Garage Conversion & ADU Builder in
Monrovia

NEO Builders is the best Garage Conversion contractor for your job. Contact us today!

Benefits of building an ADU Garage Conversion in Monrovia

Second source of income

Owning a rental can change your life through passive income, home value appreciation, and bolstering up your retirement account. When building an garage conversion on your property you have the choice to either rent for the long term or short term. Short term rentals include listing it on Airbnb or VRBO. Short term rentals in an garage conversion are more seasonal, but you can possibly make 3-4x the money each month as you would renting to 1 tenant for the long term. In the city of Monrovia you can rent your garage conversion as a short term rental or a minimum of 30 days.

Improve your space

If you decide to build an garage conversion in the City of Monrovia there are many other options as well. At NEO builders we’ve worked on home offices and yoga studios. The options are endless. Remember your garage conversion will have its own mailing address and entrance so inviting clients into your studio will be hassle free. Running a business or a short-term rental are both great opportunities for an garage conversion in Monrovia.

Family Flexibility

Many homeowners will simply use their space as a private living quarters for their elderly parents or other family members like a child back from college. These garage conversions were originally called grannyflats.

Steps to building an ADU Garage Conversions in Monrovia

Free Phone/In Person consultation to determine what the size of the project can legally be.
Meet with an Architect and Designer to make sure you have the elements you want in your garage conversion and that it is built to the city of Monrovia's expectations. This is a very important meeting and cannot be skipped. Let NEO Builders help you work with one of our Architects so is ready to work with you today.
Plan submittal to the city. We submit the plans to the city, you pay for the permits, and we begin the prep work to build your garage conversion!
Building your garage conversion. This is the least stressful part of the process because you are working with NEO Builders. We create these garage conversions to your specifications and we are one of the most trusted builders in Los Angeles County and within Monrovia.
Final inspections. We walk the inspectors through your property to ensure that it is correct to city code.
Renting or living in your new unit!

NEO Builders is the best Garage Conversion contractor for your job. Contact us today!

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What should you keep in mind in the planning stage of your Garage Conversion?

Since January 2020 it has become much simpler to get plans approved by the city of Monrovia.

Most plans will include the location, size, setbacks, and all existing structures, and parking. This is known as a “Site Plan”. You must have dimensions of easements and right of ways on the property as well. The floor plans, and building elevations will describe what the ADU will look like and are important to be discussed with the general contractor in your first meeting. Utilities will also become an important issue. Clients must have deed restrictions and provide proof of recordation; this can be done by the architect but would need the homeowner to certify all documents.

Once all paperwork is recorded the draftsman will submit complete plans with required structural and energy reports to the building and safety division for review. This process should take around 30-120 days, but the city Monrovia has been known to take their time. There is an expedited process, but it does cost a bit more.

Understanding Parking at your Garage Conversion

All ADUs must have at least 1 parking space per unit and is allowed to be uncovered and a tandem parking space in the driveway. You don’t have to provide parking however if the ADU resides within ½ mile of public transport, it is located within a historic district, it is located within an existing primary residence, or it is located within one block of a car sharing service.

Setbacks are an important part of planning your Garage Conversion

Five feet shall be required from the side lot line which means no ADUs can be built on the corner of the lot. There is also a 10 foot setback from rear lot line and the street. No setback shall be required for a legally established existing garage that is converted to an accessory dwelling unit or into part of an accessary dwelling unit. Homes with rear alley ways will have easier times with set back. Please make sure to ask about us about alley ways.

Unit size has grown over the years, In January 2020 the maximum size of an ADU in the city of Monrovia is 1200 square feet. The increased floor area of an accessory dwelling unit shall not exceed 50 percent of the existing living area.

Passageway to the main entrance of the ADU is defined as a pathway that is unobstructed clear to the sky and extends from the accessory dwelling unit main entrance to the street. An accessory dwelling unit that is placed 15 feet or less from a residential unit on the same parcel shall not have windows that directly face windows in the other unit.

Title 24 in California

Title 24 is California building energy efficiency standards. California energy code is designed to reduce wasteful and unnecessary energy consumption in newly constructed buildings. The states energy commission updates the building standers every three years by working with public stakeholders.

All ADUs that are permitted after January 1st 2020 must comply with 2019 Title-24 standards.

New building energy standards will help reduce wasteful and inefficient consumption of energy. The new ordinate is specific about water heaters, high performance attics, walls and windows. Every set of plans will come with window schedule, this will be discussed in your meeting with our architect.

JADU vs ADU in Monrovia

A JADU is known as a Junior Accessory Dwelling Unit and is an independent living space created through the conversion of an existing legally permitted bedroom. They are typically very small living units and are up to 500 sqft. You are allowed to add an efficiency kitchen and other necessities.

An ADU or Accessory Dwelling Unit is a larger independent living space either built from scratch or converting a garage into a legal living space. You have to add a kitchen, bathroom, and other amenities and follow all zoning laws. These spaces can be up to 1200 sqft.

Los Angeles has made it easier to build an Accessory Dwelling Unit or convert your Garage into a guest house. NEO Builders takes you by the hand and assists from city planning to finished construction.