Backyard Garage Cottage Conversion in Oakland (Berkeley: RV park, apartment, rent)

[Celly510]

Hello team, I live in Oakland and have a detached garage in my backyard that is big enough to be a small studio apartment. I'm interested in converting it into a guest house and office for personal use. My father and I are very handy and wouldn't mind doing the work ourselves, but are unfamiliar with what permits and red tape are involved to make this legal. The garage is at a small downslope from the main house and already has electricity.

Has anyone done this before? Ideally we would have a small half bath.

Thanks!

[Ruth4Truth]

If you want to get permits, you need to submit architect's drawings. You need to pay an architect to sketch it out.

[Ultrarunner]

Most detached 1920-40 garages in Oakland tend to be zero lot line on one side... this can be a major stumbling block in terms of meeting set back requirements.

I have seen a few that have been converted with permits to one open room with half bath... no tub or shower and no kitchen facilities.

I believe Oakland offers a free planning check to discuss feasibility and/or requirements.

[Ruth4Truth]

Originally Posted by Ultrarunner

Most detached 1920-40 garages in Oakland tend to be zero lot line on one side... this can be a major stumbling block in terms of meeting set back requirements.

I have seen a few that have been converted with permits to one open room with half bath... no tub or shower and no kitchen facilities.

I believe Oakland offers a free planning check to discuss feasibility and/or requirements.

Is Oakland a lot stricter with their permitting and inspections than Berkeley is? I've seen people in Berkeley get away with some crazy stuff; filing for a garage "remodel", and turning it into a 2-story apt. building in the back yard, way too close to neighboring property and to the main house, inadequate parking, etc. There was a lot of that conversion of backyard garage or cottage into a 2-story building going on, back in the 80's. There are a fair number of illegal units scattered around Berkeley.

[Ultrarunner]

Berkeley is making it easier, according to new guidelines, by relaxing required off street parking requirements.

As far as I know nothing similar in Oakland for detached expansion.

[tanglenet]

Contact the Oakland Planning department. They can give you a heads up. The are a lot of potential and expensive problems if you don't. The main issue from your post will be a sewer line. It's either going uphill to tie into your current system or downhill to tie into a street below. (Maybe this is how your sysyem is now if you are lucky). You also may have an issue with your neighbors for any type of expansion, permitted or not, especially if you decide to later rent it out or Air B&B it.

[MauiPartTimer]

I was wondering the same thing as the OP, so appreciate the responses. We have a duplex in Oakland and were thinking a small place in the backyard would be great housing for when we eventually live here far less.

Anyone know if putting up one of those "tiny houses" would be any different as far as permitting goes? I know we'd still have to put in water/sewer/electricity. Many of them are actually trailers on wheels, so I was thinking it might not be as much of a headache with the planning department.

[Ruth4Truth]

Originally Posted by MauiPartTimer

I was wondering the same thing as the OP, so appreciate the responses. We have a duplex in Oakland and were thinking a small place in the backyard would be great housing for when we eventually live here far less.

Anyone know if putting up one of those "tiny houses" would be any different as far as permitting goes? I know we'd still have to put in water/sewer/electricity. Many of them are actually trailers on wheels, so I was thinking it might not be as much of a headache with the planning department.

I think you're onto something. If it qualifies as a trailer, you may get a break, permit-wise. However, you'd still need to hook it up to sewer and electricity, obviously. But technically, trailers are just trailers. It's assumed that anyone living in one would use the facilities in the main house.

Give us an update when you check that out. The answer could be very helpful to anyone else asking the same. Those wheeled tiny houses are gaining in popularity. The non-wheeled ones are, too.

[tanglenet]

Originally Posted by MauiPartTimer

I was wondering the same thing as the OP, so appreciate the responses. We have a duplex in Oakland and were thinking a small place in the backyard would be great housing for when we eventually live here far less.

Anyone know if putting up one of those "tiny houses" would be any different as far as permitting goes? I know we'd still have to put in water/sewer/electricity. Many of them are actually trailers on wheels, so I was thinking it might not be as much of a headache with the planning department.

Even though it's on wheels it will probably be considered a building just like a mobile home is. Which means it will be subject to the normal setback restrictions from the property line(s), which I believe is 5 feet from each side at a minimum.

[Ultrarunner]

Oakland restricts RV parking on private property already and this is just for storage...

All it would take is one call to code enforcement for problems to start.

Here is a copy of a proposed enhancement that contains current specifics.

http://clerkwebsvr1.oaklandnet.com/a...ents/17917.pdf