How to Get a Permit for Garage Conversion in Los Angeles
Permits for garage conversions in Los Angeles are a lot easier and faster than it was two years ago. New California ADU laws improved the process to address a severe housing shortage. Now, many of the homeowners we meet in Los Angeles, Ventura County, and Orange County are finding fun and creative passive streams of income through garage conversions.
If you weren’t aware, garage conversions are a state-approved accessory dwelling units ( ADU ) category. These ADU conversions can be permitted to rent as a separate unit. Most counties require a minimum of 30-day tenant occupancy. Still, there are exceptions for homeowners in Los Angeles that claim the garage conversion, detached ADU, or attached ADU is their primary residence.
The garage conversion permit process is relatively straightforward, but to better understand the fee structure, we’ll explain the costs and ROI of converting the garage into an ADU.
The Cost and ROI to Convert a Garage Into an ADU
Garage conversions, if done right, can be a cheap alternative to other ADUs – and they offer the highest ROI. But many don’t realize that garage conversions cost more per square foot than typical single-family homes. It isn’t simply a room addition; it is the entire infrastructure of a single-family home condensed into a unit meant for your vehicles.
So that’s why so many get sticker shock when they discover that a 400 square foot garage conversion can cost upwards of $95,000. That is a steal compared to the average $167,000 cost of a 500 square feet detached ADU. And it becomes a no-brainer when you find that added value in equity alone could be upwards of $250,000. It is hard to get that kind of return in the stock market. We understand this first hand, so we wrote an article about why so many Californians are jumping on the back-house house hacking trend.
Garage Conversion Permit Process in Los Angeles
Before we explain the various fees and costs to permit a garage conversion, we’ll break down the process step by step. Keep in mind that we are pros at this. If you are considering using our services, we will manage this whole process for you.
- First, you will want to contact the local building safety office. You can find more information and an office near you at the LA County Public Works website.
- After speaking with a code official about the specifics of your garage conversion, they will direct you to apply online. You can find the application for Garage Conversion Permits under “Residential Addition/Alteration Building Permit – County.”
- Next, the code official will review the application. The new ADU laws require that these applications be approved on a ministerial process – which means that as long as all the building codes are met and fees are paid, the application will automatically be allowed.
- Now that the code official has given the go-ahead, construction on the garage conversion can begin once the permit fees are paid. This includes other permits that may be required for the project.
- Once construction begins, the code official will inspect throughout the process to ensure that all requirements are met.
- Final approval will come once the building is complete and the official provides the final documentation.
The Cost to Permitting an ADU Garage Conversion In Los Angeles
The cost to permit an ADU garage conversion depends on many variables. A 500 square foot ADU conversion can range anywhere from $2000 to $3000 in permit fees alone. Luckily the Los Angeles Public Works website has a building permit calculator that uses square footage to determine a rough estimate.
If you would like more information about the fees associated with garage conversions, I recommend checking out the municipal code for Los Angeles.
How to Ensure That Your Garage Conversion Meets Every Legal Requirement
Code officials have a long list of safety and fire hazard codes to enforce. We are expert Garage Conversion Contractors and have over 20 years of experience working with these officials. Our contractors will alleviate any fears and ensure every code is met and your garage conversion is state of the art.
Contact us today, and we can answer your questions and get you a free quote.
info@ucanrinc.com | 310-500-7234
