Start Your Feasibility Study

Small homes, built exceptionally well.

Get Started with your free ADU Planning Checklist

Why people build a Dwelly

Made for life’s next chapter.

Every homeowner arrives here for a different reason. Whether you're making room for family, creating rental income, or planning for the future, a thoughtfully designed small home can help your property adapt as life changes.

What is an ADU?

One small home. A lot more possibilities.

An accessory dwelling unit, or ADU, is a fully independent small home built on the same property as an existing house.

It can create space for family, rental income, work, guests, or whatever life brings next—without requiring you to leave the place you already call home.

See what's possible

A simpler way to build.

Building a home doesn’t have to start from scratch.

  1. 01

    Choose a home.

    Start with an architect-designed plan instead of a blank page.

  2. 02

    Adapt it to your property.

    Work with local professionals to prepare the design for your site.

  3. 03

    Build.

    Move into permitting and construction with a clear path forward.

Dwelly planning process

Everything starts with the right home.

Explore thoughtfully designed small homes created for a range of properties, budgets, and life stages.

Designed to perform.

Sustainability experts, in your corner.

You shouldn't have to become an expert in high-performance homes to build one. Every Dwelly plan is created by architects and certified building professionals who specialize in sustainable design, Passive House principles, and healthy building science—so you can build with confidence from day one.

Designed by experts

  • Phius Certified Builder
  • Certified Passive House Designer
  • LEED Accredited Professional
Meet the thinking behind every Dwelly home →
Dwelly planning and architectural package preview

Everything you’ll receive.

What’s included

Every Dwelly plan includes the architectural drawings and planning resources needed to move into the next phase with greater clarity.

  • Architectural reference set
  • Planning worksheets
  • Building information worksheet
  • Exterior finish selections
  • Guidance for site-specific adaptation

Just getting started?

Start with a Planning Kit →

Hear from homeowners.

The planning package saved us from going down a dozen wrong paths. We knew exactly what to ask our builder, and it kept us focused on what mattered most.

Nicole H.Worcester, MA

Our builder was shocked by how organized everything was. He said it was the most complete pre-construction set he’d ever seen for a homeowner-led project.

Tom H.Portsmouth, RI

J.R. looked at our property from every angle—zoning, layout, budget, and long-term goals. Instead of trying to sell us a project, she helped us decide whether building an ADU actually made sense. Her guidance was so valuable!

Dan S.Barnstable, MA

The ADU movement is here.

Across the country, homeowners and lawmakers are rethinking what a single property can do. ADUs are creating more room for family, more housing in established neighborhoods, and more possibilities in the properties people already own.

18States with statewide laws making ADUs easier to build
72%Of Americans surveyed support allowing ADUs on single-family lots
1,200+ADUs approved in Massachusetts during the first year of statewide by-right legalization
1 in 5Legally constructed California homes represented by ADUs in recent state reporting

Sources: The Pew Charitable Trusts, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and California Senate housing data. Figures reflect the latest cited reporting available as of 2026.

Your next chapter starts here.

Whether you’re planning for family, rental income, or simply a little more flexibility, it all starts with finding the right home.

Explore the Collection