Backyard cottages and ADUs in Seattle, permit to keys
A backyard cottage is a small house, with all of a house's decisions packed into a few hundred square feet. Most owners we talk to want it for a parent, a grown child, or rental income, and they are worried about the permit and the final cost. We start with your lot, show you which plans fit, and handle the permit from first submittal to issued.
Who this is for
- A parent who wants to live close but keep their own front door
- Grown children coming home, or a caregiver who needs to be nearby
- Owners who want a long-term rental on their own lot
- Anyone who wants a quiet studio or office away from the main house
What sets the price
The contract lists every line item and allowance. These are the things that move it:
- Plan size and number of storeys
- Distance from the street and how materials get to the back of the lot
- Sewer and power connections from the main house
- Slope, trees and drainage
- Finish level: kitchen, bath and flooring
Starting price for this service (slot, set by the owner). See plans and pricing.
How it goes
Check the lot
Size, access, slope, trees, sewer and power. We tell you what fits before you pay for design.
Choose a plan
Start from our plan library or have one drawn. Selections are made up front.
Permit
We prepare the permit set, submit it, and answer every correction notice.
Build
Foundation to finish, with one site lead and photos every week. Then keys and a one-year check-in.
Questions
Can I build a backyard cottage on my lot?
Many Seattle lots can. Rules on size, height and placement change, so we check the current rules for your parcel in the feasibility call. Seattle's own guide is on the SDCI website.
How long does it take?
It depends mostly on design choices and the permit queue at the time. We give you a schedule in writing at contract and update it if anything moves.
Will it pay for itself as a rental?
We do not promise rental income or resale value. We can introduce you to property managers and lenders who can talk through numbers for your situation.
Permit rules change. For Seattle, see SDCI's ADU guide.
Start with a 20-minute call.
We look at your lot before the call, so the answers are about your property.