Lakewood, CA Accessory Structures: Garage Conversions (2026)
Garage conversion rules in Lakewood, CA, sometimes called garage-to-ADU or accessory living unit conversions, govern permits, ceiling height, egress, and parking replacement.
Key Facts
- Garage conversion allowed
- Yes, one of three ADU construction paths
- Demolition permit
- Concurrent with ADU permit, same footprint
- Exterior finish requirement
- No shadowing of old doors/windows
- Parking replacement
- Not required for a garage-conversion ADU
- Floor retrofit
- Sloped garage floors must be leveled
Summary
Converting a Lakewood garage into an ADU is a permitted path under Municipal Code Section 9302.21a(B), processed with a concurrent demolition plan check under (C)(1)(c) if the garage is torn down and rebuilt in the same footprint, and Subsection (D)(10) requires the finished conversion to erase every trace of the old garage doors and windows.
B. ADU CONSTRUCTION An ADU shall be constructed as one of the following: a) a new fully detached accessory building; b) an addition to an existing or proposed primary or accessory structure; or c) a remodel and conversion of existing or proposed space contained within either an existing or concurrently proposed primary dwelling unit or an existing or concurrently proposed accessory structure, including, but not limited to, a garage, carport, studio, pool house, or other similar structure. ... (c) Demolition. Building and Safety shall review, process, and permit any required demolition plan concurrently with the proposed ADU for any detached garage conversion or an ADU replacement structure within the same footprint as the detached garage that is proposed to be demolished. ... 10. Garage and Other Building Conversions. Conversions of existing structures should not leave any shadowing of previous doors and windows. Such doors and windows should be fully removed including framing. Remaining walls should be reconstructed with siding or stucco that leaves no sign of the previous installations.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4901715; v5 updated 2026-04-28; through 04-28-2026).
Full Breakdown
' Because converting a garage typically means demolishing and rebuilding all or part of it, Subsection (C)(1)(c) requires Building and Safety to review and permit that demolition plan at the same time as the ADU permit, so long as the replacement structure sits within the same footprint as the garage being torn down. The finished product also has to look intentional, not improvised. Subsection (D)(10), 'Garage and Other Building Conversions,' requires that a converted structure show no shadowing of its old doors and windows: the openings must be fully removed, framing included, and the remaining walls resurfaced with siding or stucco that leaves no visible trace of the prior garage door or window.
Floors that sloped toward a garage drain have to be retrofitted flat with an approved moisture barrier and brought up to current building code. 21a(D)(6) exempts an ADU from replacing parking specifically because it's a conversion of an existing garage, carport, or covered parking structure, so a converted two-car garage doesn't force the owner to find two new parking spaces elsewhere on the lot.
Violations & Fines
A garage conversion built without the concurrent demolition permit required by Subsection (C)(1)(c), or one that leaves visible shadowing of the old garage door in violation of Subsection (D)(10), is treated as noncompliant construction by Building and Safety and Community Development. Under the citywide Section 1200 penalty, that exposes the property owner to a misdemeanor fine up to the state maximum and up to six months in jail, assessed separately for each day the uncorrected condition continues.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I turn my Lakewood garage into an ADU?
Do I lose my parking if I convert my garage to an ADU?
Does a converted garage still have to look like a garage from the street?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lakewood
California rules heatmap·Compare Lakewood to another location·View the California accessory structures overview
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Garage Conversions in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Los Angeles County handle garage conversions.