How do I turn a 2 car garage into a cash flowing studio apartment

[Austin Guzman]

If I have a 2 car garage on a property and I know my areas zoning will allow for a detached studio, how do I go about this process? I feel comfortable running my own electrical and plumbing, but will I have to receive permits for renovating there space in this way if I’m going to rent it out? Please share your experiences if you have done something like this or know someone who has.

Thank you, 

Austin Guzman

[Will Fraser]

Step one is to have a architect or relevant person work up specs for the work.  Then take those to the permit office and get a construction permit.  If you need any zoning modification to happen you'll likely need to take care of that before the permit will be issued.

After you get your general permit the contractors who will do the specific trades will likely be responsible for pulling their specific permits.  Each time a permit is pulled an inspection will need to happen before it is "closed" again and a subsequent approval can be granted.

In the end, after all the other permits have been closed and the "finals" have been done, there is the Certificate of Occupancy and a celebration dance for surviving the gamut of governmental chaos!