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Seattle DADU

Custom backyard cottage and DADU unit construction in Seattle.

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(206) 552-9791

Building a DADU in Seattle, WA

Detached accessory dwelling units (DADU) are small, standalone houses built behind your main home. They allow you to maintain your privacy and all the square footage in your main house while creating extra living space.

We area experts at building DADUs in the Seattle Area.

Pre-Designed DADU Floorplans

Offering seventeen pre designed DADU plans that can be customized to fit your site conditions.
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Anita DADU

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Anna DADU

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Ariana DADU

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Ayva DADU

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Diana DADU

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Elena DADU

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ESABELLA DADU

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INNA DADU

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JULYETTA DADU

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LILY DADU

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MARGO DADU

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Milana DADU

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PAISLEY DADU

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Schooner DADU

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SOFIYA DADU

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STELLA DADU

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VICTORIA DADU

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Anita DADU

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Anna DADU

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Ariana DADU

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Ayva DADU

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Diana DADU

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Elena DADU

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ESABELLA DADU

5

INNA DADU

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JULYETTA DADU

5

LILY DADU

5

MARGO DADU

5

Milana DADU

5

PAISLEY DADU

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Schooner DADU

5

SOFIYA DADU

5

STELLA DADU

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VICTORIA DADU

If you are interested in building a DADU in your Seattle backyard please call (206) 552-9791 or email us about your project. We would be happy to answer your questions and discuss your project.

Exterior of the Saige DADU

1103 Henderson DADU

Construction of five DADU units featuring our Diana DADU floor plan which is 840 sq. ft. with 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.

820 Rose Street DADU

Exterior of a DADU located at 5409 37th Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98126

5409 37th Ave DADU

WHAT IS A BACKYARD COTTAGE?

A Backyard Cottage or a DADU is a small residential structure sharing the same lot as a house, but self-contained and physically separate from the primary house. In the Seattle Municipal Code (SMC) zoning provision, Backyard Cottages are referred to as “Accessory Dwelling Units, detached.” They are also sometimes referred to as detached accessory dwelling units, granny flats, mother-in-law apartments, and carriage houses.

Backyard Cottages generally include a living room, sleeping area, kitchen, and bathroom and have a lockable entrance door. On some lots, a Backyard Cottage may be located in a side yard.

WHAT IS A BACKYARD COTTAGE?

A Backyard Cottage or a DADU is a small residential structure sharing the same lot as a house, but self-contained and physically separate from the primary house. In the Seattle Municipal Code (SMC) zoning provision, Backyard Cottages are referred to as “Accessory Dwelling Units, detached.” They are also sometimes referred to as detached accessory dwelling units, granny flats, mother-in-law apartments, and carriage houses.

Backyard Cottages generally include a living room, sleeping area, kitchen, and bathroom and have a lockable entrance door. On some lots, a Backyard Cottage may be located in a side yard.

REASONS TO BUILD A DADU

Because of their small scale, a DADU can create attractive and affordable rental opportunities for Seattle residents without changing the neighborhood or quality of life for other residents. They can provide greater financial flexibility for homeowners by letting them collect rent for a portion of their existing property or help accommodate larger or multi-generational families. DADU also offer a new housing type to Seattle that is desirable, quiet, and compatible with other homes in single-family neighborhoods.

A DADU provides a surprising number of benefits to communities, homeowners, and renters. Although much of the attention given to DADU revolves around their potential for increasing the supply of affordable housing opportunities, DADU may also help to address other social issues, particularly those relating to housing options for the growing elderly population.

Who Can Build DADU?

In December, 2009 Seattle City Council adopted legislation to allow the construction of backyard cottages on eligible lots in single-family zones throughout the city.

Prior to the December 2009 legislation, Backyard Cottages were permitted only in Southeast Seattle, where they were authorized by legislation in 2006.

BUILDING Requirements

You can build a Backyard Cottage if you meet the following requirements:

  • You are a homeowner.
  • Your property is located in a single-family residential zone (SF 5000, SF 7200 or SF 9600 zoned area).
  • Your lot is not in a Shoreline District.
  • Your lot is at least 4,000 square feet in area.
  • You or your property co-owner(s) will occupy either the main house or the Backyard Cottage as a permanent and principal residence.
  • You or your property co-owner(s) plan to live in the main home or the Backyard Cottage for more than six months of each calendar year.
  • You or your property co-owner(s) who live on the property have a 50 percent or greater interest in the property.

Who Can Build DADU?

In December, 2009 Seattle City Council adopted legislation to allow the construction of backyard cottages on eligible lots in single-family zones throughout the city.

Prior to the December 2009 legislation, Backyard Cottages were permitted only in Southeast Seattle, where they were authorized by legislation in 2006.

BUILDING Requirements

You can build a Backyard Cottage if you meet the following requirements:

  • You are a homeowner.
  • Your property is located in a single-family residential zone (SF 5000, SF 7200 or SF 9600 zoned area).
  • Your lot is not in a Shoreline District.
  • Your lot is at least 4,000 square feet in area.
  • You or your property co-owner(s) will occupy either the main house or the Backyard Cottage as a permanent and principal residence.
  • You or your property co-owner(s) plan to live in the main home or the Backyard Cottage for more than six months of each calendar year.
  • You or your property co-owner(s) who live on the property have a 50 percent or greater interest in the property.

Additional Considerations

If your property is large enough for a Backyard Cottage there are a variety of other issues you will need to think about. Consider the following:

  • Even if your lot is 4,000 square feet or greater, do you have extra space to spare?
  • How will your lot and neighborhood look with a Backyard Cottage?
  • How can the design of the Backyard Cottage maintain your privacy and that of your neighbors?
  • Will you rent the unit? Who is your potential renter and how can you build the unit to meet the demands of your rental market?
  • Do you have time to care for an additional unit?
  • Converting a detached garage might save money. Can you convert an existing detached garage into a Backyard Cottage?
  • Besides exterior and interior work, are you prepared for the cost and disruption of extending the sewer, water, and electrical connections?
  • Do you want to have separate utility meters?
  • How will your tenants access the Backyard Cottage? Can you use a side yard or alley for this purpose?
  • Will you need to hire professionals to help you design and build the Backyard Cottage?