumbing, mechanical, electrical, and combination (used for single-family home construction and other small projects). A combination permit is needed for the majority of homeowner projects. Additionally, permits are required for building relocation and total demolition.

Getting a permit might only be the first step in a lengthy process. A property owner may initially be required to draft plans to submit to the Department, prepare a plot plan for the desired land indicating the improvements, and demonstrate the kind of construction to be applied. Property owners are expected to obtain a permit and carry out the project according to the approved plans once the plan check engineer has approved. The City’s consent is required if the plans are modified in any way. A Commercial or residential construction project requires approval through a Site Plan Review (SPR) for Zoning Code compliance.

How can our team help you?:

City of Bell – Planning Department:

The Planning Division’s duty is to put the Bell General Plan’s vision and goals for land use and community development into practice for the City.

The Planning Division is engaged in various operations, from processing development project application requests to carrying out difficult policy and research investigations. The Division also guides the City Council and Planning Commission on various issues, such as housing, environmental studies, and land use. Implementing the City’s comprehensive General Plan and Zoning Law is a key task of the Planning Division. Current planning, which concentrates on new growth in the City, and long-range planning, which deals with the City’s long-term goals, objectives, and plans, are the two main categories.

This City of Bell General Plan is a long-term, comprehensive plan that will manage and govern the City’s land usage and growth. Each element of this general plan includes policies and initiatives that will direct future urban development.

City of Bell – Building and Safety Department:

Building and Safety Division reviews building plans, issues building permits, and inspects work to ensure compliance with the City’s building, plumbing, and electrical rules.

The Division examines construction plans to ensure they comply with the City’s building regulations. This inspection entails a thorough evaluation of the designs, and it might also include structural and electrical analysis, as well as an assessment of the disabled access.

The Division also offers top-notch building regulations through:

• Providing a pre-plan review with a building designer;
• Formal plan review and site inspection to guarantee safety;
• With the review of plans and site inspections, there is a guarantee that all building construction, additions, and repairs adhere to standardized safety and energy standards;
• Provides contractors, architects, engineers, and property owners with reliable and timely information regarding building, energy, and safety requirements;
• Coordination of all City departments’ building plan inspection processes
• When questionable activity is noticed in the field, enforce construction codes and demand permits.

City of Bell – Public Works Department:

The Public Works Division ensures that the City’s infrastructure (streets, sidewalks, curb and gutter, trees, storm drains, sewer system, street lights, and traffic signals) are well maintained.

The Division offers the following services: Graffiti Removal, Street Light Repair, Street and Sidewalk Repair, Tree Maintenace, Trash Pickup And Recycling, and Street Sweeping.

You can check to access the contact info for each of these services.

General Area Summary: 

Bell is an incorporated city in Los Angeles County, California, near the center of the former San Antonio Township. Bell has a population of over 32,800. Young families, small businesses, and an industrial area make up Bell’s warm and welcoming community, which is situated on the east bank of the Los Angeles River in southeast Los Angeles County. Given its location in the central Los Angeles industrial market center, Bell is referred to as the “key to the industry.”

Contact Information:

You can find the community department at 6330 Pine Ave, Bell, California 90201, or call them at (323) 588-6211.