Help! The City Found Out About My Unpermitted Garage or ADU— What Now?
If you’ve recently been contacted by your city about an unpermitted ADU, carport conversion, or room addition — whether you built it or inherited it from a previous homeowner — you're not alone. We get calls every month that start the same way:
“Help! The city found out about my unpermitted work. What do I do?”
Here’s the honest truth: you’ve got a problem. And unfortunately, you, as the current homeowner, are on the hook — even if you didn’t build it.
Why the City Cares About Unpermitted Work
Bad construction can kill. It’s that simple.
Let’s be clear: the city isn’t just looking to make your life harder. Their job is to make sure buildings are safe. It only takes one story to understand why.
Nearly a decade ago, a group of students died in a tragic deck collapse near UC Berkeley. The deck hadn’t been built code, and the consequences were fatal. Cities across the country — including Phoenix — have cracked down on unpermitted and unsafe structures.
So, if your work, even if it was just a carport-to-garage conversion, wasn't built to code, the city will require that you bring it up to standard… or remove it entirely.
Why Garages, ADUs, and Carport Conversions Are Common Problems
These types of additions are some of the worst offenders when it comes to unpermitted or improperly built work. Many people see a concrete slab in their yard, or an existing carport, and assume it’s good enough to build on. But here’s the thing:
A slab ≠ a foundation.
To support a structure like a garage or casita, you need:
Footings: These are deeper, reinforced concrete sections below the slab that transfer the weight of the structure safely into the soil.
Stem walls: These elevate the structure above grade to prevent water intrusion, termites, and rot.
Clearances: Your siding and wall framing can’t sit right at ground level — code requires clearance to avoid moisture wicking and decay.
We see this mistake all the time in carport-to-garage conversions and casitas around the Valley. Take a look at this short YouTube video of a project we redid for a client:
The roofline of their home had sunk more than two inches due to shoddy work.
Why?
Because the “contractors” — really just unlicensed handymen — had no clue that a new foundation with proper footings and stem walls was necessary. Over time, the structure settled and rotted, and termites moved in.
The homeowner ended up paying three times:
Once to the hacks who built it,
Once to us to demo it,
And again to do it right.
This used to be a 2×4, but because of proximity to the slab it rotted away. The roofline sunk down with and and the drywall was cracking. One monsoon could have knocked the entire garage addition down.
Why Unpermitted Work Is Cheap — And Dangerous
Unpermitted additions are cheaper for a reason. Shady contractors skip permits because they also skip critical steps like inspections, structural engineering, and foundation work. That allows them to underbid legitimate builders — but you pay for it later.
The building code is not some gold standard. It’s the bare minimum for safety. If a contractor can’t build to that, they have no business working on your home.
Your house is one of your biggest investments. If you’re going to add to it, do it right — or it can end up costing you way more in the long run.
What to Do if You Have an Unpermitted Garage or Carport Conversion in Phoenix
If you’ve gotten a notice from the City of Phoenix — or even if you're just nervous about a questionable structure — call us.
We’ll:
Assess the structure to determine if it can be brought up to code
Provide a realistic scope and timeline
Coordinate with the city to get your project permitted and legal
Handle demo and reconstruction if necessary
We’ve helped dozens of Phoenix homeowners clean up after unpermitted work, and we do it with craftsmanship, integrity, and full transparency.
Let’s Fix It the Right Way
This is the same garage/carport from our Youtube video detailing the structural damage from the failing garage conversion. We ended up doing a major remodel in addition to the repairs- stucco, windows, and full paint. Now the homeowner can rest easy.
Old Reliable Construction is here to help. Don’t wait until fines pile up or the structure causes damage. Whether you’re dealing with the fallout from a past owner’s shortcuts or your own DIY gone wrong, we’ll guide you through every step of the process — from inspection to permits to a safe, code-compliant rebuild that adds value to your home instead of becoming a liability.
📞 Call today for a consultation, or send us a message describing your situation.
