ADU and Garage Conversion Experts

A standard 2 car garage conversion to an ADU typically cost $140,000 to $180,000

A new construction ADU (Roughly 400SF) typically cost $160,000 to $250,000

As in any projects, the costs highly depend on the exact scope of work, finishes, access and terrain.

In Los Angeles, the maximum allowable size for an ADU depends primarily on whether the unit is detached from or attached to the primary residence, the existing house and lot size and the specific city building codes. As of 2026, the City of Los Angeles follows California’s progressive standards.

Detached ADU – Up to 1,200 sq. ft.

Attached ADU – Up to 1,200 sq. ft. but cannot exceed 50% of the primary home's living area.

Junior ADU (JADU) - 500 sq. ft. Must be contained within the existing primary home.

And 800SF ADU is usually allowed in any case prevailing setbacks comes to effect, allowable lot coverage calculations, new foundation requirements Etc. In a garage conversion process, since the structure is already there, in most cases the setbacks will not be an issue

Can every garage be converted? The answer is: It depends.

Standard garage conversions often hit two major roadblocks:

• Parking Requirements: Most cities, including Los Angeles, require covered parking for single-family homes.
  
  
• Strict Setbacks: Converting a garage into a standard "living space" often requires moving it further from the property line to meet current codes.

The Solution: Most homeowners choose the ADU route specifically to bypass these hurdles. Under California law, creating a legal ADU often eliminates the need for replacement parking and allows you to keep your existing garage footprint even if it’s on the property line. To see if your lot qualifies, consultation with a garage conversion expert is essential.

Many questions can be asked during the process but here are the questions you don’t want to skip before selecting your ADU contractor:

• Are you licensed, bonded, and insured in Los Angeles, Ca.?
• How fast can we obtain the building permit and do you see a reason why I should not be able to get it?
• Can you provide a list of references from projects completed in the last 12 months?
• Who will be the daily point of contact on-site?
• What is the estimated timeline for completion, and how do you handle "change orders"?
• Are you a turnkey garage conversion to ADU company?
• Who is handling the design and building permit process?
• Are finish materials included in your proposals? What is NOT included in the proposal?

First you must determine if your project is to build a brand new ADU or is it a garage conversion to an ADU. A new build is a bit more complex since the structure will have to be in line with new building codes, whereas a garage conversion is simpler since the structure is already there. Regardless, as in any large projects, the process starts with a consultation done by an ADU expert or an Architect, you will need to specify your goals and let the professionals lead the way. Once you reach an agreement, you want to see an initial design (Better in 3D), a conceptual drawing that shows the location, size and layout. Once that is achieved and agreed upon the architect will complete the drawings and submit the full architectural set to the local planning and building department. Depending on the specific city and the complexity of your project, the pre-construction phase, including design and permitting, typically spans 30 days to 3 months. Please note that projects requiring review boards or those in cities with complex permit processes may fall outside this standard window. After the plan is approved your selected contractor can pay the fees on your behalf and obtain the building permit or, you can do this yourself as an “owner-builder”.

We recommend not to rely soley on referrals, expend your search by looking for ADU Contractors on platforms like Google and Houzz. In the Los Angeles area, Yelp remains a highly reliable resource for vetted local reviews. For a modern approach, you can even leverage AI by prompting: “Find the highest-rated, turnkey ADU contractors near me”