About this plan

A 22 by 22 foot two-car garage with a one-bedroom apartment above, 480 square feet of living space, reached by its own exterior stair. The full set of 22x22 garage plans downloads straight after payment.

The smallest footprint that still works

Twenty-two feet square is about as small as a two-car garage can be while remaining genuinely usable, and that makes this the plan for lots where the larger versions will not fit inside the setbacks. The overall height is 23 feet 6 inches, which clears more local limits than the taller garage apartments do.

A separate stair, not an optional one

The exterior stair here is drawn as a separate structure rather than an option. The tenant or guest goes straight from outside to their own front door without entering the garage at all, which is what makes the upstairs a self-contained dwelling rather than a converted attic.

Upstairs

480 square feet holds a bedroom, a bathroom, and a kitchen and living area, under eight foot ceilings. It is a complete small apartment rather than a room with a sink, which is the distinction that matters to a letting agent and to anyone who has to live in it.

Downstairs

Two seven by eight foot doors.

What you get

A complete construction set, supplied as a PDF:

• Dimensioned floor plans for each level, drawn to scale
• Exterior elevations on all four sides
• Building sections and construction details
• Foundation plan with floor, wall and roof framing layouts
• Electrical layout
• Window and door schedules
• Roof plan with pitch and overhang dimensions

Before you build

Accessory dwelling rules vary more than almost any other part of the residential code. Some jurisdictions permit them outright, some cap the floor area, some require a separate utility connection or an extra parking space. Check what your county allows before you order materials. The rules have been loosening across much of the country, so if you were told no a few years ago it is worth asking again.

Code requirements are set locally. The International Code Council publishes the model codes most United States jurisdictions adopt.

Other plans to compare

If these 22x22 garage plans are not quite the right size, browse every design in Garage & ADU, or compare this one with Two-Car ADU Garage Loft, 28×28 and Two-Car ADU Garage Loft, 24×24.

Common questions

Can I modify these 22x22 garage plans?

Often, yes. Common requests include moving a wall, mirroring the layout or adapting the foundation to your site, but what is possible depends on the plan, so ask for a free quote before you buy. Editable CAD files are not available for every plan; email us to confirm availability for this one.

How are the drawings supplied?

Plans are supplied digitally as PDF files. Our Shipping and Delivery Policy explains how and when files are made available.

Are there limits on printing?

No. Print whatever your builder, your subcontractors and your permit submission need.