Are you in desperate need of a space that you can use as an office? If you are here, you probably do. Garage conversions are a great way to make the most of one potentially underused space in your home
Can you use your garage as an office? Your garage can be used as an office. A garage can provide the necessary space, privacy, and comfort of an office. However, for a garage to be legally used as an office, it needs to be converted into a living space. Garage conversions require acquiring the necessary building, planning, and zoning permits.
It is not a rare thing for homeowners to use their garages as space where they can store stuff. But if you frequently work from home, you can use your garage for so much more. Below I share with you all you need to know about using your garage as an office.
Is It Legal to Use a Garage as an Office?
First, you need to establish whether or not it is legal to convert and repurpose your garage into an office space. You don’t want to start on repurposing your garage, later find out that was illegal and then be forced to return it back into its original condition.
You may have to deal with different rules and regulations that may or may not limit your ability to repurpose your garage, depending on where you live.
Planning Permissions
When you are doing repurposing or remodeling of any area in your home, you always need to follow the code. According to the law, garages are not considered a living space and therefore, should not be used as such.
If you want to use your garage as a home office, you need to change it into a living space. Keep in mind that converting your garage into a living space means that you no longer can use it as a garage.
To do this, you need to contact your local zoning department in order to acquire a building permit.
Lease Restrictions
Next, you need to consider whether or not any restrictions may have been mentioned and established in your leasing contract. If you are renting a house, make sure to double-check your leasing, property deeds, and any other documents for building and repurposing restrictions. Always speak with your landlord before making any changes to the building.
Law Restrictions
This is where things can get tricky. Check for any law limits or restrictions that may forbid operating your business from within your home. Zoning regulations can also potentially limit your ability to do business from your home.
Usually, there are zoning restrictions that prevent businesses from being run in residential areas. Make sure to find out what are your county and city zoning regulations.
Some other things you may need to check on are the home-occupation permits, parking restrictions, environmental restrictions, labor regulations, business licenses, and more.
Depending on your line of work, you may also need to undergo different inspections and adhere to specific standards (for example, a health inspection).
What Are the Advantages of Using a Garage as an Office?
Before going all-in and repurposing your garage, let us explore the different advantages of using your garage as an office.
Dedicated Work Area
Since you will be working from home, repurposing your garage and using it as an office can be a great way to find a balance between your business and family life.
You can easily close the door and keep any distractions away; no more will you have to worry about family, guests, pets, or any noises interfering with your business.
This will provide you with a more relaxing environment where you can focus on your work.
What is more is that you will be having and storing all your documentation in one place, which means better organization and workflow.
Plenty of Space
The most basic requirement is to have enough working space. You need a place where you can easily move, work, and have visitors.
On more than one occasion, I have seen how easy it is to overestimate an empty space; once you have all the furniture in place, things may seem a lot different.
This is why I recommend doing a floor plan. This can be done using an online app or even with a pen and a piece of paper
The great news is that even with a one-car garage, you should, in general, have more than enough space to fit in everything that you will need.
One car garages vary in sizes, but usually, they are about 12.5 by 22 feet.
Professional Look
Using your garage as an office gives you some much-needed freedom. If you are having clients or business partners visiting, you can arrange the whole setup to look very professional.
You can have a separate door so that your visitors will not have to go through your home anymore. And you will be able to provide your clients with the necessary privacy and comfort.
This makes for a more presentable and professional-looking office and will leave your prospects or business partners with the impression that you really do mean business.
Keeps the Mess Away
However, not all businesses that you can run from your garage are going to be clean and easy on the ears. Of course, I am talking about businesses that deal with manufacturing, repair services, and so much more.
In that case, you need a dedicated place where you can do your work without making a mess in your home. A garage, in this case, is the perfect solution.
Better Security
Because you will have a separate structure at your disposal, you can also take advantage of the fact that it can provide you with better security and safety.
If your home office is a corner in a spare room and you are dealing with lots of sensitive data, conference calls, money transactions, or other things, this is just a recipe for trouble.
With the garage at your disposal, you can easily install all the needed security and protection you would normally have in a standard office.
Income Taxes Deductions
If you qualify, you can potentially be able to write off your garage office expenses.
This is not as simple as it sounds. According to the IRS, to be able to apply your home office needs to meet certain criteria.
- It needs to be a specific area of your home;
- It needs to be the principal place where you run your business;
- It needs to be used exclusively and regularly for the purposes of your business
There are a lot of little caveats here, and the laws may be different depending on where you live, so make sure to talk with a tax specialist.
What Are the Downsides to Using a Garage as an Office?
With the advantages covered now, it would be only fair to take a look at the disadvantages.
Expensive
There is no way around this. If you want to turn your garage into a fully-fledged office space, even if you do not need it to have all the bells and whistles, it will cost you a good chunk of money.
This is why, before converting your garage, a good deal of planning needs to be carried out. Treat it as an investment in your business. And as an investment, it needs to be well justified. With that being said, do not skimp on the expenses.
If you can do all the work, that is great, but if not, hire professionals. Frequently garage renovations are made with varying quality, which can hurt your home’s value and even end up in higher electrical bills. Quality is better than quantity.
No Garage or Storeroom
The next thing is, well, you will have to park your car outside. Most people will have some kind of driveway where they can leave their car, but that comes with its downsides too.
