what is an adu home

An ADU, or Accessory Dwelling Unit, is a secondary housing unit on a single-family residential lot. It is a self-contained apartment, cottage, or small residential unit that is located on a property that has a separate main, single-family home, duplex, or other residential unit. ADUs are significantly smaller than the average US house and tend to be one of two units owned by one owner on a single-family residential lot. They can be developed asynchronously from the primary house by homeowner developers. ADUs can be attached to the principal dwelling or be an entirely separate unit, located above a garage or in the backyard on the same property. They are also known as in-law or mother-in-law units, secondary dwelling units, granny flats, or carriage houses. An ADU usually has its own kitchen, living area, and separate entrance. ADUs can be used as a rental property, guest house, or multigenerational living space. They can also improve home maintenance and homeownership rates by providing a reliable rental income that can support mortgage payments or home maintenance. ADUs can be integrated into the scale and character of single-family neighborhoods while also promoting workforce housing in these neighborhoods.