All Forum Posts by: John A Murray

Tanner in my neighborhood practically no one parks their car in their garage; they mostly just store-like us-a bunch of unnecessary "stuff".

David my plan check fees are $850 and building permit fees are $2,650 for a total of $3,500. This includes a $1,500 recycling deposit which is refunded when I present the recycling receipts, leaving the permit/plan cost at $2,000. I hope the city or some other entity won't come up with any surprises.

I am going to do this conversion as cheaply as possible as I have other plans and not renting it out, at least in the foreseeable future. Hoping to beat your $37k cost. Living close to Cal State Long Beach I envision down the road renting to a student so nothing fancy needed, but I could still produce a very clean and nice bright unit.  

A guy in the neighborhood converted his garage last year for $57k, with him and his father doing a lot of the finish work. He added on to his garage and did a lot more than I'm going to do, and his developer fee (then only school district assessment) not counting building/planning fees was $2,100. My architect converted his mother's garage in Lakewood 10 years ago for $16k with no kitchen. A friend just built an ADU in their yard for her father and spent $180,000 but they were completely undisciplined and somewhat frivolous

Due to SB 13 I will be saving $4,600 in impact fees for my 380 sf garage conversion (not yet permitted but close to being ready to submit).

The other big thing going into effect on 1/1/20 is the new California Title 24 2019 energy standards; specifically the solar requirement. While I was considering solar anyways soon it will be mandatory. Additionally, my house and detached garage(future ADU) both need new roofing, so do I put the solar panels on the house only to supply both units, or just panels on the ADU-to supply the ADU only-for now? Wherever the panels go I will need to reroof below them.

I don't want to have a separate main panel for the ADU so like David M. I will submeter the electric and water (no gas) to the ADU.

Or do I see if I could get a discount on the impact fees(prob fat chance) and get permitted in 2019? I bet the city would squeeze it in this year to get some $. Realistically I will get permitted in 2020 and be subject to the 2019 energy standards(solar).

One door opens and one door closes. Decisions decisions.