Side-by-side comparison
| Garage remodel | Garage conversion | |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Better parking, storage, workshop | Bedroom, office, gym, family room or suite |
| Parking | Kept | Lost unless replaced elsewhere |
| Typical work | Cabinets, floor coating, lighting, outlets, door | Floor leveling, insulation, drywall, HVAC, windows, new exterior wall |
| Permits in Scottsdale | Often only electrical, if circuits are added | Listed in the city’s residential construction process, with plans |
| HOA review | Usually not, unless the exterior changes | Usually, because the front of the home changes |
| Comfort | Stays a garage; can be improved | Must be comfortable year-round as living space |
Choose a garage remodel if...
- You need covered parking, especially in summer.
- Your HOA requires garages to be used for parking.
- You mainly want storage, a workshop or a home gym that does not need full cooling.
- You want a smaller project.
See garage remodeling.
Choose a garage conversion if...
- You need another bedroom, office or suite more than parking.
- You have a plan for cars, such as a long driveway or room for a carport, and your HOA allows it.
- An addition would be harder because of setbacks or cost.
See garage conversions.
What a conversion requires that a remodel does not
- A level, insulated floor that meets the house.
- Insulated walls and ceiling and a new exterior wall where the door was.
- Heating and cooling, often a ductless mini-split.
- Code items for living space, such as egress for a bedroom and smoke and CO alarms where required.
- If it becomes a separate unit, compliance with Scottsdale’s ADU rules, including separate electric and gas meters and keeping parking for the main home. See the ADU page.
A middle path
Some homeowners convert part of a three-car garage and keep two bays for parking. That keeps covered parking while adding a room, but requires a fire-rated separation wall between the garage and living space.
Permits
Scottsdale lists garage conversions to livable space under its single-family residential construction process. Electrical work in a garage remodel is a minimum electrical permit. Read our permit guide for the overall process.