Garage ADU Los Angeles
Plan the Perfect ADU Garage Conversion With LADU. ADUs Designed Better. Built Smarter.
Build a garage ADU in Los Angeles with an architect-led team. LADU designs your ADU, manages LADBS permitting, and arranges construction with licensed partners
One team. One contract. One goal.
Invest in a Garage Conversion ADU To Gain Living Space
Turn your existing garage into a legal, comfortable garage ADU for rental income, multigenerational living, or a guest suite.
With an ADU garage conversion, you repurpose space you already have and move faster than a new build. LADU plans, permits, and coordinates construction under one roof so you get faster approvals, predictable costs, and a high-quality result that meets Los Angeles code.
What To Expect With an ADU Garage Conversion:
- Architect-led plans tailored to your lot
- Code-driven design for quicker LADBS approval
- A complete living unit with kitchen, bath, sleeping, and living areas
- A clean, insulated shell that is quiet, efficient, and comfortable year round
Common Garage ADU Features To Consider:
- Studio and 1-bed layouts that fit a one- or two-car footprint
- Smart storage, in-unit laundry, and private entrances
- All-electric kitchens, ductless heat pumps, and EV-ready parking on site
- Options to convert garage to ADU now and plan a future above-garage ADU addition
Benefits of Garage ADU Conversion
A garage conversion ADU adds a complete living unit without expanding your footprint. In Los Angeles, you can keep existing setbacks, skip replacement parking, and convert faster than building new.
This creates a rentable, flexible space that boosts property value and supports long-term use.
Income Potential and Flexibility With an ADU Garage Conversion
Create steady rental income or a private home for family. Keep the main home separate and secure. Many owners cover a large share of their mortgage with a well-designed garage ADU rental unit.
Use What You Have
Repurpose the existing garage structure for faster timelines and lower soft costs compared to new detached builds. Utilities are closer, the footprint is set, and site work is lighter. That speeds up design and plan checks for most properties.
Garage Accessory Dwelling Unit: LA Code Advantages
Los Angeles allows for no replacement parking and lets you retain legal nonconforming setbacks for conversions that do not expand. Streamlined LADBS submittals and clear drawings help you move from plans to permits with fewer rechecks.
Codes, Plans, and Garage ADU Costs
An architect-led plan set is the difference between quick approvals and costly rework. LADU designs to California law and Los Angeles Ordinance No. 186481 from day one and then manages permitting through LADBS with clear drawings and details.
We anticipate plan check comments, document existing conditions, and line up details that inspectors will look for later.
ADU Garage Conversion Size and Layout Rules
Most garage ADU conversion projects fit the existing footprint up to 1,200 sq. ft. A junior ADU inside an attached garage maxes at 500 sq. ft. A small expansion up to 150 sq. ft. is often allowed for entry or egress.
Plans must show a full kitchen, bathroom, living, and sleeping area with an independent exterior entry. We prepare ADU garage plans that optimize circulation, storage, and furniture layouts so the space lives larger than the square footage.
Planning an ADU garage conversion starts with accurate field measurements and a clear code strategy.
Setbacks and Footprint
You can keep existing legal setbacks when you do not expand the garage. For additions, side and rear setbacks can be as little as 4 feet.
LADU documents legal nonconforming footprints when needed, including research on original permits or historic records, so you can convert without pushing walls.
Parking and Transit
No replacement parking is required for an ADU garage conversion. Many LA lots also qualify for parking relief through proximity to transit corridors. LADU verifies eligibility early and reflects it on your site plan to avoid last-minute surprises.
Fire and Structure
Sprinklers are not required if the main home does not have them. Expect fire-rated walls near property lines and upgrades to foundations, insulation, and seismic connections.
Our structural sheets address sill plates, anchor bolts, cripple walls, and any shear strengthening so your conversion passes inspection on the first try.
MEP and Power
Plan for plumbing runs, an all-electric package, panel upgrades, and HVAC. Ductless heat pumps are a compact, efficient choice for most garage ADU designs.
Title 24 energy compliance drives insulation, window U-factors, and mechanical specs. We coordinate architectural, structural, and MEP so your sub-contractors have a clean set to build from.
Garage ADU Permits and Process
LADU prepares architectural, structural, and MEP sheets for LADBS plan check. We submit, track comments, coordinate rechecks, and manage final sign-off and inspection scheduling.
One team handles your ADU garage conversion plans from feasibility to final inspection, which keeps momentum and saves time.
Garage Conversion ADU Cost and Choices
Typical construction budgets depend heavily on scope and finishes.
A simple studio layout with luxury vinyl plank flooring, a fiberglass tub/shower, and an all-electric kitchen sits on the lower end. Added scope such as new foundations, large window openings, or premium tile pushes costs up.
LADU provides flat-fee design with no change orders for plans, handles permitting, and then offers the opportunity to work with one of our licensed ADU contractor partners for premium builds at competitive prices.
ADU Above Garage Options
Want living space above the garage? LADU creates ADU-above-garage plans and design solutions when zoning and structure support it.
We evaluate roof loads, height limits, and stair placement and can lay out ADU-above-garage plans to stage your project now and expand later. A garage with ADU configuration can also work on corner lots or deeper parcels.
2-Car Garage ADU Conversion
A 2-car garage ADU conversion often fits a 1-bedroom layout with a real living room and smart storage. We tune proportions, window placement, and kitchen runs to boost rental appeal and meet LA code.
Why Choose LADU for Your Garage ADU Plans
We are architecture-led ADU experts in LA. LADU handles feasibility, design, and permitting and arranges construction through our network of licensed ADU contractors. You get a flat-fee design, code-clean drawings, and a stress-free path to a legal garage conversion ADU.
- Architect-led design focused on LA code
- Flat-fee design with no design change orders
- Faster permitting across Los Angeles
- Turnkey coordination from feasibility to final inspection
- Transparent timelines and clear communication
- Construction arranged with vetted, licensed partners
- We make building an ADU simple!
Ready to convert your garage?
- Request a free site assessment.
- See if your property qualifies.
- Talk to an ADU expert.
- Get your fixed-price ADU design quote.
LADU's architect-led team will review zoning, utilities, and your goals, then map a clear path from ADU garage conversion plans to move-in day. From garage ADU conversion layouts to ADU-above-garage additions, we design and permit ADUs so you can build with confidence.
Call (213) 855-3334 or contact us online today for a free site assessment and a fixed-price design quote.
ADUs Designed Better. Built Smarter.
Related Services
Types of ADU Designs
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a garage ADU?
A garage ADU is a legal dwelling created by converting an existing garage into a self-contained unit with its own kitchen, bathroom, living, and sleeping areas. It sits on the same lot as the main home and follows California and Los Angeles ADU codes.
Do I need replacement parking?
No. Los Angeles does not require replacement parking for an ADU garage conversion, and many properties are transit-adjacent. LADU confirms your site's status during feasibility so your plans align with current rules.
How big can my ADU be?
Most garage conversions match the existing footprint up to 1,200 sq. ft. A junior ADU inside an attached garage can be up to 500 sq. ft. LADU designs a layout that fits code and your goals.
Are fire sprinklers required?
If the primary home does not have sprinklers, the ADU usually does not need them. Plan for fire-rated walls near property lines and other safety details set by Los Angeles codes.
What does LADU handle during a garage ADU conversion?
LADU leads an architect-led, end-to-end process. We assess feasibility; create code-clean architectural, structural, and MEP plans; and submit to LADBS for plan check. Our team tracks comments, coordinates rechecks, and schedules inspections. We also arrange construction with licensed ADU partners so you get one team, one contract, and faster approvals.