GARAGE CONVERSION PLANS
Garage conversion drawings, $1,200 for most garages
A one- or two-car garage usually falls under our $1,200 project minimum, and that fee covers the whole permit set, including the details plan checkers ask about most on conversions.
- ✓ Garage door infill wall and footing
- ✓ Slab, floor level and insulation
- ✓ Egress windows for sleeping rooms
- ✓ Electrical, plumbing, energy forms
- ✓ Plan check corrections included
What garage conversion plans cost
Our price is $1 per square foot of drawn area with a $1,200 minimum. A typical two-car garage runs 400 to 500 sq ft, so for most people the answer is simply $1,200 for a complete permit set. If the conversion also changes the house next to it, those rooms count toward the drawn area, and the quote says so before you pay.
Converting a garage into a legal ADU follows the same price rule, but the set grows to cover your city's ADU requirements. See ADU plans for that version.
| Project | Drawn area | Fixed fee | What sets the fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-car garage to home officeProject minimum | 250 sq ft | $1,200 | Project minimum |
| Two-car garage to bedroom suiteProject minimum | 450 sq ft | $1,200 | Project minimum |
| Garage plus adjoining laundry and hall$1 per sq ft | 1,350 sq ft | $1,350 | $1 per sq ft |
What the drawing set includes
Garage conversions fail plan check on a short, predictable list of items. The set is built around them:
A-1Site plan
Shows where the garage sits, the setbacks it was built to, and any parking your city still requires after the conversion.
A-2Existing and proposed plans
The garage as it is and as it will be, with the new wall where the door was, room dimensions and ceiling height.
A-3Infill wall and footing detail
How the old door opening is framed, insulated and supported. Plan checkers ask about the footing under that wall more than anything else.
A-4Floor and slab section
Moisture barrier, insulation and how the floor steps up (or doesn't) to the house level.
A-5Egress and fire separation
Emergency escape openings for any sleeping room, and fire-rated separation where the converted space still shares a wall with a garage or the house requires it.
E / P / T-24MEP and energy
New outlets and lighting, any plumbing, heating and cooling, and the energy compliance forms for newly conditioned space.
What the fee doesn't cover
We'd rather you hear about these now than at plan check. None of them are hidden fees of ours; they're paid to other people, and we tell you up front which ones your project needs.
- Structural engineering
- Most conversions don't need it. If you're removing a post, widening an opening in a bearing wall or adding a second story, an engineer usually does; you hire them directly and we draft to their design.
- Permit fees
- Paid to your city at submittal.
Questions people ask before they order
How much do garage conversion plans cost?
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At ArchWorkPro, $1 per sq ft of drawn area with a $1,200 minimum, so most one- and two-car garages cost $1,200 for a complete permit set.
Do I need a permit to convert my garage?
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Almost always, once the space becomes a bedroom, office or living area: you are changing its use and adding insulation, electrical and often plumbing. Check with your building department; we draw to its requirements.
What does the city look for in garage conversion plans?
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The footing and framing under the old door opening, slab moisture and insulation, ceiling height, egress windows for sleeping rooms, fire separation, energy compliance, and whether replacement parking is required.
Can I turn my garage into a rental unit?
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In many cities, yes, as an ADU. The drawing set then also has to meet the local ADU rules. Our ADU plans page covers that version.
How fast can I get the drawings?
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Most garage conversion sets are delivered in days after we have your measurements and photos. Your quote gives a firm date.
Related: Garage-to-ADU plans · Permit sets explained · For owner-builders
Get your garage conversion quoted
Send photos of the garage, rough dimensions and what you want it to become. You'll have a fixed fee and a delivery date within 2 working hours.
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