Can You Build It
On Your Lot?

An accessory dwelling unit (ADU) is a self-contained second home — with its own kitchen, bathroom, and sleeping area — on the same lot as a primary residence. ADUs include backyard cottages, tiny homes, garage conversions, in-law suites, and casitas.

It depends on your state's law, your local zoning district, and your lot. Enter your address and we check official public records — your parcel, your zoning where available, and the actual state and local rules that apply — in seconds, free.

Yes. The address screening is free, instant, and requires no signup. The full report — detailed rules, constraints, cost context, and financing options — is also free in exchange for your contact info.

Every US state gets a cited state-law answer. Parcel-level screening is live in 19 states: Arizona (Tucson, zone-level rules), New Hampshire (town-verified rules), Massachusetts, Florida, plus Arkansas, Connecticut, Indiana, Maine, Maryland, Montana, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Utah, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. Deeper local rules roll out market by market as builders join the network.

Official public sources: state statutes, municipal ordinances (cited to the section), county GIS and state parcel records, and FEMA flood data — not scraped listings or guesses. Every rule in our database carries its source citation, and rules that have passed our human review carry a green Human Verified tag.

It varies by state. New Hampshire and Massachusetts have state laws that entitle homeowners to an ADU with limited local discretion. Florida leaves the decision to each city and county. Arizona requires larger cities to allow them. Our screener applies the right hierarchy for your address.