garage conversion, CO change experience

We just closed on our new home and found out our house is the only on the block that has a CO with DOB that states there is a garage (rear house). This house is semi detach with a share driveway. Most of the houses on the block seem to have converted it back to a storage area. Has anyone had issues converting this? We need to legally convert this since we want to upgrade the heating system and separate it into 2 system for each floor. The current placement in the basement will not pass code since I think it has to be in a fire proof room so we are thinking about moving the heating to the old garage area.

We are planning to call some architect to get their opinion but wanted real feedback before speaking to them. I know most Architect will promise they can get it done and it would be quick.

namahs

in Conversion 7 years and 9 months ago

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jimhillra | 7 years and 9 months ago

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You will not get a violation or fines for working on the house. When you file the work on the house, you will submit plans showing the garage, and you will indicate that it is changing from garage to storage, mechanical space, whatever. You will get a new C of O after the work is complete. Unless I am missing something, it is very straightforward. Hire the architect and let her/him document it all correctly, and you’ll be fine.

namahs | 7 years and 9 months ago

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Just to give visual. This is a house that still has the garage. [Capture](//muut.com/u/brownstoner/s1/:brownstoner:KSaw:capture.jpg.jpg)

namahs | 7 years and 9 months ago

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The garage used to be located on the back of the house, literally inside the back of the house. The seller closed out the garage doors and just put a regular door in the back. The bank appraiser did not flag this. The issue is DOB has CO of the house stating the basement has a garage. Any work that I will do to update the house that requires filing permits/plans, it will get flagged and fined. I just want to legally convert the garage into a storage area so we can move the new heating system there. Majority of the houses on this block has been converted back to storage or livable space.

I do not plan on doing the work, going to hire professional architect and contractors to take care of this.

CarmenR | 7 years and 9 months ago

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What are you trying to convert exactly? Is it currently a habitable area and you want to convert it to storage or vice versa? Is that building attached to the main house? Are you planning to do work on it?