Subterranean garages and car galleries in Los Angeles

The basement exemption, in detail

Los Angeles caps house size in its single-family zones. The Baseline Mansionization Ordinance, No. 179,883 of 2008, covers flat lots. The Baseline Hillside Ordinance covers hillside lots.

Under the Baseline Hillside Ordinance, a basement is exempt from Residential Floor Area if it is mostly below grade. The test is that the floor or roof above it sits no more than 3 ft above grade for at least 60% of the basement wall perimeter. Up to two concealed lightwells are allowed, each no more than 3 ft deep and 6 ft wide.

The effect is simple. Space below grade can hold the collection without counting against the house. A 2022 local commentary summed it up as fewer mansions, more basements.

Hillside and coastal lots

Hillside lots bring their own grading, access and geology questions. Malibu sits on the coast, where coastal-zone rules add another layer of review.

Beverly Hills is a separate city with its own municipal code, so the Los Angeles ordinances do not apply there. We confirm the rules for each lot at feasibility, with our local partners.

Bel Air, Holmby Hills, Beverly Hills, Brentwood and Malibu

These are the neighborhoods we focus on. Los Angeles is one of the world's largest concentrations of private wealth, and a center of car culture.

Lots vary widely, from canyon slopes to flat estate parcels and coastal sites. That is why every BELOW project in Los Angeles begins with a feasibility study for the specific lot.

The car elevator

A drive-through car elevator takes the car from a motor court or a garden pavilion to the gallery. You drive forward onto the platform, it lowers, and you drive forward off. Our residential car lift guide explains the details.

Every gallery, elevator included, is costed individually after a feasibility study. Our underground garage cost guide explains what drives the budget.

Every BELOW gallery has an independent second route out, normally a drive-out ramp, so the cars can leave while the elevator is serviced.

A gallery at home, not a unit across town

Many US collectors keep cars in off-site collector garages. In Scottsdale, whole developments of private collector garages are being built for them.

A subterranean gallery keeps the collection where you live, secure and climate controlled. Our car vault guide covers security, fire and the insurer's view, including the loss-prevention specialists some insurers send to inspect valuable collections.

Planning and permits

Every lot needs its own permit path, from the floor-area rules to grading, hillside and coastal review. We prepare it with licensed local architects and engineers.

For clients who also own in the UK, our planning permission guide covers the British rules.

How BELOW works in Los Angeles

BELOW leads the design, the car elevator selection and the gallery fit-out. Construction is delivered with licensed local partners, under one BELOW project director from first sketch to handover.

Our head office is in London. We work with collectors across the UK, Europe, the Middle East and the USA.