Garage Conversions in Los Angeles and Orange County

A detached garage usually converts into a full ADU with a kitchen, bathroom, and separate entrance. An attached garage can become an attached ADU, or part of it can become a JADU within the footprint of your home. Some homeowners simply want more living space, like a bedroom, office, or family room. Each path has different code and permit requirements. If the garage is too small or in poor condition, building a new detached ADU may make more sense, and we will tell you if that is the case.

Garages were not built to be lived in. Most conversions need a raised or insulated floor, insulated walls and ceiling, a vapor barrier, and windows that meet light, ventilation, and egress rules. The garage door opening gets framed in with a wall, windows, or an entry door. Adding a bathroom or kitchen means trenching for sewer and water lines, and the electrical panel often needs an upgrade. Sometimes the existing framing or slab needs repair first. KR evaluates all of this before we price the job.

Converting a garage into living space requires a permit. Under California ADU law, cities generally cannot require you to replace parking when a garage is converted into an ADU, though local rules vary and KR confirms them for your lot. In the City of Los Angeles, plans go through LADBS. Garage conversions usually move faster than new construction because the structure already exists. Costs vary with size, site, and finishes, and conversions often land in the low six figures. Read the ADU guide for more on the process, or get a free estimate.