#backyard cottages

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Bruce Parker, a Seattle Architect specializing in backyard cottages, discusses the high home prices, city legalities, and the potential benefits of building a small house on your land.

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Ruling lets Seattle move forward with plans to expand backyard cottages

A legal ruling Monday will now allow the City of Seattle to move forward with plans to loosen restrictions on property owners looking to build backyard cottages.

Steps to open up the city to building more ADUs were last proposed in 2016, and were opposed by the Queen Anne Community Council. The group argued that allowing these units would negatively impact parking and utilities, and undermine the stability of neighborhoods. The community hearing examiner agreed, forcing the city to do additional environmental review before it could move forward.

Now that the hearing examiner has ruled in favor of the city, work by Councilmember Mike O’Brien to expand ADUs in Seattle can begin in earnest.

O’Brien has spearheaded efforts on this front in Seattle for years now. The verdict in this latest ruling will next move legislation from O’Brien forward into planning stages.

His proposed bill would allow for a handful of new standards for anyone looking to add a backyard cottage to their property. That includes:

Removing a requirement for property owners to live on any property with an ADU

Permitting two ADUs on a single lot

Removing a requirement for off-street parking

Allowing ADUs on smaller lots

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Planning Your ADU Build in Palm Beach County for 2026

Adding an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) to your property is an excellent way to expand your living space without moving. For homeowners in Palm Beach County, these backyard cottages offer a practical solution for multi-generational living, remote work offices, or guest accommodations. WHY CHOOSE AN ADU? Instead of moving, staying in your current home allows you to preserve your lifestyle while gaining the extra square footage you need. ADUs provide privacy and independence that standard home additions often lack, making them a highly functional asset for any property. BUDGETING FOR YOUR PROJECT When estimating costs, remember that detached structures require independent infrastructure, such as plumbing, electrical, and HVAC systems. Factor in these "hidden" site preparation costs, including trenching and potential drainage work. Working with a contractor who understands local zoning and lot coverage limits ensures your project complies with all regulations while maximizing your space.

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ADUs for Multigenerational Living: Creating Harmonious Family Spaces

As families grow and change, the concept of multigenerational living gains appeal. Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) are increasingly popular for accommodating different generations within a single property, providing both closeness and individual privacy. This guide delves into how ADUs can support multigenerational families, fostering stronger bonds and offering economic advantages.

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Benefits of ADUs in Multigenerational Homes ADUs strike an ideal balance between proximity and privacy in multigenerational setups. Constructing a separate living space on the same property allows families to live near one another while maintaining their own living spaces. This close yet independent arrangement supports daily interactions and family gatherings without the usual challenges of shared living spaces, promoting a supportive and connected family environment.

Economically, ADUs offer significant advantages by consolidating housing expenses. Families can share the costs of property maintenance, utilities, and mortgages, easing financial pressures across generations, which is particularly beneficial for the younger and older family members who might face more significant financial challenges.

Design Considerations for Family-Friendly ADUs Designing an ADU for a multigenerational family requires careful consideration to address the needs of all family members. For elderly residents, features such as step-free access, wider doorways, and safety bars in bathrooms are essential. For the younger generation, adaptable spaces that can transition from playrooms to study areas or home offices as children grow are highly beneficial.

Building Community Within the Home Beyond facilitating family togetherness, an ADU can also become a central hub for wider community engagement. It can host gatherings for extended family and friends, thereby extending its benefits beyond the immediate family to foster broader community connections. This not only enriches family life but also integrates the family more deeply into the local community fabric.

ADUs are not merely a structural addition to a property but a strategic response to the changing dynamics of modern families. By embracing multigenerational living through thoughtfully designed ADUs, families can nurture an environment that supports both independence and interconnectedness. Embarking on an ADU project is more than building a space—it’s about creating a home that enhances the lives of all family members, promoting shared experiences and lifelong connections.

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In Pursuit of the Affordable Backyard Cottage

Last summer when the Seattle City Council passed legislation that encouraged development of backyard cottages across the city, the move was generally met with enthusiasm from housing advocates prom…

For Ronnie and Wendy Cunningham, Madison Valley home owners who had dreamed of building a backyard cottage in the backyard for years, an initial attempt to construct a modest DADU resulted in the loss of thousands of dollars over a fourteen month period in which they struggled with the city’s complicated permitting process. After receiving construction bids of more than $300,000, it seemed that the Cunningham’s attempt to secure additional financial security by building a DADU on a property that had been in the family since 1975 was all but lost.

An interesting fact about backyard cottages is that while they do tend to eventually rent for rates that are either at or below market value, in terms of square footage, backyard cottages are often the expensive type of housing to construct per square foot. According to data gathered in Portland, Oregon, which has been a few steps ahead of Seattle in terms of encouraging backyard cottage development, the high cost of constructing a DADU is largely attributable to design, permitting, utility connection, and construction costs; in fact, the size of the unit often has a modest impact on total cost in the end.

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Tacoma Says ‘Yes” to Cottages in its Backyard » The Urbanist

Residents of Tacoma largely support a change to the municipal code that would make it easier for home owners to add a secondary living space on their property. The idea to allow more greater numbers of “Detached Accessory Dwelling Units,” or DADUs, was first taken up by the city in …

On February 19th the city held a public hearing at which public comment overwhelmingly supported a change to the city’s municipal code that would “outright allow DADUs in single family [sic] zoning districts.” According to the City’s website, “This will end DADUs as a part of the pilot program and move DADUs into a comprehensive Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU) code that covers detached and attached types.”

Accessory dwelling units represent one effective response to the lack of affordable housing in Puget Sound. As part of a larger and comprehensive approach to housing that includes investments in multimodal public transit, an end to parking minimums, and zoning for greater density, ADUs can help make affordable housing a more present reality for residents of the region.

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New push for backyard cottages pits city against neighborhood groups

The city has loosened regulations on backyard cottages, and argues in their new environmental report that they will not negatively impact neighborhoods. But neighborhood opposition is expected.

The city is looking to simplify and streamline the process for homeowners to build ADUs on their properties, known colloquially as backyard cottages or in-law units.

Homeowners would then be able to rent these units out, providing an additional source of income that could then be put toward anything from day-to-day living to mortgage payments. Alternatively, it also opens up more housing options for renters.

“The culprit in delaying these rules changes is the state’s environmental policy act,” Bertolet said. “People who want to oppose new housing projects or rules changes like these can sort of hijack the state environmental rules to create all kinds of delays. The city council has no control over these state laws.”

New regulations are looser in nature and would not require off-street parking, allow ADU construction on smaller lots, and would not require the homeowner to live on-site. The city also released its updated environmental review, which reached the same conclusions as the last one. It argues that that such housing will have little negative impact on neighborhoods, with regards to parking, utilities, and aesthetics.