Bel Air
Gated privacy, hillside estates and some of the largest homes in the city.
Bel Air is a hillside neighborhood of the City of Los Angeles, north of Sunset Boulevard and UCLA, between Beverly Hills and Brentwood. Its East Gate and West Gate on Sunset mark the original entrances.
The market runs from Mid-Century homes on winding streets to newly built estates on large view lots. Upper Bel Air climbs north toward Mulholland Drive, with views of the city, the canyons and the Valley.
- City
- Los Angeles
- Key areas
- Lower Bel Air, Upper Bel Air, Bel Air Crest, Stone Canyon, Roscomare
- Landmarks
- Hotel Bel-Air, Bel-Air Country Club, the East and West Gates
- Architecture
- Traditional estates, Mediterranean, Mid-Century, Contemporary
The Enclaves
Lower Bel Air, near the gates and Stone Canyon Road, has the flattest land and many of the largest estates, close to the Hotel Bel-Air and the Bel-Air Country Club.
Upper Bel Air, along Roscomare Road and the streets above, offers smaller lots, more privacy and views of the canyons or the Valley.
Bel Air Crest is a guard-gated community in upper Bel Air, with newer homes and shared amenities.
What Drives Value Here
Flat usable land is the first question. Two lots of the same size can have very different pads, and the pad decides the size of the house, the yard and the pool.
Views and privacy come next. A wide city or ocean view, a gate and a long drive all carry a premium.
Los Angeles hillside rules limit the size of a home by the size and slope of the lot, and fire-safety rules and insurance now matter on every sale.
Where Bel Air Sits
Common Questions
What is the difference between lower and upper Bel Air?
Lower Bel Air, near the gates on Sunset, has flatter land and larger estates. Upper Bel Air, toward Mulholland, has smaller lots, more privacy and canyon or Valley views.
Is Bel Air its own city?
No. Bel Air is a neighborhood of the City of Los Angeles.
What is the Baseline Hillside Ordinance?
It is a City of Los Angeles rule that limits the floor area of a home on a hillside lot, based on the size and slope of the lot.