Backyard Cottages

Seattle gardens think Spring has sprung… new growth is shooting up and sprouting vigorously!  Here at NEST design build we are planning for Spring and Summer projects — a bedroom here, a bathroom there — or perhaps a new Backyard Cottage!

What’s a Backyard Cottage, you ask? A recent change in the City of Seattle’s zoning laws allows a small separate self-contained structure to be built on the same lot as a single-family house.  A Backyard Cottage, typically with its own kitchen, bedroom(s) & bathroom(s), provides a flexible small-scale housing choice for a family with young adults or elderly family members. It can be used as a flex room, studio, home office, guest space, care-giver or nanny accommodation, and may also be used as a rental, providing homeowners with additional income.

Although there are some exceptions, the City of Seattle has imposed some rules to help ensure Cottages fit within a neighborhood.  For a more detailed explanation of the city’s requirements, check out this recent memo. The lot must be at least 4,000 square feet in area, with minimum width and depth requirements. The main house and Backyard Cottage combined must not exceed the current 35% lot coverage limit for single-family zones. Cottages can be no more than 800 square feet in area, with a 15’ – 23’ height limit depending on lot width, and parking is required. The owner must live in either the Cottage or the primary residence for at least six months of the year.

According to the AARP, about 90% of homeowners 65+ would like to remain in their homes.  With so many of the baby boomer generation retiring in the next several years, and the current real estate market what it is, NEST believes a Backyard Cottage gives the homeowner a perfect opportunity to add space and pro-actively plan for retirement and beyond.  By incorporating the principles of Universal Design, Backyard Cottages can be designed and built to accommodate changing needs over a lifetime.  And, of course, NEST believes in the use of sustainable efficient green building materials and techniques.

If you’d like to know more about Backyard Cottages, the City of Seattle Department of Planning has put together some literature for consumers.  There’s a website with lots of information and resources, as well as a brochure with useful tips on everything from design to permitting to estimating costs and financing.

Whether a Backyard Cottage, remodel or addition, NEST is ready to bridge the gap between concept and completion. Please give us a call or email to discuss how NEST design build can work with you.  Somewhere there is a project that is about to burst into full bloom!

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