How to Add an ADU

A tiny house with a big personality — and a bigger purpose.

Who is an ADU for?

Honestly? More people than you think.

If you’re a landlord with a backyard big enough for a third unit, an ADU may be the smartest financial moves you can make. More housing. More income. More long-term value. Less drama than trying to find another duplex in this market.

If you own a 4 bedroom home, love your neighborhood, adore the walkability, but no longer need four bedrooms— an ADU can give you options. Rent the main house, live smaller out back, or create flexible space for the next chapter.

If your family has grown in the “surprise, we live here now” direction, an ADU can give everyone what they really want: proximity and privacy. Multigenerational living works a lot better when everybody has their own front door.

The first step? Check what your city allows. ADU rules are changing fast across Minnesota, so start with your local planning department. Lot size, setbacks, height, utilities, parking, and permits all matter.

Then comes the fun part: choosing the design.

Most ADUs are 500–1,100 square feet with one or two bedrooms. Some are single-level homes tucked into the backyard. Others are apartments over a new garage. One family built a two-car garage with a private apartment above it, separate utilities, and a new source of income.

Now here’s where modular gets interesting.

A modular ADU arrives with the kitchen, bathroom, insulation, and utility panel already built in. Translation: less mud, weather delay, minimal construction chaos in your backyard.

Even better? These units can be net-zero ready, built with fire-retardant materials, and engineered to resist winds up to 170 mph. That is not a cute little shed with plumbing. That is a serious housing solution in a compact, high-performance package.

Income. Flexibility. Family. Resilience.

An ADU is not just extra space. It is a strategy. Want to know if your yard has ADU potential?

Call me. 612-384-1360