There are so many reasons to build a guest house if you have the space. You could use it to house your parents or in-laws as they get older, allowing you and them to benefit from the social connections and care (all while saving big in comparison to a live-in care facility). You could use that space as an Airbnb or a bed and breakfast, or as an actual guest house if you have a large family or friend group who stay often.
Guest homes can be anything. It could be an artist’s studio that allows you to have all your equipment out and at the ready while you keep your home neat and orderly. It could be a business, a home, or even just storage.
While the possibilities are endless, your options are going to be limited based on your property and the legal requirements in your area, so make sure you follow this guide before you get started:
Understand Your Legal Options
Guest homes, also known as Accessory Dwelling Units, are a very common option for housing family members or renting them out, but that doesn’t mean they’re universally accepted. A movement known as Not in My Backyard (NIMBY), which gained popularity in the 90s, pushed back against these second properties, meaning you may not legally be able to build one depending on your area. Generally speaking, the larger and more rural you are, the more likely you are to be able to put up a second building legally.
That’s why, before you pay anyone anything, it’s important to contact your city or county’s planning office for advice and, if necessary, a building permit. You may have livable setbacks or ADU size regulations you must meet.
Choose Which Building Option is Right for You
If you have the right to build an ADU on your property, then the next big question is the type of building. Those in cities may benefit from prefabs, which can be built off-site and installed faster to minimize disruption, at the cost of customizability.
Those with plenty of space may benefit from looking into Amish pole barns, which are easy to customize, well-built, and can be made to a range of different specifications, allowing you to add a guest house with a garage or barn attached, if you wanted.
Hooking Up Utilities
The other big consideration when it comes to building a guest house on your property is how that property will access utilities. In cities, the most obvious option is to simply connect your own pipes and extend your electrical grid to the guest house. In rural areas, where your guest house may be a ways away from your main property, this may not be so simple.
If your home sits over a spring, for example, you may need to set up a second water system for your guest house and use a compost system for the waste. You may want to look into making the guest house off-grid, with solar panels and batteries. There are many strategies you can use, but always work with professionals. Plumbing and electrical work can outright destroy a home if installed incorrectly, so work with professionals from the start.
