San Jacinto, CA Accessory Structures: Garage Conversions (2026)

Section 17.405.060 is the San Jacinto Municipal Code's path for turning a garage into living space. Every conversion needs an ADU permit and a building permit, reviewed ministerially without discretionary review or a hearing. The City has 15 business days to rule on completeness and 60 days from a complete application to approve or deny.

The parking rule is in Subsection G.6.c: when a garage, carport, covered parking structure or uncovered parking space is demolished in conjunction with an ADU or converted to an ADU, those off-street spaces are not required to be replaced. Subsection G.6.b.iii also exempts an ADU that is part of the primary residence or an accessory structure from the one-space-per-ADU-or-bedroom requirement.

The Code gives several conversion routes. A JADU of no more than 500 square feet of interior livable space must be contained entirely within a single-family structure, and an enclosed use such as an attached garage counts as part of that structure. A Class 1 ADU can sit within the existing space of an accessory structure, such as a detached garage, plus up to 150 additional square feet if the expansion is limited to accommodating ingress and egress. It needs exterior access independent of the single-family dwelling and side and rear setbacks sufficient for fire and safety, as dictated by applicable building and fire codes. On a multi-family lot, one or more ADUs can be created in parts of existing buildings not used as livable space, including garages, if each complies with state building standards for dwellings, up to a quantity equal to 25% of the existing units, with at least one allowed.

If a detached garage is demolished and replaced with an ADU, the demolition permit is reviewed with the ADU application and issued at the same time. A JADU or converted ADU on a single-family lot under Subsection E.1.a needs no new or separate utility connection and pays no connection fee or capacity charge.