A: Most home plans can be changed from a front-load to a side-load garage. Occasionally, there are exceptions to this, depending on structural factors in the home’s design. A much more common restriction to changing a garage from front-load to side-load is the width of the home’s lot. When choosing a lot that will accommodate a side-load garage, a good rule of thumb is to allow 10 feet of side yard on one side of the home, and 30 to 35 feet on the garage side. So, a 60-foot-wide home with a side-load garage should be placed on a lot at least 100 feet wide.