Most garages take several weeks of building once the permit is issued. Planning and permits come first and often take longer than the build. Here is the order of work and what to expect.
How long does it take to build a garage?
The build of a simple detached garage usually takes several weeks of work, and a garage with an apartment takes months. Before that, design and permit review can take weeks or months, depending on the building department and how complete the plans are. Winter rain can pause slab work for days at a time.
Do I need an architect, an engineer or plans to build a garage?
You need plans for the permit. A simple one-story garage can often use drawings from a designer or the builder. A garage with a room or unit above, a garage on a slope or on expansive clay usually needs an engineer for the foundation and seismic design. In Cotati, the city's criteria say wood-framed buildings over two stories and a basement need a licensed architect or engineer.
How many inspections does a new garage need?
Expect an inspection at each main stage: footings and steel before the pour, framing and shear walls, rough electrical and plumbing, insulation if any, and a final. The building department lists which inspections apply to your permit. Work cannot be covered until each inspection passes.
What are the steps to build a garage, in order?
- Site visit, measurements and a written quote.
- Design and plans, with an engineer if needed.
- HOA approval, then permit application and review.
- Demolition of any old garage and site prep.
- Footings, steel and anchor bolts, then inspection and the pour.
- Framing, shear walls and roof framing, then inspection.
- Roofing, siding, windows and doors.
- Electrical and any plumbing, then inspection.
- Garage door, opener, trim and paint.
- Final inspection and walk-through.
Can I stay home and use my driveway during the build?
You can stay home; the work is outside. The driveway is a different matter. On pour day the concrete truck and pump need room, and lumber and roofing deliveries may block the drive for hours. On narrow lots near the Junior College or in Petaluma, we plan deliveries with you so you can park on the street those days.
What can slow a garage build down?
The usual delays are permit review, plan corrections, a failed inspection, a run of winter storms on clay, and a late garage door or window order. In fire hazard zones, waiting for compliant vents, windows or siding can add time. Ordering long-lead items as soon as the plans are approved keeps the job moving.
Example: a 2-car detached garage from first call to finished
This is a typical sequence, not a past job. A homeowner in Rincon Valley wants a 24x24 detached garage at the back of a long driveway. On the first call we set a site visit, where we measure, note the clay soil and the slope, and confirm setbacks. A written quote follows. Plans go to the Building Division with the structural details. While the permit is in review, the owner orders the door color. Once the permit is issued, the site is cleared and graded, footings are dug and inspected, and the slab is poured on a dry day. Framing and shear walls follow, then the roof, siding, windows and door. The electrician adds a subpanel and an EV circuit. After the final inspection, we walk the garage with the owner and go through the punch list.
Want a number for your own lot? We visit, measure and check the rules, then put the scope and price in a written quote. Call or text (707) 392-2557.