This is an independently operated planning and referral website. It is not the City of Seattle, SDCI, a design practice, a utility, a law firm or the builder that would perform an owner’s project.
The website may receive compensation when an introduction results in business for an independent company. The company remains responsible for feasibility, design, credentials, price, contract, permits and construction.
Why the website exists
An ADU choice crosses land-use rules, an existing property, household needs, design, utilities, budget and contractor selection. Marketing pages often collapse those subjects into a floor plan and a starting price. This resource separates them so owners can see what must be confirmed before relying on a quote.
The intended result is not a universal answer. It is a more precise owner brief and a record of the evidence still needed for a particular address.
What readers will find here
The website provides:
- a Seattle-focused site check sequence.
- different guidance for detached, attached and garage projects.
- design, permit, utility, budget and schedule frameworks.
- regional pages that distinguish nearby permitting offices.
- comparison questions for designers and contractors.
- an optional form for requesting a planning response or possible company introduction.
These materials are educational. They do not approve a property, replace expert review or confirm a building price.
How research is handled
Regulatory statements are checked against relevant public sources such as SDCI, nearby cities and counties and Washington agencies. Links are placed where a reader can check current guidance. Utility and public-service details are attributed to the responsible organization.
Commercial sources may illustrate how companies describe market ranges or delivery options. Those statements are treated as published viewpoints, not official Seattle costs or guaranteed outcomes. Pages use qualifiers when a conclusion depends on the site, current rules or expert judgment.
Rules, fees, programs and websites change. Owners should confirm live details with the office in charge before acting.
How local guidance should be used
Each page starts with the property decision that matters in Seattle or the surrounding Puget Sound area. It links readers to the responsible agencies and explains where climate, housing patterns, utilities or delivery constraints can change the plan.
Use the page for the authority that actually controls the address. A mailing city can differ from the permit authority, and a nearby city’s guidance may not apply. Confirm the parcel, utility providers and current local process before relying on a design or price.
How readers can check a claim
Material local claims link to the agency or organization responsible for them. Check the source date, geographic scope and any limits shown beside the guidance. A public rule can explain the general path, but it cannot confirm feasibility for one property.
Commercial examples and market ranges are identified as context rather than official rules or project quotes. If a source has changed or a link no longer supports the statement, use the contact route to flag it before acting.
How company introductions work
An owner may describe a project through the inquiry form. The operator can review ordinary project details and, when an appropriate independent company is available, pass relevant details to that business for review. Submitting the form does not guarantee a match, response, appointment, quote or acceptance.
Companies remain different businesses. They are responsible for their own statements, credentials, advice, documents, prices, contracts, work and customer service. Owners should conduct their own checks. This includes Washington L&I registration, insurance, references and written-work review.
Editorial boundaries
The website does not claim to decide code compliance from a brief description. It does not estimate concealed conditions, promise permits, rank a company without evidence or manufacture testimonials. Example checklists are planning tools and must be adapted by qualified participants to the real project.
If a material error is listed, it should be corrected with the surrounding guidance. It must not be hidden through a silent location swap.
Frequently asked questions
Is this an official Seattle website?
No. Official claims are linked to the relevant government or public-agency source.
Does the site build ADUs?
No. Any design or building service would be supplied under a different agreement with an independent company.
Are the cost figures quotations?
No. Published ranges provide market context only. A meaningful project forecast requires site review, a defined list of work and current written pricing.
Can an owner use the site without submitting the form?
Yes. The planning pages are public and the inquiry route is optional.