How Much Does a Garage Conversion Cost in Los Angeles?
What a garage conversion costs in Los Angeles
In the City of Los Angeles, the median declared permit valuation for garage conversions on 1 or 2 family homes was $40,000 over the last 12 months; the median time to issue was 92 days.
Los Angeles at a glance
- Median declared permit valuation for garage conversions (no addition) on 1 or 2 family homes, City of Los Angeles, last 12 months
- $40,000
- Building permits issued for garage conversions, City of Los Angeles, last 12 months
- 2,973 permits
- Share of garage conversion permits on 1 or 2 family dwellings, City of Los Angeles, last 12 months
- 96.3%
LA Department of Building and Safety, Building Permits Issued 2020 to Present (data.lacity.org) · data as of
- Numbers from LADBS public records
- Up to three local contractors, never a long list
- Free, no obligation
A useful first step
Before you start in Los Angeles
Check LADBS’s ADU resources and standard plans.
What to prepare
The city offers an approved standard-plan program. A standard design still needs a site-specific application, including a plot plan; ask which approvals apply to your lot.
LADBS ADU resources · Checked
What do permits say an ADU conversion costs?
From City of LA building permits, last 12 months. Not a contract price. How we calculate this
Declared values on City of Los Angeles building permits, last 12 months. A declared value is what the permit states, not your contract price. How we calculate this.
Source: LA Department of Building and Safety, Building Permits Issued 2020 to Present (data.lacity.org), permits on one- and two-family homes issued to ; fire rebuilds excluded. ZIP medians need 20+ permits.
Garage conversion permit figures, City of Los Angeles
Garage conversion permit figures, City of Los Angeles
Local numbers for Los Angeles, each with its source and date.
- Median days from submission to issue for garage conversion permits on 1 or 2 family dwellings, City of Los Angeles, last 12 months1
- 92 days
| Year | Count |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 2,409 |
| 2021 | 3,231 |
| 2022 | 4,243 |
| 2023 | 3,520 |
| 2024 | 3,555 |
| 2025 | 3,646 |
Source: LA Department of Building and Safety, Building Permits Issued 2020 to Present (data.lacity.org), full calendar years, fire rebuilds excluded, data as of .
Declared permit valuation, City of Los Angeles
| Project | Figure | Range on a shared scale |
|---|---|---|
| Median declared permit valuation, garage conversions on 1 or 2 family homesA declared value on a building permit, not a contract price or quote. Design, materials, finishes and work not on the permit add to the real cost. | $40,000 |
Bars share one scale, from $0 to $40,000.
The figure is the median declared value on City of Los Angeles building permits for garage conversions (no addition) on 1 or 2 family homes over the last 12 months. It is usually below the real project cost, so get an estimate for your home.
Planning your project
In the City of Los Angeles, the median declared permit valuation for garage conversions on 1 or 2 family homes was $40,000 over the last 12 months. That is what owners declared to the city, not the full price of your project.
What the declared value is and is not
A declared permit valuation is the amount written on the building permit. It is not a contract price or a quote. Real project cost usually sits above it.
What adds to the real cost
Design, materials, finishes, the systems that must be updated, work not on the permit, and the condition of your garage and home all change the final price.
Why an estimate for your home is the way to know
The only reliable way to learn your cost is an estimate for your own garage. Share your plans and request an estimate from a local builder.
Garage conversion cost questions
Is the permit valuation the real cost of a garage conversion?
No. The declared valuation is the amount the applicant wrote on the City of Los Angeles building permit for garage conversions on 1 or 2 family homes. The median over the last 12 months was $40,000. Real project cost usually runs higher because design, materials, finishes and work not on the permit are added to it.
What drives the price of a garage conversion?
The main drivers are the size and layout of the work, the finishes you choose, the systems that must be updated such as electrical, plumbing and heating, any work not shown on the permit, and the condition of the existing garage and home.
Why do estimates for garage conversions differ?
Each project is different. Two garages can need very different work, and declared permit values only show what applicants wrote down for past projects in the City of Los Angeles. A site visit and a written estimate for your home give a more useful number.
How do I get a reliable number for my project?
Describe your garage, your goals and any changes you want, then request an estimate. The request goes to one local builder who can look at your project and reply with an estimate. You can also check any contractor's license status with the CSLB (Contractors State License Board).
Does a garage conversion need a permit in the City of Los Angeles?
Garage conversions are building permit work in the City of Los Angeles. Over the last 12 months, the department issued 2,973 permits for garage conversions as reported so far, and 96.3% of them were on 1 or 2 family dwellings. Ask your builder which permits your project needs before work starts.
How long does the permit process take?
For garage conversion permits on 1 or 2 family dwellings, the median time from submission to issue over the last 12 months was 92 days. Your schedule depends on your plans and the city's review, so ask your builder for a timeline based on your project.
Recent work by a contractor in our network
Photos from the contractor's own projects, used with permission. Captions name the type of work.
Addition / ADU interior 
Addition / ADU interior
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