ATL ADU Co.

What Is an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU)?

An Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) is a small, detached living structure located behind the primary residence on a lot. ADUs include their own kitchen, bedroom, and bathroom facilities, making them fully self-contained homes intended to be "accessory" to the primary dwelling. The rise in ADUs across the country stems from a range of benefits, including expanded living space, increased property value, rental income potential, home office use, and multigenerational living arrangements.

ATL ADU CO is an experienced ADU builder and ADU contractor based in Atlanta, Georgia. They have been specializing exclusively in accessory dwelling units since 2017 — the year ADUs became legal in the City of Atlanta. While other builders may be still learning the ropes, ATL ADU CO has been focused solely on this type of construction from day one.

Why Build an ADU?

There are several compelling reasons homeowners choose to work with a dedicated detached ADU builder like ATL ADU CO:

1. Rental Income: As detached structures in desirable residential areas, ADUs are highly profitable as short, mid, or long-term rentals. In some cities, ADUs are even referred to as mortgage helpers due to the steady income they generate.
2. Multigenerational Living: ADUs provide a separate but nearby housing option for aging parents or extended family members, offering independence while keeping loved ones close.
3. Increased Property Value: By adding square footage and transforming a backyard into an income-producing asset, homeowners can immediately increase their property's value. Potential buyers recognize the opportunity to earn income, house aging parents or guests, or work from home — all attractive features in today's market.
4. Meeting Housing Demand: One and two-person households now represent 62% of the country's households. Small housing options in residential neighborhoods are in high demand to meet the needs of this growing demographic.
5. Solving a Housing Problem: In Atlanta and countless other cities, demand for housing is outpacing supply, especially for affordable and workforce housing. ADUs provide much-needed housing that is efficient, environmentally conscious, and requires no additional parking or rezoning.

ATL ADU CO also offers custom ADU design and construction for homeowners with a unique vision or a challenging site. This path begins with an in-depth feasibility phase that includes personalized design work tailored to the specific property. While custom builds are typically more time and cost-intensive than predesigned options, they offer unmatched flexibility and individuality.

ADU Zoning, Requirements, and Service Area

In the City of Atlanta, ADUs are permitted in zones R-4, R-4A, and R-5, which make up over 60 percent of the residential zoning. Key requirements for owning an ADU in Atlanta include:

1. ADUs cannot be sold separately from the main house.
2. The total number of units on the property cannot exceed two, including the ADU.
3. No commercial use is permitted.
4. The unit must be 750 square feet or less.
5. No minimum lot size is required, but a new substandard lot of record cannot be created.
6. No direct access road is necessary.
7. No designated parking space is required for the ADU.

Zoning limitations also include a 20-foot height limit, 55% lot coverage, and 50% FAR (65% for lots smaller than 7,500 SF). Side and rear setbacks vary by zone: 4 feet in R-5 zones, and 7-foot side / 15-foot rear in R-4 and R-4A zones.

ATL ADU CO operates predominantly in the City of Atlanta, City of Decatur, City of Avondale, and DeKalb County, and will also consider projects throughout Metro Atlanta.

Their premium turnkey service covers everything from the initial site visit through to handing over the keys — including surveying, site planning, permitting, project management, and construction. The typical timeline for their turnkey service is roughly 8 to 10 months from start to finish, with 4 to 5 months for preconstruction and 4 to 5 months for construction.

For homeowners whose zoning does not permit an ADU, a Guest House may be an alternative option. Unlike ADUs, Guest Houses are limited to 30% of the main house square footage and are not permitted to have full cooking facilities, though they can include a wet bar. Guest Houses also do not count toward the allowable buildable square footage (FAR) of the lot.

ATL ADU CO's granny flat and backyard cottage designs are built to easily adapt to short-term, long-term, or mid-term rental use, giving homeowners flexibility in how they generate income from their property.