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An Accessory Dwelling Unit is an additional residential dwelling on the same parcel as a single-family dwelling which provides complete independent living facilities for one or more persons. This additional housing includes permanent provisions for living, sleeping, eating, cooking, and sanitation, built either within or adjacent to the main house. Other common names for an accessory dwelling unit include mother in law apartment, granny flat, cottage home, studio shed, and just plain old backyard home.

On top of adding square footage to your home as a home addition would, an accessory dwelling unit addition, also called an Attached Accessory Dwelling Unit or AADU, also creates the flexibility for occupants to keep the ADU open to the main home, or close it off for other people to privately live in. An attached accessory dwelling unit typically shares a wall with the main home.

Commonly referred to as a granny flat, in law unit, or studio shed, a DADU is a detached accessory dwelling unit and is separated from the main house. Instead of being adjacent to the main home like an AADU or within the main house like an JADU, a DADU will be an additional small home on the same property.

If expanding a home or building a new detached structure are not viable options, it is possible to remodel space inside an existing home to add an accessory dwelling unit, also called a Junior Accessory Dwelling Unit or JADU.

An accessory dwelling unit could be a room addition separate from your house which you could rent to others. It can be an in law unit, and provide space for additional family to live in. It could also serve as a backyard studio, creating a dedicated space for your work or hobbies at home. Essentially, an ADU provides space for you to take more advantage of the property you own and use it as a source of passive income.