Seattle Unveils Pre-Approved Plans for Backyard Cottages

 Seattle has launched a new website called ADUniverse that features backyard cottage designs that have been granted pre-approved  City permits. The website includes a step-by-step guide to adding an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) on a property and new data about the implementation of this increasingly popular housing option.

After signing into law the most progressive ADU ordinance of any major U.S. city last year, Mayor Durkan directed City agencies to identify strategies to reduce permitting times and costs for homeowners seeking to build ADUs on their property. In addition to providing an easily accessible design option, the pre-approved designs will shorten the permitting process by at least 2-6 weeks and save homeowners about $1,500 in permit fees.

The new ADUniverse website helps homeowners determine whether their lots may be suitable for an ADU and how large a cottage they could build. Currently the site offers a look at seven pre-permitted cottages ready for construction; up to three more designs will be available in the coming weeks. All architectural plans — ranging from a studio under 300 square feet to a 1,000-square-foot two-bedroom — will be available direct from the designer for $1,000 or less. Cottage designs have been reviewed against codes for the structure and its energy use; however, homeowners remain responsible for permits and inspections related to zoning, site preparation and the foundation, utility connections, and other site-specific requirements.