FAQ

The space you’ll need depends on the model. Including the legally required setbacks the studio needs a 39’×25’ area, the one bedroom needs 47’×25’, the two bedroom needs 57’×25’, Backyard XL 8 needs 35’×42’, and Backyard XL 10 needs 35’×48’.

Currently, we offer this option exclusively for homeowners whose properties were damaged or destroyed in the recent Southern California fires.

Absolutely not. We spread out milestone payments throughout the entire project timeline, and we won’t collect payment or begin work until you’ve secured financing.

Don’t worry — our team has relationships with a range of financing partners and can help you find the right fit.

The space you’ll need depends on the model. Including the legally required setbacks the studio needs a 39’×25’ area, the one bedroom needs 47’×25’, the two bedroom needs 57’×25’, Backyard XL 8 needs 35’×42’, and Backyard XL 10 needs 35’×48’.

Permit timelines vary by location, so we’ll give you a personalized schedule once you request a proposal. Once permits are approved, Backyard can be installed in as few as eight weeks onsite — that includes site preparation, delivery, and final touches. While your permits are in progress, we’re already building your Backyard in our factory so everything is ready to go.

Yes. Backyard units are pre-approved by the state and built in our factory while your local permits are in progress — so both happen at the same time. The typical Backyard installation is 4–6 months faster than a conventional on-site build.

We designed the process to keep disruptions to a minimum. Site preparation typically takes 4–6 weeks, far shorter than the 6–12 months you’d expect with a conventional build. The biggest moment is delivery day, when we crane your Backyard into place — that sometimes requires a brief street closure. We’ll give you and your neighbors plenty of notice.

All construction has some degree of noise, but we keep it to a minimum. The noisiest work happens in our factory, and the short site preparation window means less disruption overall.

Absolutely not. We spread out milestone payments throughout the entire project timeline, and we won’t collect payment or begin work until you’ve secured financing.

Don’t worry — our team has relationships with a range of financing partners and can help you find the right fit.

We offer Financing for Backyard, a second mortgage with lower rates and more flexible terms than your typical first mortgage. To learn more about Financing for Backyard and get a rate estimate, click here.

Other options include cash-out refinances, home equity lines of credit (HELOCs), home equity loans, and renovation or construction loans. Our team can help you find the right path for your situation.

The base installation cost covers the services most sites need, with the final price tailored to your property. Here’s what’s included:

• Full-time project management by our operations team
• Allowances for building permits and encroachment permits necessary for installation
• General site infrastructure, including mobilization, a site toilet, protective work zone barriers, and required stormwater contamination prevention measures
• Surveying services, including boundary and foundation surveys
• Site clearing, including small bush and shrub removal
• Minor landscape irrigation rerouting at the installation location
• Standard foundation installation, designed for most sites in California
• Equipment, labor, and materials for utility connections, including 100’ of 3” sanitary sewer, 75’ of 60A electrical conduit and wire, 75’ of teledata conduit, and 50’ of ¾” PVC water line
• A crane capable of lifting your Backyard at least 125’, traffic control, and safety barriers for delivery day
• Wooden entry stairs at the main entrance
• Solar system installation
• Touchup and final cleaning after delivery

Yes. If your site doesn’t require everything we initially scoped, we’ll adjust the cost in your final proposal. You only pay for what your site needs.

We’ll help you identify potential extra costs early on. Factors that could add to your installation cost include:

• Remote properties with significant travel for our crews
• Additional permits and services required by your local jurisdiction
• Concrete or structure demolition
• Deep lots requiring extra trenching, utilities, or a larger crane
• Tree removal beyond minor shrubs and bushes
• Electrical service upgrades (though usually not needed)
• Fire sprinklers and water upgrades
• Limited site access that requires hand digging or other costs
• Rerouting of larger irrigation lines (>1”) encountered during excavation
• Unforeseen site conditions discovered during excavation or permitting

Yes — but we handle the entire permitting process for you.

In some areas, faster permitting is available through pre-approval processes or third-party reviewers. We’ll work with you to find the best option based on your property and timeline.

Currently, we offer this option exclusively for homeowners whose properties were damaged or destroyed in the recent Southern California fires.

Front yard ADUs can be tricky, but thanks to Assembly Bill 2221 (passed in 2023), they’re now easier to permit in California. Our team can help you figure out if it’s an option for your property.

Yes. California law allows two ADUs per single-family home: a detached ADU (like Backyard) and a Junior Accessory Dwelling Unit (JADU) — a conversion of existing space within your home, up to 500 square feet.

Solar is not required, but Backyard offers solar options to protect against rising electricity costs and maximize your investment. Our team can help you decide if solar makes sense for your situation.

State law requires ADUs to be used for long-term housing, with average rental periods over 30 days. That said, some local jurisdictions allow shorter rentals. Our team can help you understand the rules in your area.

SB9 is a California state law that allows homeowners to subdivide a single-family lot into two parcels.

An ADU in California can be up to 1,200 square feet. ADUs larger than 750 square feet may have additional requirements. Smaller units — under 800 square feet and meeting certain height and setback rules — qualify as “statewide exemption ADUs,” which have a streamlined approval path.

A statewide exemption ADU is a unit up to 800 square feet and 16 feet tall, with at least 4-foot side and rear setbacks. Under state law, these units can’t be blocked by lot coverage, floor area ratio, open space, or minimum lot size requirements — making them one of the easiest types of ADU to build. You can have both a detached statewide exemption ADU and a JADU on the same single-family lot.

Impact fees are charges from local agencies to offset the effects of new development. They don’t apply to Backyard or other ADUs under 750 square feet.

Yes — adding an ADU will increase your property tax based on its assessed value. But it won’t trigger a reassessment of your primary home, which makes an ADU a tax-efficient way to add space. Depending on how you use your ADU, there may be additional tax benefits. Our team can help you understand what to expect.

Yes. A permanent ADU adds livable square footage, bedrooms, and bathrooms — all of which contribute to your property’s overall value.

A detached ADU can be a great investment, depending on your property and goals. It can generate rental income and increase your property’s long-term value. While we’re not financial advisors, we’ll help you understand the potential benefits of adding Backyard to your property.

An accessory dwelling unit (ADU) is a secondary home on the same lot as a primary residence. These livable spaces have a kitchen and bathroom, and are sometimes called granny flats, in-law units, or backyard homes. They offer a quick and low-impact way to add housing and increase the value of existing properties for California homeowners.

Factory-built housing (FBH) is a type of residential building or dwelling unit manufactured off-site and regulated by the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). These units are approved and inspected by HCD-approved agencies and bear an HCD insignia of approval upon completion. FBH typically refers to modular housing built and transported in modular units and set on a permanent foundation.