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ADUs & Garage Conversions
Accessory dwellings and garage conversions taken from feasibility to certificate.
Overview
An accessory dwelling unit is the most practical way to add independent living space to a Los Angeles property — for a parent, an adult child, a guest suite or rental use.
It is also a permit-led project. The design decisions that matter most happen against code: ceiling height, egress, fire separation, insulation, drainage, parking and utility service. We resolve those on paper before you commit to anything.
What's included
- Feasibility review of your lot and existing structures
- Conversion versus new-build comparison with plans
- Full design, structural work and Title 24 energy compliance documentation
- Permit submission and plan-check management
- Utilities, metering and drainage coordination
- Complete build: structure, services, kitchen, bathroom and finishes
- Inspections through to final sign-off
Method
Our process for adus & garage conversions.
Discover
Walk the lot, review setbacks, existing structures and services, and establish what is realistically permittable.
Design
Plan and elevation options for conversion or new build, with code constraints made explicit.
Plan
Engineering, energy compliance, permit submission and plan-check responses, plus a dated programme.
Build
Foundations or slab works, structure, envelope, services, interior fit-out and inspections.
Finish
Commissioning, final inspection, punch list and handover.
Los Angeles
Considerations here, specifically.
Permit rules, review times and requirements vary by city and by scope. We confirm the current path for your address during design.
- State law sets a framework for accessory dwelling units, but each city implements it locally and the rules change over time. We verify the current requirements for your address rather than working from last year's guidance.
- A garage slab is not automatically an acceptable finished floor. Height, moisture, drainage and insulation all have to be assessed.
- Utility service is often the hidden cost: sewer connection, water, electrical capacity and metering arrangements can materially change the budget.
- Permitting for an ADU commonly takes a few months from submission, and construction commonly takes several months more. Both vary considerably by city, scope and plan-check load.
- Fire separation, egress windows and ceiling height requirements are the three constraints that most often reshape an early conversion sketch.
Questions
Straight answers.
01Can I convert my garage into an ADU?
Often yes, if the structure, height, setbacks and services allow it and your city's current rules permit it at your address. That feasibility check is the first thing we do, and we will tell you if the answer is no.
02How long does the permit take?
It varies by jurisdiction, submission quality and plan-check workload. A few months from submission to permit is a common range in Los Angeles, but we will only give you a date-based programme once we know which department is reviewing and what the scope is.
03Do I need to add parking?
Parking requirements for accessory dwellings have changed significantly under state law and are applied locally. We confirm what applies to your property during feasibility.
04Can the ADU be metered separately?
Sometimes, depending on the utility and the configuration. It affects cost and programme, so we resolve it during design rather than at connection.
Related work
Sample projects in this scope.
Start Here
Thinking about remodeling? Start with a conversation.
Tell us the room, the street and roughly when. We'll come back with a realistic range and the next honest step.