ADU Journal is an independent publication covering accessory dwelling units across the United States — the policies that govern them, the people who build and live in them, and the projects that show what’s possible when we build smaller, smarter, and closer together.
We cover ADUs because we believe housing is a human right. Not as a slogan, but as a practical organizing principle. Accessory dwelling units — backyard cottages, garage conversions, basement apartments, tiny homes — represent one of the most promising, lowest-impact tools available for addressing America’s housing crisis. They fit on land that already exists. They don’t require rezoning fights or massive infrastructure. They can be built one at a time, by individual homeowners, in neighborhoods that are already established.
If we built an ADU on just ten percent of existing single-family lots in the United States, we would have enough housing to end homelessness for families and working individuals — without building a single new subdivision.
That’s what we’re here to document, advocate for, and make easier to understand.
ADU Journal covers:
— State and local ADU regulations, updated as laws change
— Builders, manufacturers, and designers who specialize in ADU construction
— Project showcases from real homeowners and developers
— Policy analysis and legislative tracking
— Finance, permitting, and design resources for homeowners
We are editorially independent. We accept no paid placements in our coverage. Builders appear in our directory because we researched and listed them — not because they paid to be there.
Dave Roberts
Founder, ADU Journal