ADU Location Intelligence
ADU requirements can change from one state, city, county, zoning district, and property to the next. Start with our available guides and work your way toward the requirements that apply where you are building.
These guides are educational starting points. Property eligibility and current requirements should always be verified with the applicable local authority.
How It Works
Start With the State
Understand the broader ADU framework and statewide requirements that may apply.
Check Your Locality
City and county rules can add requirements, limitations, and additional approvals.
Verify the Property
Setbacks, zoning, utilities, septic, lot conditions, and other site details still matter.
Choose the Plan
Use what you learned to narrow the plans that make the most sense for the project.
4
State Guides Live
Local detail matters.
State guidance is only the first layer of the research process.
Step 01
Start With the State
Step 02
Check Your Locality
Step 03
Verify the Property
Step 04
Choose the Plan
Current Coverage
Explore the state guides currently available in Best ADU Plans, then continue into local guidance where available.
State Guide
California has one of the country's most developed statewide ADU frameworks. State law establishes important protections for ADU development while cities and counties continue to administer permits and local development standards.
State Guide
Virginia ADU requirements currently depend heavily on local zoning ordinances. A new statewide ADU law has been enacted and is scheduled to take effect July 1, 2027, creating a much broader statewide framework.
State Guide
Texas ADU requirements can vary substantially by municipality, county, zoning district, and property. Homeowners should begin with the rules of the specific jurisdiction where the property is located.
State Guide
Florida law recognizes the value of accessory dwelling units and encourages their permitting in single-family residential areas, but the practical rules affecting an individual project are often established locally.
More state and local guides are coming.
The long-term goal is broader national coverage followed by increasingly detailed city and county guidance in major ADU markets.
Property First
Not sure where to begin?
Start with your property and project goals.
Before You Buy a Plan
Square footage and bedrooms are only part of the decision. The location, property, and local requirements can change what you are actually able to build.
Find My ADUWhether an ADU is allowed and what type may be permitted.
How far the structure may need to sit from property lines or other buildings.
Building, zoning, utility, septic, and other approvals that may be required.
Property constraints can matter just as much as the ADU plan itself.
Put the Pieces Together
Use local guidance to understand what you should investigate, then explore plans that match your space and goals.
A Better Planning Sequence
Understand the state framework
Research your city or county
Verify property-specific conditions
Choose a plan that makes sense
Important
Best ADU Plans provides general educational information, not legal, zoning, engineering, or permitting advice. Regulations change and may vary by jurisdiction and property. Always verify current requirements with the applicable local government and qualified professionals before purchasing, permitting, or building an ADU.