Imperial County, CA Accessory Structures: Garage Conversions (2026)

Imperial County's Land Use Code addresses garage-to-ADU conversions directly. Section 90405.03.G of Title 9, Division 4, Chapter 5 states that no setback shall be required for an existing garage that is converted to an accessory dwelling unit, and that a setback of no more than five feet from the side and rear lot lines shall be required for an ADU constructed above a garage. A JADU created within the existing walls of a single-family structure (which can include an attached garage area) is capped at 500 square feet under Section 90405.11 and carries an owner-occupancy requirement. Under State ADU Law, the county cannot require replacement off-street parking when a garage is demolished or converted in connection with an ADU; this protection now sits in Government Code 66314 after SB 477 relocated the former Government Code 65852.2. In its June 26, 2025 findings letter, HCD specifically directed Imperial County to update its lingering references to the repealed Section 65852.2 and to reduce its parking demands to no more than one space per ADU, reinforcing that converted garages need not be replaced with new parking. A converted garage must still meet California Building Code requirements for habitable space (egress, light, ventilation, smoke and carbon-monoxide alarms) and obtain a building permit.