Garage conversion rules in Columbus, OH — sometimes called garage-to-ADU or accessory living unit conversions — govern permits, ceiling height, egress, and parking replacement.
Garage conversions to habitable space are permitted in Franklin County but require building permits to verify insulation, egress, ceiling height, and life-safety standards. Columbus allows conversions and they may count as ADUs under the 2024 Zone In rules. Parking-replacement is required.
Converting an attached or detached garage into living space in Columbus requires a building permit under the Ohio Residential Code and triggers zoning review to confirm the lot still provides required off-street parking (typically two spaces for single-family). Construction must meet habitable-space standards: R-value insulation, minimum 7-foot ceiling, natural light/ventilation or mechanical equivalent, egress windows in sleeping rooms, and smoke/CO alarms. Under the 2024 Zone In code, a converted garage can serve as an ADU provided it meets the 800 sq ft limit and owner-occupancy rule. Suburban municipalities follow similar permit processes but many have stricter parking-replacement requirements; Upper Arlington, for example, requires a replacement garage or driveway expansion before approving conversions. Unpermitted conversions frequently surface at point-of-sale inspection and must be brought up to code or reverted.
Unpermitted conversions discovered during a sale or complaint investigation require retroactive permits and inspections, with fees commonly exceeding 1,000 dollars. Non-compliant conversions must be demolished or reverted to garage use.
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Franklin County.
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