Go Far®ADU vs. DADU — the two-minute version
An ADU (accessory dwelling unit) is a second, self-contained home on your lot — its own kitchen, bath, and entrance. When it is attached to or inside the main house (a basement or garage conversion, an addition over the garage), it is simply called an ADU. When it stands alone in the yard, it is a DADU — a detached ADU, often called a backyard cottage.
Why the rules got friendlier
State legislation passed in 2023 (HB 1337) required cities and counties inside urban growth areas to allow up to two ADUs per residential lot and rolled back many of the old blockers — heavy parking mandates and owner-occupancy requirements among them. Cities have been updating their codes to comply, which means the details are local and still moving: allowed sizes, height limits, setbacks, and design standards differ between Lynnwood, unincorporated Snohomish County, and neighboring cities. The direction of travel, though, is one way: easier.
What people build them for
- Rental income. A legal, permitted ADU in this rental market is a durable income stream and a meaningful bump to property value.
- Family. Aging parents nearby without sharing a kitchen; a returning graduate with a real front door of their own.
- Working from home. A detached studio-office that will still be a legal dwelling when priorities change.
How the process actually goes
1. Feasibility. We look at your lot — zoning, setbacks, utility routing, access — and tell you honestly what fits. 2. Design. Plans sized to the current code, drawn for how you will actually use the space. 3. Permits. We prepare and shepherd the application; requirements change, so verify the current rules with the city — or let us do it. 4. Build. Site work, foundation, framing, systems, finishes — each phase inspected before the next.
Start with your lot, not a floor plan
Every ADU conversation should start with what your specific lot allows. Go Far Construction builds attached ADUs and detached backyard cottages across Lynnwood and Snohomish County — see our ADU service, the DADU page, or request a free feasibility conversation. We will bring the code knowledge; you bring the lot.