A garage is one of the most underused spaces in most Pinellas County homes — dead storage, a car that sits outside anyway, or a detached structure untouched since the house was built. LanCo Construction has built and converted garages across St. Petersburg and Gulfport in five different ways: new detached garages, attached garage additions, second storeys built over an existing garage, finished space above a garage, and full conversions of an attached garage into living space. Whatever you’re starting with, here is what’s actually involved.
Converting a garage into living space
The most dramatic version is the full conversion. In one recent St. Petersburg project, we converted an attached garage into a master suite as part of a larger remodel that included a new kitchen and covered porch. Done right, a conversion isn’t drywall over a garage door — it means addressing the floor level, insulation, ceiling heights, HVAC, and the change of use with the permitting office, so the result reads as original living space, not a converted garage.
Attached garage additions — and building over one
Sometimes the garage you need doesn’t exist yet. We’ve added attached garages to existing homes, and in one project added a garage with a game room above it, dormers and a master suite as part of a whole-home expansion. Building over an existing garage — a second storey where the roof used to be — is the most structurally involved of the five: the existing walls and footings have to carry the new load, which is established before design, not discovered during construction.
Detached garages
A detached garage is a new building — foundation, permitting and inspections of its own. We build them to match the main house rather than look like an afterthought. Recent examples include a detached garage in northeast St. Petersburg and a detached garage paired with a pergola.
A detached garage with an apartment above
A detached garage can also carry an accessory dwelling unit — a self-contained apartment for family or rental income. We’ve built a detached garage with a full ADU in St. Petersburg. If that’s the direction you’re weighing, our Accessory Dwelling Units page covers the rules.
Garages as part of a bigger project
Garage work often rides along with a larger renovation. One St. Petersburg project combined an addition and a detached garage with a full renovation of the house itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can any garage be converted into living space?
Not every one — it depends on the foundation, ceiling height, flood zone, and whether the change of use passes permitting. In Pinellas County’s older housing stock it is very often feasible, but the answer comes from looking at your specific garage, not from a rule of thumb.
Do I need a permit for a garage addition or conversion?
Yes — in every jurisdiction we work in. A conversion is a change of use and a new detached garage is a new structure; both are permitted and inspected. We handle the permitting as part of the job.
Does flood zone matter for garage work?
Often, yes. In a flood zone, converting a ground-level garage into living space runs into the FEMA substantial-improvement rules — see our Flood Zone Construction guide. A garage that stays a garage is treated very differently from one becoming a bedroom.
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