Whittier, CA Accessory Structures: Garage Conversions (2026)
Garage conversion rules in Whittier, CA, sometimes called garage-to-ADU or accessory living unit conversions, govern permits, ceiling height, egress, and parking replacement.
Key Facts
- Driveway choice
- Keep functional or remove entirely
- Removal cost
- Borne by applicant
- Removal scope
- Curb cut, apron, curb/gutter, parkway
- Ingress/egress expansion
- Up to 150 sq ft over existing footprint
- Application timeline
- 60-day ministerial review
Summary
Converting or demolishing a single-family garage to build an accessory dwelling unit forces a choice: keep the driveway usable for parking or remove it entirely at the owner's cost, curb cut and all.
k.Driveway Maintenance/Removal. If an existing garage for a single-family dwelling is demolished or converted to allow an accessory dwelling unit, after creation of the accessory dwelling unit, either (1) the driveway must continue to operate in a manner that one or more cars can lawfully park on the driveway; or (2) at the applicant's sole cost, the driveway shall be removed, the curb cut and driveway apron removed, a replacement curb and gutter installed, and a parkway installed in a manner consistent with the immediate surroundings. ... i.One accessory dwelling unit and/or one junior accessory dwelling unit per lot may be constructed within an existing or proposed single-family or attached accessory building, including the construction of up to a one hundred fifty square foot expansion beyond the same physical dimensions as the existing accessory building to accommodate ingress and egress.
Full Breakdown
030(I)(5)(k) governs what happens to the driveway when a homeowner demolishes or converts an existing garage to make room for an accessory dwelling unit. After the ADU is created, the owner must either keep the driveway operating so one or more cars can still lawfully park there, or, at the applicant's sole cost, remove the driveway along with the curb cut and driveway apron, install a replacement curb and gutter, and put in a parkway consistent with the surrounding street frontage. 030(I)(6)(a)(i), allowing up to a one hundred fifty square foot expansion beyond the existing footprint solely to add a code-compliant entrance and exit, provided the unit still has exterior access and side and rear setbacks sufficient for fire safety.
Garage-conversion ADUs are processed the same as other ADUs: the city must ministerially approve or deny a complete application within sixty days, and if it denies the application it must return a written, itemized list of deficiencies within that same sixty-day window so the applicant can correct and resubmit.
Violations & Fines
An owner who converts a garage without resolving the driveway under 18.10.030(I)(5)(k), whether by leaving cars unable to park lawfully or by failing to remove the curb cut, apron, and install the required curb, gutter, and parkway, is subject to the general municipal penalty in Chapter 1.08: a misdemeanor punishable by up to a five hundred dollar fine or six months in jail, or an infraction with escalating fines up to five hundred dollars for repeat offenses, with each day a separate violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
If I convert my garage to an ADU, can I keep parking in the driveway?
Who pays to remove the driveway apron and curb cut?
Can I expand the garage footprint to add a door for the new ADU?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Whittier
California rules heatmap·Compare Whittier to another location·View the California accessory structures overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Garage Conversions in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Los Angeles County handle garage conversions.