Staying Fit
Sometimes known as accessory apartments and in-law suites, among other names, Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) provide more housing options in existing neighborhoods by allowing homeowners to build an additional unit on their lots.
ADU is a catch-all term for independent living units — whether they are attached to an existing home or placed elsewhere on the property, such as over a detached garage or as a stand-alone structure in the backyard. ADUs are among the housing solutions that can help to ensure that people of all ages, including older adults, have a roof over their heads.
AARP partnered with Blink!LAB Architecture to create Accessory Dwelling Units: A Step-by-Step Guide to Design and Development This resource guides homeowners through the steps of designing and building an ADU on their own properties. It includes information on zoning and other regulations, project financing and budgeting, design considerations for planning the space and 3 ADU floor plans to accommodate different household needs.
ADU Videos:
- A Place for Loved Ones to Live: ADUS and Caregiving
- Creating an ADU: Building a Living Space for Family, Friends and More
- Creating a Living Space for the Neighbors: Adding ADUs to Make Communities More Livable
- Expanding Housing Through Policy: ADUs in Ashland, OR
- Meeting Housing Needs Today and Tomorrow: Creating an ADU to Age in Place
- ADUs Help Families Address a Variety of Housing Needs
- A North Carolina ADU Story: Keeping Family Close By