Backyard ADUs and Guest Houses in Dallas
Estate ADU designs and builds detached ADUs (backyard guest houses) across Dallas and the Park Cities. We'll tell you what fits on your lot before you spend anything.
A backyard ADU is a small, complete home behind your main house. It has its own front door, bedroom, bathroom and kitchen. Some families build one so Mom can move close. Others need room for a grown kid, guests who stay for weeks, or a real home office.
We've built them behind 100-year-old homes in East Dallas and in the Park Cities. The hard part is almost never the building. It's getting the city to say yes.
What a Backyard Guest House Gets You
- Privacy for everyone. Two front doors, two kitchens, no tiptoeing.
- Family close by. Close enough to bring dinner over. Far enough that nobody's sharing a bathroom.
- Room you don't have to move for. Same street, same school, more space.
- A home built for later. Zero-step entries, wide doors and a walk-in shower now, so nobody has to remodel in 10 years.
Why Most Dallas Guest House Projects Stall at the Permit
Dallas has rules on how big an ADU can be, how far it sits from your property lines (setbacks) and what it looks like. If you live in a conservation district like Lakewood or the M Streets, the city also reviews the design. Highland Park and University Park have their own rules on top of that.
Most builders send you to figure that out. We do it for you. Before you pay a dime, we check your zoning and your lot, meet with the architect and walk your plans into the city office. On our Richmond Ave pool house, that work included a zoning appeal that let the family build bigger than the standard limit.
See how it works in our Dallas ADU permit guide.
Built to Match Your House
A backyard ADU should look like it was always there. We match your roofline, siding, windows and trim, so it fits the house and the street. That matters even more in conservation districts, where the city checks how the new building looks before it signs off.
A Recent Backyard Build
Richmond Ave pool house · 600 sq ft. Built for grandparents who stay for months at a time.
See more of our work →Detached ADU, In-Law Suite or Garage Conversion?
Option
Best for
Detached backyard ADU
Full privacy, a separate home
A parent who needs you close, attached or detached
Using a garage you don't park in
Not sure which fits? That's what the lot check is for.
Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
How big can an ADU be in Dallas?
In the City of Dallas, an accessory building is usually capped at 25% of your main house's floor area, so a 2,000 sq ft house gets about 500 sq ft. The Board of Adjustment can approve more. We'll tell you your real limit at the lot check.
Can a backyard ADU have a full kitchen and bathroom?
Usually, yes. In the City of Dallas, a unit with a kitchen typically needs a Board of Adjustment special exception, and we handle that for you. Highland Park doesn't allow kitchens in detached buildings, so we plan around it there.
How long does it take to build a guest house in Dallas?
Design and permits usually take longer than the build itself. We give you a timeline for your property at the lot check, but nobody can promise the city's schedule.
Do I need a separate utility meter?
Sometimes. It depends on the distance from your main house and what the city requires for your lot. We price it into your estimate up front, so it isn't a surprise later.
Can you build an ADU behind an older home?
Yes. Much of our work sits behind older East Dallas homes, some close to 100 years old. We plan around old sewer lines, big trees and tight lots.
Can I finance a backyard ADU?
Many families use a HELOC or a construction loan. Read how Dallas families pay for an ADU.
Start here
Get a Real Number for Your Lot
Send us your address. We'll check your zoning, look at the site and give you a price range you can plan around.
☎ (214) 949-5192