It’s a difficult economy and we all need ways to make money. If you’re a home owner you have a lot of options. One of those is to rent rooms or if you live in Los Angeles, particularly in areas like the San Fernando Valley you may have a detached garage. Any garage is easy to convert into an apartment but these types are great being detached from your home. So what is the cost to build a garage apartment? We compiled some info from the experts for you and if you’re really interested after reading this, contact us!!
Accessory Dwelling Unit or ADU
The first thing you’re going to need to know, if you don’t already is the language around creating a garage apartment. In Los Angeles this would be referred to as an ADU or Accessory Dwelling Unit. You can’t sell an ADU separate from a house but you also don’t have to live on the property to build one. You can rent your home AND your garage apartment to separate tenants.
Finding the Cost to Build a Garage Apartment
This is not a question that can be answered directly. The answer can differ depending on several factors including where you live, what type of permits you need, how big your garage is, etc. So rather than try to give you a direct price we will give you some factors to consider.
Permits
The first thing you need to do is make sure that the area you reside in is zoned for ADU. There is a full guide you can read on UCLA’s “Citylab” here. Find your lot on the residential zoning map and make sure you’re legal. Once you are you can call your local city government and find out how to get the permits you need.
Every neighborhood in Los Angeles falls under specific zones. To build an ADU, your current house must be located in a residential zone, and most likely in a single family residential zone. ADUs are permitted in all single-family zones. Any lot in these zones, regardless of its size, can add an ADU if it will fit. Your lot must have an existing house, only one ADU per lot is permitted, and the ADU cannot be sold separately from the house. An ADU must meet additional site requirements as well as building construction requirements.
Size of Your Garage
How many square feet is the garage you’re converting? Depending on how big the garage is depends on how much the job will cost. It’s the same as any basic construction job. The cost per square foot will be about the same so it’s really a matter of getting several estimates and picking the contractors you trust the most with the most reasonable prices.
Conclusion
The cost per-square-foot of an ADU is likely to be the same as any other new residential construction; builders and architects can give you rough estimates.The best thing to do is to have someone who is experienced come to your property and give you a real hard estimate. Fill out the form below and one of our experts will be in touch with you ASAP!
