Make the unit you have legal
A garage apartment or back unit built without permits can usually be legalized as an ADU. For units built before 2020, the city can only deny it for real health and safety problems.
You're likely a fit if
- The unit was built before January 1, 2020
- It's a separate living space: kitchen, bath and a door
- You can show roughly when it was built (photos, records, rentals)
How it runs
We document what's there and what an inspector will look for.
Drawings of the unit as it stands, plus the fixes.
Filed as an ADU legalization.
Only what health and safety requires, then sign-off.
Where this comes from
Checked October 2026. Laws change; we re-check every project against the current code before design. General information, not legal, tax or financial advice.
| Source |
|---|
| AB 2533 (2024), Gov. Code 66331 |
| SB 13 (2019) |
Other programs
Since January 2025, California lets an existing apartment property add detached ADUs, one for every existing unit up to eight, plus conversions of garages and storage.
Learn more
SB 9 lets a single-family lot be split in two, with up to two homes on each.
Learn more
Cities must now keep a set of pre-approved ADU plans.
Learn moreDoes your property qualify?
Send the address. We check it against this program and every other one.