1-Car Garage Conversion Plan
Plans $7,490 Est. Cost to Build · from $140K
Garage Conversion ADU Plans Garage Conversion ADU Plans
Garage Conversion ADU Plans
without the guesswork.
Complete, permit-ready plans to convert your garage into an ADU — one car or three — at a fixed price, then build it yourself, with your own licensed contractor, or with one of our vetted construction partners.
Signature Garage Conversions
Five garage plans, ready to permit.
The same curated design quality as our detached Signature Homes, applied to the most in-demand — and most permit-friendly — ADU in Los Angeles. Five popular starting layouts in three families. Every plan is customized to how you’ll use the space — layout, windows and doors, and the privacy between your ADU and the main house — all included in your fixed plan fee.
True conversions — reuse the existing footprint
Most popular 
2-Car Garage Conversion Plan
Plans $7,490 Est. Cost to Build · from $150K
3-Car Garage Conversion Plan
Plans $7,490 Est. Cost to Build · from $175K
Conversion + addition — add a bump-out to unlock a larger home
Garage Conversion + Small Addition
Plans $8,990 Est. Cost to Build · from $185K
Garage + ADU above — a new garage with a home on top
Garage + ADU Above
Plans $12,990 Est. Cost to Build · from $300K
Signature Garage Conversions are designed in-house by our expert ADU design team and carry the same curated finishes as our detached Signature Homes. Your plan fee is fixed. Because every garage is different — ceiling height, slab condition, existing wiring — the cost to build is an estimate that starts at the figures shown and is confirmed for your specific garage; it is not a single guaranteed price. Construction is performed by an independent licensed general contractor.
Customized to you
How you’ll use it shapes the design.
Every plan here is a starting point. We reshape the layout — rooms, windows, doors, and the privacy between your ADU and the main house — around how you’ll actually live. All of it included in your fixed plan fee.
Connected
Playroom, guest room, home office, gym, or entertaining
Open sightlines, a shared patio, a connecting door or pass-through, and larger windows facing the main house.
In-between
Multigenerational — an aging parent or adult child
A private entrance with a connecting path, some shared outdoor space, and balanced acoustics between the two homes.
Independent
A long-term rental or fully separate household
A private entrance oriented away from the house, windows placed to avoid overlooking, sound separation, and a full standalone kitchen.
Does your garage qualify?
Most LA garages can become an ADU — but not all.
California law makes a garage conversion one of the easiest ADUs to permit, and your city can't make you replace the parking you give up. Still, a few things decide whether your garage is ready. Here's the short checklist we run on every Los Angeles property.
Check If My Garage Qualifies15 minutes · No obligation
- Existing legal structure. The garage is permitted and structurally sound — or close enough that repair is worthwhile.
- Ceiling height. Enough headroom to clear the 7-foot minimum after a new floor and insulation.
- Setbacks. Converting within the existing footprint keeps your current setbacks — no new-construction setback math.
- Utilities. Reasonable access to water, sewer, and electrical, usually a short run from the main house.
- Fire separation. Attached garages need proper separation from the main home; we design it in.
- Lot eligibility. Zoning that permits an ADU — which covers the vast majority of LA single-family and multifamily lots.
Completed garage conversions
From garages to homes.
Burbank Garage Conversion ADU
Studio, 1 Bath · 400 sqft
Burbank, CA
Spanish Garage Conversion
1 Bed, 1 Bath · 470 sqft
Jefferson Park, Los Angeles, CA
Santa Monica Garage + Office
1 Bed, 1 Bath · 468 sqft
Sunset Park, Santa Monica, CA
West LA Garage Conversion
Studio, 1 Bath · 400 sqft
West Los Angeles, CA
Manhattan Beach Garage Conversion
Studio, 1 Bath · 360 sqft
Liberty Village, Manhattan Beach, CA
Pasadena Farmhouse Conversion
1 Bed, 1 Bath · 600 sqft
North Lake, Pasadena, CA
How it works
Three steps to a new home.
01
Feasibility & Eligibility Check
We assess your garage, verify zoning eligibility, review setbacks and utility access, and determine which conversion approach works best for your property. No cost, no commitment.
02
Design & Construction Documents
Our team designs your garage ADU — floor plan, elevations, structural engineering, Title 24 energy compliance, and permit-ready construction drawings. We specialize in ADU code and have processed 126 projects through LA County building departments.
03
Permitting & Your Build
We handle the full permit process and hand you a complete, permit-ready plan set. From there the build is yours to arrange — do it yourself, bring your own licensed contractor, or build with one of our vetted construction partners, who hold the same quality standard as every CALI ADU project.
Garage conversion cost
How much does a garage conversion ADU cost in Los Angeles?
