Be sure to check your town’s regulations on ADUs

any construction.

history of ADUs

Adus were initially spurred on in Canada by the shortage of housing and an economic crisis following World War ii, where one of the earlier methods of building Adus was in the laneways where garages once stood. Adus are a more recent development in the united states, with more and more cities and municipalities permitting them over the last several years. the growth of Adus in the united states is mainly due to the decline in the number of affordable homes and relaxed restrictions on the size and scope of these units.

Restrictions by area

Municipalities have their own regulations regarding Adus: how many may be on the property, how big they can be, who can live in them, what style they may be, how many parking spaces are required on the property, and so on. Adus must meet the local zoning laws — some more stringent than others.

In some areas the owner of the property or a family member must live in either the main house or the Adu. in other areas, such as Atlanta, the owners do not have to live in either unit. Count on there being restrictions as to the size of the Adu, the setbacks, the height, the design, and so on in your area. As this book is going to print, there are many locations where local governments are still negotiating what regulations they will put in place for future units. some areas still have not allowed Adus at all. if you live in a homeowner’s association, be aware that they will also have their own restrictions and regulations, in addition to the local government’s. before anyone considers building an Adu, they must first check with the local municipality to make sure they can be built in the area and what the regulations are. here are some additional questions people should ask:

■ How big can the Adu be?

■ Can more than one Adu be built on the property?

■ How large do the setbacks have to be? What are the height and size restrictions?

■ Is there a particular design the ADU must adhere to?

■ Do owners have to occupy one of the units? Can one or both the main house and ADU be rented?

■ Do the main residence and ADU need to have separate utilities, or can they share utilities?

■ Is it necessary to provide a parking space for the ADU?

■ Are there additional restrictions?

Sheri Koones has authored numerous articles for AOL Real Estate, Smart Homeowner, and Builder magazine, and is a regular contributor to Forbes.com. She lives in Greenwich, Conn. Get a copy of her latest book, “ADUs: The Perfect Housing Solution” wherever books are sold. Follow her on X @sherikoones.