Garage conversion rules in Upland, CA — sometimes called garage-to-ADU or accessory living unit conversions — govern permits, ceiling height, egress, and parking replacement.
Converting a garage into living space in Upland is treated as an ADU or JADU under Municipal Code Chapter 17.37 and requires City permits. Under California ADU law, which Upland implements, the City cannot require replacement of off-street parking lost when a garage is converted to an ADU. A JADU is capped at 500 square feet.
In the City of Upland, turning a garage into habitable space is regulated as an accessory dwelling unit. The Municipal Code prohibits using garages and storage sheds for human habitation as ordinary accessory structures (Chapter 17.19), so a livable garage conversion must be permitted as an ADU or JADU under Chapter 17.37 (Ordinance No. 1993, adopted April 14, 2025). A junior ADU created within a proposed or existing single-family dwelling or its attached garage is limited to 500 square feet per the City's ADU page. A key state-law protection that Upland must follow: under California ADU law (Gov. Code 66310-66342, formerly 65852.2), when an existing garage, carport, or covered parking structure is demolished or converted to create an ADU, the local agency cannot require the replacement of those off-street parking spaces. Garage conversions still require building permits from the Building and Safety Division (909-931-4110) for structural, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work, and must meet ADU development standards (setbacks, size, fire/egress). Because HCD's July 2025 review found parts of Upland's ADU ordinance non-compliant (definitions, deed restriction, severability), applicants should rely on state standards where the city code conflicts. This is the incorporated City of Upland's process, distinct from unincorporated San Bernardino County.
Converting a garage to living space without ADU/JADU permits, or finishing a garage as a bedroom or rental that is not a permitted ADU, violates the Municipal Code (human habitation of a garage is barred under Chapter 17.19). The City cannot, however, require replacement parking for a garage converted to an ADU. Contact Building and Safety at (909) 931-4110 and Planning at (909) 931-4130.
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