For most Bakersfield homes with a sound garage, a conversion is the lower-cost route; the city's own ADU FAQ calls interior conversions usually the cheapest and new construction usually the most expensive. A new detached ADU is the better fit when you need two bedrooms, up to 1,200 sq ft, or the garage would need rebuilding anyway.
How do the two stack up?
| Factor, as of October 2026 | Garage conversion | New detached ADU |
|---|---|---|
| Relative cost | Usually lowest, per the city's ADU FAQ | Usually highest |
| Size | Existing footprint, plus up to 150 sq ft for an entry or stair under state law | Up to 850 sq ft (one bedroom) or 1,200 sq ft (two bedrooms) in the city |
| Setbacks | A converted freestanding garage can keep its position | 4 feet at the sides and rear, plus 10 feet from other structures |
| Parking | No replacement parking required | One space unless an exemption applies |
| Solar | Not required for space inside an existing structure | Generally required for a new detached unit |
| Extra review | None for a standard conversion | A unit over a garage needs a longer Design Review Approval |
City standards are from Bakersfield's ADU FAQ and 2024 resource guide; state rules are from the HCD ADU Handbook.
What makes a Bakersfield garage worth converting?
- It was legally built. The city's FAQ says legally built garages and accessory buildings can generally be converted.
- It can get a direct outside door and has enough distance from the property line for fire safety, two requirements the city lists.
- The slab is level and dry, or can be corrected without full replacement.
- Walls and roof can take insulation. Uninsulated garages get very hot in a valley summer, so the shell has to be brought up to energy code.
- The sewer line is reachable for a new bathroom and kitchen.
What do I lose by converting?
Covered parking and storage. As of October 2026, neither the city nor state law requires you to replace the parking, but shade for cars matters in Bakersfield heat, so plan where vehicles and tools will go.
When is a new ADU the better call?
- You want two bedrooms or more than the garage's footprint.
- The garage is in poor shape or unpermitted.
- You want the unit oriented for shade and privacy rather than where the garage happens to sit.
- You want to keep the garage for parking or a workshop.
Can I start from a ready-made plan?
For a new unit, yes. Bakersfield's ADU Standard Plans Gallery offers standard plans from designers and builders at reduced cost, and a set of pre-reviewed plans already checked by the Building Division; both still need to be adapted to your site. Conversions are designed around the existing structure, so they are usually drawn custom.
Sources, as of October 2026:
- City of Bakersfield ADU program, ADU frequently asked questions (bakersfieldadu.us; undated, accessed October 2026).
- ADU Idea Book: Resource Guide for Accessory Dwelling Units, prepared for the City of Bakersfield (February 15, 2024).
- City of Bakersfield Planning Division, ADU and JADU how-to page (undated, accessed October 2026).
- California Department of Housing and Community Development, ADU Handbook (updated March 2026, with addendum on law effective January 1, 2026), hcd.ca.gov.