Pasadena · Garage conversion permits
Garage conversion permits in Pasadena
How to convert a garage conversion in Pasadena: permit pathway through Pasadena Planning & Community Development Department, drawings required, local watch-outs, and a free address-level wizard for your Pasadena lot.
Pasadena context
Pasadena's ADU ordinance is implemented through Section 17.50 of the city zoning code. The city largely follows the CA state baseline (Gov Code §65852.2) but has additional rules for the eleven Landmark Districts (Bungalow Heaven, Garfield Heights, etc.) and Landmark properties citywide. Outside the Landmark Districts, Pasadena permitting is faster than LADBS — the city's plan check is typically 30 days for ADUs vs. 60 in LA.
- Permit agency
- Pasadena Planning & Community Development Department
- Median lot size
- 7,200 sqft
Drawings you'll need to submit
Convert your garage into an ADU in its current footprint. No replacement parking required. Often the cheapest LA ADU path.
- Site plan (parcel layout + setbacks)
- floor plan existing
- Proposed floor plan
- Elevations (each side)
PermitPathLA generates the site plan free from your Pasadena address. The other drawings come from your architect or plan firm — we list pre-approved options in the wizard.
Pasadena watch-outs for garage conversion
Overlays that hit a meaningful share of Pasadena lots
Landmark Districts (11 designated)~12% of parcels
Bungalow Heaven, Garfield Heights, Pasadena Civic Center, Lower Arroyo, Prospect Park, and others. Any exterior-visible ADU on a contributing parcel requires Cultural Heritage Commission design review.
Hillside Development Standards (HDS)~18% of parcels
Northern Pasadena above Altadena Drive sits in the HDS overlay. Adds lot-coverage and ridgeline-protection constraints on top of base zoning.
Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone~15% of parcels
Northern foothills overlap the VHFHSZ. Triggers Chapter 7A construction (Class A roofing, ember-resistant venting) — adds roughly 7% to construction cost.
Local quirks
Landmark District scoping happens before you draft plans
Don't pay a designer for full ADU plans on a Landmark District lot before the pre-application meeting with city planning. The Cultural Heritage Commission can require materials, roof pitches, and window placements that materially affect your design. Get the scoping done first.
Bungalow Heaven is the largest Landmark District
Bungalow Heaven (roughly bounded by Orange Grove, Washington, Hill, and Lake) is the largest Landmark District by parcel count. If your address is anywhere in that grid, plan for the design-review pathway.
Pasadena Unified school fees apply
PUSD charges school facility fees on ADUs over 500 sqft, around $4.79/sqft as of 2025.
Permit Sonoma-style online portal — most steps are self-serve
Pasadena's online permit portal handles most ADU submittals end-to-end. You don't need to visit the city counter for routine submissions. The exception is Landmark District projects, which still need in-person Cultural Heritage Commission hearings.
Run your Pasadena address through the wizard
We pull your parcel polygon from county GIS, apply Pasadena ordinance + state baseline rules, generate the site plan, and walk you through the Pasadena Planning & Community Development Department submittal. Free, no signup.