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Has anyone dealt with the city in converting garages to companion units? How do they approach and determine the appropriateness and structural integrity of the existing garages to be converted?
I assume you're talking about the city of San Diego, and not another city or unincorporated area in the county.
You've probably already looked through the City's homeowner remodeling site, but just in case, here it is -- it explains the whole permitting process and what type of plans you'll need to submit:
Are you planning to have a licensed contractor do the work? If so, they'll be the best person to advise you on what will and will not pass the permitting and inspection process, help you draw up plans to submit to the city, and also (in most cases) take care of getting the proper permits. It gets much more complicated if you plan to do the work yourself, but most cities (including San Diego) have project managers that can answer questions and explain what needs to be done to get your project approved.
Quite some time ago, a neighbor added an attached 'granny flat'. To his surprise and mine, one of the many things he had to do was provide for additional parking. So he added a parking slab in his backyard and the permit was approved.
Quite some time ago, a neighbor added an attached 'granny flat'. To his surprise and mine, one of the many things he had to do was provide for additional parking. So he added a parking slab in his backyard and the permit was approved.
Yep, and some cities require that you build another garage as well, so parking is not reduced ON the property.
The City recently adopted the state mandated ADU (Companion unit) regulations that make it much easier to incorporate one onto your property. An existing garage conversion or new construction companion unit that is outside of the property setbacks is allowed, up to 30’, but any wall that is 5’ or closer to a property line is required to be a 1-hour rated wall so you might have to bring that up to code. You would certainly have to meet egress compliant regulations; door and operable window standards.
As far as parking you would have to replace any parking removed by the conversion, but it wouldn’t have to be a garage, and could be tandem. A new parking space for the unit is required if over 500 s.f. (A typical two car garage is around 450 s.f.). unless the property is within a transit or transit priority areas, a historic district or resource, a permit parking area, or within one block of a car share or bike share.
If you don’t meet those standards a new parking space is required for each companion unit, but only .5 spaces per bedroom; a CU can be up to 1200 s.f. (Provided FAR is compliant) and two bedrooms.
The City recently adopted the state mandated ADU (Companion unit) regulations that make it much easier to incorporate one onto your property. An existing garage conversion or new construction companion unit that is outside of the property setbacks is allowed, up to 30’, but any wall that is 5’ or closer to a property line is required to be a 1-hour rated wall so you might have to bring that up to code. You would certainly have to meet egress compliant regulations; door and operable window standards.
Do you have a link for these new companion unit regulations?
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