An ADU may be a Tiny House but a Tiny House is not an ADU.
A few people brought up the subject of Accessory Dwelling Unit's and Tiny Houses at the weekly AR zoom meeting on Tuesday. It piqued my interest and of course, curiosity spurned me on to research the subject. Here is the result!
🏡 While both offer communal living on some level, one key difference is that a Tiny Home is small, typically less than 400 square feet. It may also be stationary but tend to be mobile and can easily be pulled from one location to another.
🏘 An ADU is built on a permanent foundation on the same property as an existing home. It can be an addition or a garage/large shop conversion, or as a standalone structure. More often built for family members or serves as rental income.
Before moving forward with either one, consult with city and county officials over legalities and zoning considerations or it can be a huge waste of time and money. Ensuring the structure is built safe and landscape correctly installed can avoid flooding during storms and water damage of existing structures.
Also, hire a reputable, licensed building contractor that has an established relationship with the city departmental employees where you live. If you plan to have either built, choose one with architectural and structural engineering experience. Avoid hiring a handyman unless he possesses such skills.
Costs differ as well. ADU's add equity to property but Tiny Homes on wheels are not considered real estate and more an RV due to the mobility factor. So, while an ADU may be a tiny house but a Tiny House is not an ADU.
Do the 'home work' to reach goals and achieve optimum results!
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