Figures below are planning ranges for Greater Los Angeles, intended to help you build a realistic budget. They are not a quote — every project is priced from its own site, scope, and selections.
What a garage conversion involves
A conversion keeps the garage’s footprint and shell and turns the inside into finished, permitted living space. That means insulation, windows and a proper entry door in place of the garage door, new electrical and plumbing, heating and cooling, and interior finishes.
If the space becomes a full ADU, it also gets a kitchen and a bathroom. The existing slab and foundation are checked to confirm they can support the new use and carry the new plumbing.
California rules that make conversions easier
California has substantially streamlined ADUs, and conversions of existing structures get some of the most favorable treatment. In general, state law does not require you to replace the parking lost when a garage is converted to an ADU, and existing structures can often be converted without meeting the setbacks that would apply to a new building.
Details vary by city and change over time, so we confirm the current rules for your address with LADBS, Los Angeles County, or your city before design is final.
What a garage conversion costs
In Greater Los Angeles, an ADU or garage conversion typically runs $150,000 to $400,000, depending on whether it is a conversion or built new. Conversions sit toward the lower end because the shell already exists.
What moves the number most is plumbing: how far the new bathroom and kitchen are from the main sewer line, and whether the slab needs to be cut for drains.
Garage conversion or new ADU?
Converting a garage is usually faster and less expensive. Building a new detached ADU gives you more control over size, layout, and placement.
If you are weighing the two, we can look at the lot and price both. See our ADU page for new detached and attached units.
How we run a garage conversion
Every project follows the same four steps.
- Consult: we look at the garage, the slab, and the utility runs, and write down what is in this job
- Plan: drawings, a schedule, and a clear price before anyone starts
- Build: one crew, weekly updates and photos, and every change gets a written yes first
- Deliver: a walkthrough, a punch list, and we stand behind the work
Frequently asked questions
How much does a garage conversion cost in Los Angeles?
In Greater Los Angeles, an ADU or garage conversion typically runs $150,000 to $400,000, with conversions toward the lower end because the walls, roof, and slab already exist. Plumbing distance to the sewer line and slab work move the number most. These are planning ranges, not a quote.
Do I have to replace the parking if I convert my garage?
Generally not, when the garage is converted to an ADU. California law generally does not require replacement parking for garages converted to ADUs. Local details can vary, so we confirm the current rules for your address before design is final.
Do I need a permit to convert a garage?
Yes. Turning a garage into living space changes its use and adds electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work, so it needs permits and inspections. A permitted conversion is also what lets the space count as legal living area or a legal ADU.
Is a garage conversion cheaper than a new ADU?
Usually, yes. A conversion reuses the existing shell and foundation, so it skips much of the structural work a new ADU requires. A new ADU offers more control over size and layout.
Is SAS Builds licensed?
Yes. SAS Builds holds California contractor License #1073990, issued by the Contractors State License Board. You can verify it for free at cslb.ca.gov.
