ARE YOU INTERESTED IN AN ADU?
Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) are a second, smaller dwelling that can be built on a property already occupied by a single-family home. They are often called “mother-in-law suites”. The intent is to provide more affordable housing and increase density while maintaining a single-family dwelling character.
WHAT'S THE STORY WITH ADU'S?
Accessible Dwelling Units (ADUs) are quickly growing in popularity as more homeowners recognize their potential. The pandemic, along with skyrocketing real estate prices, means more families are choosing to live together for convenience or affordability for young adults. Others choose to build an ADU as a source of rental income that helps them afford their primary residence.
Many cities have reduced restrictive zoning in order to make ADUs an appealing investment for yourself, your family, and the community.
An ADU is a secondary unit that shares a lot with a primary home on the same lot. Adding a structure can also add substantial value to your property. These smaller homes are also better for the environment since they take up less space and increase the density on existing residential lots. ADUs must have their own kitchen, living room, and private entrance separate from the primary home. They can be a converted garage, an attached structure (like a basement with a separate entrance), or a detached structure (like a back-alley cottage). These units are not tiny homes, though they tend to be smaller-sized houses that can be ideal for renters. For instance, in 2020, the City of Boise permitted up to two bedrooms, making ADUs perfect for a rental for parents to retire or adult children to save up for a down payment.
ADUs offer convenience and affordability. The cost to construct is significantly cheaper than constructing or buying a full-sized home primarily due to their smaller size and the sharing of a lot. For potential landlords, sharing a lot makes the rental easy to maintain yet one can still enjoy their privacy with completely separate entrances.
ADUs are an effective way to increase the number of rentals in your community.
ADUs can also be a great solution for multigenerational housing. Their smaller size is ideal for a retiree or two who are ready to settle down in an easy-to-maintain home near family and friends but still retain their independence. ADU’s tend to be less expensive than paying for an assisted living facility or nursing home. Multigenerational housing can also be an efficient way for a family to lower costs by splitting expenses.
If you’re considering building or converting a space into an ADU, we can help you make decisions and guide you through the entire process from inception to completion.
HOW WE CAN HELP
WHAT KIND OF ADU'S ARE THERE?
WHAT KIND OF ADU'S ARE THERE?
Our full service team of local architects, designers, engineers, landscapers, and contracting specialists will guide you through the design process, get your project approved, and build it for you.
We start with a in-person meeting to discuss your needs and intended uses.
From there, we research all the local regulations and provide you with some conceptual plans.
Once we agree upon a direction and budget, we get the process rolling with our design team working collaboratively with City Planning and Development and Building and Safety.
Once we have an agreed to design, we facility the entire application and permitting process.
Once we have permits in hand we can start to bring your project to fruition.
Call us today for a no-obligation face to face meeting!
WHAT KIND OF ADU'S ARE THERE?
WHAT KIND OF ADU'S ARE THERE?
WHAT KIND OF ADU'S ARE THERE?
ADU's come in four options, all of which can be spectacular and unique:
A Detached Stand Alone Structure
A Converted Basement
A Converted Garage
A Home Addition
Our team is experienced in working with small spaces and maximizing use of what square footage is allowed to make your ADU as functional and homey as possible.
We can present a budget along with the pro's and con's off all your options so you can make the most informed decision for you and your family.
If you need legal or financial resources we have a team of local professionals to refer you to,
HOW BIG CAN THEY BE?
WHAT KIND OF ADU'S ARE THERE?
HOW BIG CAN THEY BE?
This can very slightly from City to City but in our Boise capital city the requirements:
- No larger than 700 square feet or 10% of the lot size, whichever is smaller
- Ongoing owner occupancy of either the primary residence or the ADU is required, enforced by a deed restriction
- No more than 2 bedrooms
- Two-bedroom ADUs must provide one additional dedicated parking space on site in addition to the two required parking spaces for the single-family dwelling outside of sertbacks per zone.
- Impact Fees for accessory dwelling units shall be assessed at a portion of the standard single family residential fee as determined by the applicable agency
- Notification of the adjacent property owners and occupants, including properties across streets and alleys, must be submitted with the application
