Zoning comes first
Before any drawing, confirm your lot allows an accessory dwelling unit, what size is permitted, and how many units can exist on the parcel. Most cities publish an ADU handout with setbacks, maximum height, and lot coverage limits.
Setbacks, height, and coverage
Detached ADUs typically need four to five feet from side and rear property lines, and many jurisdictions cap height at a single story unless additional setbacks are met. Lot coverage and impervious-surface limits can quietly shrink the buildable footprint.
Egress, fire separation, and utilities
A legal dwelling needs a code-compliant bedroom egress window, smoke and CO detection, and a fire-rated separation when the unit sits close to the main house. Water, sewer, and electrical service must be sized for the added load — sometimes triggering a panel upgrade.
Our ADU packages cover the design and drafting set, structural engineering, energy compliance, and permitting support so the unit is approved as a dwelling, not a shed.
