About ADU Project Planner
Clearer information for better ADU decisions.
ADU Project Planner helps US homeowners understand the questions, costs, rules, and tradeoffs that shape an accessory dwelling unit project—before major money is committed.
Why this site exists
The hardest part often comes before construction.
Homeowners encounter conflicting cost estimates, technical zoning language, rapidly changing local rules, and advice shaped by someone trying to sell a design or construction service. It can be difficult to know which question to ask first.
We organize that complexity into a practical planning sequence: define the household goal, screen the property, verify current rules, establish a complete budget, compare delivery options, and prepare for professional conversations.
Who we serve
Built around real homeowner goals.
Family housing
Households planning space for parents, adult children, caregiving, or aging in place.
Rental flexibility
Owners evaluating long-term rental use, operating assumptions, and local restrictions.
Property planning
Homeowners comparing cost, financing, long-term utility, and project risk.
Our editorial standard
Useful information must also be checkable.
Start with primary sources
Important regulatory claims should link to current state laws, municipal codes, planning departments, or other authoritative records.
Show dates and assumptions
Guides should state the jurisdiction and review date. Calculators should explain inputs, exclusions, and uncertainty.
Separate facts from judgment
Where a recommendation depends on property conditions, local interpretation, or professional expertise, that limitation should be explicit.
Independence matters.
ADU Project Planner is designed as an educational resource, not a substitute for a planning department, architect, engineer, attorney, tax adviser, lender, or licensed contractor. When content includes a commercial relationship or affiliate link, it should be clearly disclosed.
Accuracy is ongoing work.
Rules change, agencies revise guidance, and every property has different constraints. Readers should verify important decisions locally. Corrections and updated source information are welcome through the Contact page.
Start with your property—not a sales pitch.
Use the homepage planning path to organize the first questions that determine feasibility.