Pasadena, CA Accessory Structures: Garage Conversions (2026)
Garage conversion rules in Pasadena, CA, sometimes called garage-to-ADU or accessory living unit conversions, govern permits, ceiling height, egress, and parking replacement.
Key Facts
- Conversion type
- Counts as ADU or Junior ADU
- Setbacks
- Waived if same footprint as garage
- Size expansion allowed
- Up to 150 sq ft for egress
- Parking requirement
- Waived for garage-contained ADU
- Replacement parking
- Not required for converted garage space
Summary
Pasadena lets homeowners convert an attached garage into a Junior Accessory Dwelling Unit or full ADU without meeting standard setbacks, as long as the converted space keeps its existing footprint. Section 17.50.275 treats a garage conversion as a 'conversion ADU' or Junior ADU location.
b)A detached or attached conversion ADU within an existing space. May include an expansion of not more than 150 square feet beyond the same physical dimensions as the structure limited to accommodating ingress and egress in compliance with 17.50.275 D.5. Side and rear setbacks must be sufficient for fire and safety. An attached conversion ADU must have separate exterior access from the existing single-family dwelling. ... a.A Junior ADU shall be located within the proposed space of a single-family dwelling or existing space of a single-family dwelling including, but not limited to, an attached garage and other non-habitable space.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 79 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
b, a garage that gets converted into an ADU within its existing footprint counts as a 'conversion ADU,' which the city exempts from its normal ADU size limits, allowing an expansion of not more than 150 square feet beyond the garage's original dimensions solely to accommodate ingress and egress. a separately authorizes a Junior ADU to be located within the existing space of a single-family home 'including, but not limited to, an attached garage and other non-habitable space,' so an attached garage is expressly named as valid Junior ADU space.
(3) waives setbacks entirely for a conversion, except as needed for fire safety, when the existing structure is demolished and the new ADU is rebuilt in the same location and dimensions as the garage it replaces. Parking is relaxed too. 7. 5.
Violations & Fines
Converting a garage into livable space without going through the ADU or Junior ADU ministerial permit process in Section 17.50.275, or expanding beyond the 150-square-foot ingress/egress allowance for a conversion ADU, forfeits the setback and parking exemptions in Section 17.50.275.D.3-D.4 and can trigger a stop-work order and building code enforcement for unpermitted habitable space.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I convert my attached garage into an ADU in Pasadena without new setbacks?
Do I lose my required parking space if I convert my garage to a Junior ADU?
How much can I expand a converted garage beyond its original size?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Pasadena
California rules heatmap·Compare Pasadena 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.