ADU Floor Plans and Layouts
A useful floor plan starts with the garage you actually have and the way someone will use the space. Dimensions, openings, circulation, and utilities can shape the available choices.
Requirements depend on your property and the agency reviewing it. Confirm current details with that agency before finalizing plans.
Questions to consider
- Measure interior width, depth, ceiling height, and existing openings
- Map potential entry, sleeping, cooking, bathing, and storage areas
- Identify existing utility connections before choosing fixture locations
- Have the design professional and reviewing agency confirm applicable requirements
- Open studio example: place cooking and living areas in one shared room, with a separately enclosed bathroom. Check where the bathroom door, entry, and windows fit before selecting furniture.
- Separate-bedroom example: use a partition to create a bedroom and keep the living and kitchen area together. Compare the remaining circulation and daylight with the open layout; the garage dimensions and applicable rules determine whether it works.
- Utility-first example: consider grouping the kitchen and bathroom near a feasible service route. Ask a plumbing professional to verify the actual connection rather than assuming the nearest visible wall is usable.
Official resources
Common questions
Can a two-car garage fit a separate bedroom?
The actual interior dimensions and the rest of the proposed layout determine what fits. A designer can compare options after measuring the building.
Can I use a stock plan?
A stock plan can be a starting point, but an existing garage has its own dimensions and conditions. Ask a designer and the reviewing agency whether it can be adapted for your property.
Which layout fits my garage?
Have the garage measured, then compare an open studio with a separate-bedroom sketch using the same entry and fixtures. Ask the designer to show circulation, doors, windows, and utility routes and confirm applicable requirements. Neither example is an approved plan.
Ready to find out what your garage can become?
Tell us about the space and we can connect you with an independent local professional.