A garage conversion is the lowest-cost way to add a permitted home in Los Angeles, because the expensive parts — foundation, walls, and roof — already exist. CALI ADU's product is the fixed-price, permit-ready plan set, starting at $7,490. To build, most projects land between $150,000 and $185,000 with an independent licensed GC, depending on the size of the garage and how much you add to it.
ApproachSizeEst. cost to buildPlans only
Straight conversion320–440 sqftFrom $150,000From $7,490
Conversion + small addition400–500 sqftFrom $175,000From $8,490
3-car garage conversion600+ sqftFrom $185,000From $8,490
The biggest cost drivers are utility runs (how far water and sewer have to travel), whether you add square footage beyond the original footprint, foundation condition, and finish level. Detached or older garages can need more structural work; a clean attached garage near the main house is usually the most affordable path. CALI ADU's plan fee is fixed in writing before you commit, and your independent-GC build estimate is detailed up front so the budget holds no surprises.
Want to compare a conversion against building new, or see the rental math? Run the numbers in our ADU cost calculator and ROI calculator.
Client reviews
What our clients are saying.
★★★★★
"We had a TERRIFIC experience with Charlie at CALI ADU. He was efficient, communicative and provided us with great blueprints for our garage conversion. Highly recommend working with him."
★★★★★
"I am so happy we chose CALI ADU to design and build our garage ADU. The consistent communication is so appreciated, and the outstanding quality of their work is exactly like the pictures."
★★★★★
"Charlie is professional, and he was always accessible when we had questions. He is adaptable and patient with changes. My wife and I highly recommend Charlie."
Garage conversion rules in LA
What Los Angeles allows.
Under California's statewide ADU law, cities must allow a garage conversion ADU on most single-family and multifamily lots, and they cannot require you to replace the parking you give up by converting the garage. That single rule is why garage conversions took off across Los Angeles. Converting existing space also lets you keep your current setbacks, so a garage that sits near the property line can usually stay right where it is.
We've processed 126 ADU projects through LA County and city building departments, including garage conversions in Burbank, Santa Monica, Pasadena, and Manhattan Beach. If your garage was built without permits, it can often still be converted and legalized as part of the ADU process — a situation we handle regularly.
Garage conversion FAQ
Questions homeowners ask.
How much does a garage conversion ADU cost in Los Angeles?
CALI ADU sells fixed-price, permit-ready garage conversion plans starting at $7,490 — design plus full permit processing. Construction is separate and yours to arrange: build it yourself, bring your own licensed contractor, or build with one of our vetted construction partners. As a budgeting guide, most garage conversion ADUs in Los Angeles cost between $150,000 and $185,000 to build, depending on the size of the garage and whether you add square footage. That build cost is an estimate.
Are garage conversions legal in California?
Yes. California's statewide ADU law requires cities to allow garage conversion ADUs on most residential lots, and your city cannot require you to replace the parking you give up by converting the garage.
Does a garage conversion add value to my home?
A permitted ADU adds resale value and ongoing rental income. Reusing the existing structure typically saves around 20% versus building a detached ADU while keeping more of your backyard. You can estimate the rental return with our ADU ROI calculator.
Can I convert an unpermitted or detached garage?
Often, yes. Detached garages convert well, and a garage built without permits can frequently be legalized as part of the ADU permit process. We handle this situation regularly across LA County.
Do I need an architect for a garage conversion?
For a typical garage-conversion ADU, California does not require a licensed architect. What you need are permit-ready construction documents — floor plan, elevations, structural engineering, and Title 24 energy compliance. CALI ADU produces the full permit set for you at a fixed fee starting at $7,490. Once the plans are permitted they are yours to build however you choose — yourself, with your own licensed contractor, or with one of our vetted construction partners.
Will I lose my driveway or parking?
You keep your driveway. Under California ADU law, your city cannot force you to add replacement parking when you convert a garage into an ADU.
Looking for a detached ADU?
Browse our Signature Home lineup.
If your project calls for a new detached structure rather than a garage conversion, our Signature Home plans are fixed-price from $7,490 — est. $180K–$420K to build with an independent licensed GC, single-story and two-story options.
Browse Signature Homes*CALI ADU sells fixed-price, permit-ready plans (design + permit). Construction is arranged separately by the homeowner — build it yourself, with your own licensed contractor, or with one of our vetted construction partners. Build figures are an independent licensed general contractor's estimate, not a CALI ADU price.
Next step
Find out if your garage qualifies.
Not every garage is eligible — zoning, setbacks, and utility access all matter. Find out where yours stands in 15 minutes — no obligation.
Designed in-house · Transparent pricing · Your choice of builder