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1-Car Garage Conversion Plan — exterior rendering of a CALI ADU Signature plan in Los Angeles
Signature Garage Conversion · True conversion

1-Car Garage Conversion Plan

The lowest-cost way into an ADU.

A sample of our most popular 1-car conversion layouts — every plan is customized to how you'll use the space.

Studio · 1 bath · ~200–300 sqft

One parking spot becomes a studio that hosts your guests, houses your office, or pays you rent — the lowest cost of entry to an ADU.

Plans + permitting $7,490 fixed
Est. cost to build from $140,000
See it in your backyard Get the study set (PDF) ↓

15-minute Backyard Review · No site visit · No obligation

Why this plan

The case for the 1-Car Garage Conversion Plan.

A single-car garage is only about 200–300 square feet — and that is exactly enough. This plan turns the smallest standard footprint in Los Angeles into a compact, efficient studio with a full bathroom and a real kitchenette: a home office, a guest suite, or the lowest-cost rental unit you can add to your property. No new foundation, no lost yard or driveway, and the smallest construction scope of any plan in the line.

  • No new foundation Reuses the existing footprint entirely.
  • A complete studio Full bath, kitchenette, and built-in storage.
  • Lowest cost of entry The most affordable ADU in the line.
  • No replacement parking AB 68 / SB 1211 ended that requirement.
  • ~60-day ministerial review Keeps its existing setbacks, even near the property line.
Customized to you

Your plan, tailored to how you’ll use it.

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.

1-Car Garage Conversion Plan — The Office Layout
Home office · creative studio

The Office Layout

A wide slider and larger windows facing the main house and patio, a full desk wall in place of a dedicated sleeping area, and the kitchenette kept minimal.

1-Car Garage Conversion Plan — The Guest Layout
Guests · flex space

The Guest Layout

A private entrance with a connecting path to the main house, a murphy bed that frees the floor between visits, and shared outdoor space — close, but never underfoot.

1-Car Garage Conversion Plan — The Studio Rental
Long-term rental

The Studio Rental

A private entrance oriented away from the main house, windows placed to avoid overlooking, and a full standalone kitchenette for a truly self-contained tenant.

Where do you land? Explore the privacy spectrum →

Floor plan

1-Car Garage Conversion Plan — floor plan

1-Car Garage Conversion Plan floor plan
Rendered floor plan. The full study set adds dimensions, elevations, and finish specs — request it below.

Get the full study set

Take the 1-Car Garage Conversion Plan home to think it over.

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Renderings

Inside the 1-Car Garage Conversion Plan

1-Car Garage Conversion Plan — interior living, Los Angeles ADU rendering1-Car Garage Conversion Plan — interior murphy bed, Los Angeles ADU rendering1-Car Garage Conversion Plan — interior kitchenette, Los Angeles ADU rendering1-Car Garage Conversion Plan — interior bath, Los Angeles ADU rendering
What your plan fee includes

$7,490, fixed — expert in-house design and full permit processing.

  • Floor plans and elevations designed in-house by expert ADU designers
  • Structural engineering and Title 24 energy compliance coordination
  • Your interior and exterior finish selections, specified in the plans
  • Done-for-you permit processing and expediting with your city
  • Unlimited plan-check corrections until your permit is issued
  • A builder-ready set any licensed contractor can price and build
Why the build price is a “from”

Every garage is different.

The plan and the plan fee are fixed. The build starts at $140,000 — the final number depends on what your specific garage is hiding. An on-site assessment gives you a real number, not a guess.

Ceiling height
Code requires 7′0" finished, and you lose 4–6" to floor and ceiling assemblies. Below about 7′6" raw, the roof has to be raised.
Slab & footings
Older garages often have shallow, unreinforced footings that need underpinning, plus leveling and vapor-barrier work on thin slabs.
MEP
Most garages have no plumbing and limited panel capacity; new electrical and plumbing runs can approach new-build cost.
Insulation & Title 24
Garages carry little to no insulation or ventilation, so a full envelope upgrade is required to pass energy code.
Fire separation
Attached garages need one-hour rated assemblies between the ADU and the main house.

Want a real number instead of a guess?

Get a real number for my garage

15-minute Backyard Review · No site visit · No obligation

Questions

1-Car Garage Conversion Plan — frequently asked

Is a 1-car garage really big enough for an ADU?
Yes. California allows efficiency units, and a typical 200–300 sqft single-car garage comfortably fits a studio with a full bathroom, a kitchenette, and a combined living-and-sleeping area. Good design — built-in storage, a murphy bed, well-placed windows — is what makes it live larger than the number suggests.
How much does a 1-car garage conversion cost?
The permit-ready plan set is a fixed $7,490. The build starts at $140,000 with an independent licensed general contractor and is confirmed for your specific garage after an assessment — ceiling height, slab, and existing wiring are what move the final number.
Can I legally rent out a converted 1-car garage?
Yes — once permitted as an ADU it is a legal dwelling you can rent long-term. A studio of this size is the lowest-cost rental unit you can add to a Los Angeles property, which makes it the fastest plan in the line to pay for itself.
Do I need replacement parking if I convert my garage?
No. AB 68 / SB 1211 (effective January 2025) eliminated replacement-parking requirements for garage-to-ADU conversions statewide. You keep your driveway and yard.
What happens to my setbacks?
A legally established existing garage keeps its current location and setbacks, even if it sits under four feet from the property line. That is one of the reasons a conversion is the easiest ADU to permit.
Why is the build price a "from" number instead of a fixed price?
The plan and the plan fee are fixed. The build starts at our published number, but the final price depends on what your specific garage is hiding — its ceiling height, its slab, its wiring. An on-site assessment gives you a real number instead of a guess that balloons later.

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 figure shown and is confirmed for your specific garage; it is not a single guaranteed price. Construction is performed by an independent licensed general contractor.

Ready when you are

See what your garage can become.

Book a 15-minute Backyard Review — we'll look at your garage and your lot, and tell you which plan fits.

Visualize My ADU Or call (213) 423-0470

Designed in-house · Transparent pricing · Your choice of builder