Parking your car outside all the time can increase the wear of the car since it will be subjected to the elements all the time without any protection. And let’s not forget that leaving your car outside 24/7 can also be dangerous.
Another thing you need to consider is whether or not you will have enough parking space for any visitors and clients. And with your car being outside at the same time, this can make things rather tricky.
And last but not least, if you convert your garage to a living space and an office, you will not be able to use it as a storeroom anymore. This means that you will need to find another place where you can store your tools, machinery, and gadgets.
Lack of Utilities and Amenities
Garages lack a lot of the simple utilities and amenities that you will need. This means that you will have to take into account and plan how they will be made available. This incorporates things like:
- Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC);
- Normal and sewage water;
- Electrical wiring;
- Soundproofing;
- Insulation; and
- Internet connections.
You will also need to take care of the walls, floor, and ceiling. When planning the utilities, make sure to think about your clients. For example, will you be able to provide them with washroom access?
Potential Restrictions
Unfortunately, depending on the type of changes you are looking to make, you may run into a lot of different code restrictions that can make the whole thing a small ordeal.
What Do You Need in Order to Use a Garage as an Office?
To use your garage as an office, you need to take care of a few things.
The Lighting
Lighting is frequently one of the aspects of any office that people can overlook. The effect of the lighting should never be underestimated. You need the right balance between natural, ambient, and task lighting.
Garages usually lend themselves well to natural lighting. And one of the most commonly used methods to increase the natural lighting in a garage is by converting the garage door to a nice big window or sliding window doors.
Poorly lit and dim working areas are not just counterproductive, but they can also affect your mood and even harm your eyesight.
Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Other Utilities
To successfully convert your garage into an office, you need to install proper Heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC), and the rest of the standard utilities like plumbing, for example.
Make sure to check if your already existing HVAC will be able to accommodate and power the new room. This is one of the often underestimated and overlooked aspects of converting a garage into an office.
Security
Any place where you run a business needs proper security. After all, we are talking about one’s livelihood here. Since you will be using your garage as a home office, this allows for some potential weaknesses. Consider the following:
- Installing motion detector cameras, CCTV, and doorbell cameras;
- Use an alarm system that can easily be monitored;
- Have the garage well-lit during the night;
- Keep your documents locked in cabinets;
- Install and use only solid and lockable windows and doors, and make sure that the locks are up to standard;
- Never keep any valuables or cash in the open;
- Using a good encrypting and password protection for your Wi-Fi connections;
- Follow safe internet browsing practices;
- Make sure to have all your computers protected with an antivirus and firewall software
Comfort
Let us not forget about the need for comfortable and ergonomic furniture. In most cases, you will need a few ergonomic chairs, a desk, and a sofa.
Conversely, depending on the type of work you will be doing, you may not need a lot of furniture, which in that case, makes things a bit easier.
Storage Space
When planning your garage renovation, do not forget to make sure you have enough storage and shelving space for your documents and equipment.
Granted, many aspects of a home-based business today can be stored and kept online, but we still need some physical space.
This includes but is not limited to:
- Filing cabinets;
- Shelving;
- Furniture with hidden storage areas; and
- Cupboards
Hardware and Software
Take a few moments to list down all the necessary hardware and office equipment that you will need. This step is essential, as it may affect the way you need to set up your office.
Depending on the type of work you will be doing, you may need a computer and a printer, but you may also need a lot more than that. The next thing on the list is to think about what software you will need.
How Much Does Turning a Garage Into an Office Cost?
Remodeling and turning your garage into an office may cost between $3,500 and $40,000. The total cost will vary depending on the amount of work that needs to be carried out, the required office equipment, and the necessary furniture and decorations.
For example:
- Type of work Average Cost
- Garage Conversion Permits $1,200 – $1,500
- Other Permits $4,500 – $8,800
- Wall framing $7 – $16 per sq ft
- Windows $175 – $1,200 per window
- Insulation $1.7 – $3 per sq ft
- Soundproofing $360 – $600
- Electrical wiring $2 – $8 per linear ft
- Duct work $35 – $55 per linear ft
- Plumbing $45 – $450 per hour
- Dumpster rental $350 – $520 for a 20 yard dumpster
Additionally, the cost will also depend on the type of garage you have.
Turning a one-car garage into an office may cost as little as $3,000 and up to $15,000. While turning a two or even a three-car garage into an office may cost up to and in excess of $40,000.
Also, remodeling a detached garage into an office is going to cost significantly more than an attached garage. Detached garages usually have only electricity running, which means that you have to run and install all of the other utilities and amenities.
Related Questions
How long does a garage conversion take? A well-planned garage conversion takes between a week and a month to complete. Depending on the type of work, the scope of change, and who is carrying out the work, a garage conversion can take even longer. Multiple contractors and law restrictions can significantly affect the conversion time of a garage.
Does converting your garage add value? Converting your garage is a great way to add value to the property. However, this needs to be done correctly by following the building codes and zoning. Disobeying the local codes and laws can, in fact, reduce the value of the property.
Can you turn your garage into a business? A garage can be turned into a business location; garages provide enough working space, privacy, and a good life-business balance. However, to turn a garage into a business, you need to make sure you follow the building regulations, zoning codes, and municipal standards.