Erie, PA Accessory Structures: Garage Conversions (2026)

Garage conversions sit at the intersection of three regulatory frameworks. First, the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code (34 Pa Code §§401.1-405.42) adopts the 2018 IRC and IBC with state amendments; a building permit from the Erie Building Code Official is required because converting a non-habitable garage to habitable use changes the occupancy classification and triggers full IRC compliance including R310 (emergency egress and rescue openings, typically a minimum 5.7 sq ft net clear opening with sill no higher than 44 inches), R305 (minimum 7-foot ceiling height for habitable rooms), R303 (light and ventilation), R314 (smoke alarms in every sleeping room and adjacent to sleeping areas), and R315 (carbon monoxide alarms). Second, the Erie Zoning Ordinance likely requires zoning approval to confirm that the resulting use (single-family expansion, ADU, or home occupation) is permitted in the underlying district, that floor area limits are not exceeded, and that the loss of garage parking does not drop the property below the off-street parking minimum set in the Ordinance's parking schedule. Third, if the conversion creates a separate dwelling unit, ADU rules apply (see adu-rules entry). Erie's older homes near State Street and the east-side often have detached garages or basement-level garages on sloped lots; converting basement garages into bedrooms requires extra attention to emergency egress because below-grade windows must meet IRC R310.2 window-well dimensions (minimum 9 sq ft horizontal area, 36-inch projection from foundation, ladder if more than 44 inches deep). PA UCC §401.4 administrative provisions allow third-party agencies to perform plan review and inspection under contract with the City. Permit fees are set by Erie City Council resolution.