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Adkins & Sons
A local general contractor listed on Rebuild Detroit.
Metro Detroit • 15 general contractors profiles
ADU Construction in Metro Detroit
Compare verified builders for a backyard cottage, garage apartment or in-law suite. Get free quotes, check licenses, and hire with confidence.
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15General Contractors profiles
6Metro counties
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Featured ADU construction pros
Top ADU Construction Pros in Metro Detroit
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Before you hire
ADU Construction in Metro Detroit: what to expect
An accessory dwelling unit (ADU) is a second, smaller home on the same lot: a detached backyard cottage, an apartment over a garage, or a converted basement or attached suite with its own entrance. Metro Detroit owners build them for aging parents, adult kids or rental income.
The first question is not design, it is zoning. Whether an ADU is allowed, how big it can be, where it can sit and whether it can be rented all depend on the city or township where the lot is legally located, which is not always the mailing city. A good builder checks zoning before drawing anything.
A detached ADU is a small house: foundation, framing, roof, its own heat, water, sewer and electrical service or subpanel. Utility connections on older Detroit lots, where sewer laterals and water lines may be decades old, often drive the budget more than the building itself.
What a proper job includes
- A zoning check with the local planning office before design starts
- Site plan and construction drawings suitable for permit review
- Building permit, plus separate electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits by licensed trades
- Foundation designed for Michigan frost depth and local soil
- Utility connections for water, sewer, power and heat
- Scheduled inspections through final approval to occupy
- A written contract with a payment schedule tied to milestones
What drives the price
- Type: detached cottage, above-garage unit, or attached or basement conversion
- Size, layout and number of bathrooms
- Distance and condition of sewer and water connections
- Electrical service capacity and whether a new service is needed
- Heating and cooling approach (separate system or shared)
- Site access, grading and foundation type
- Finish level for kitchen, bath and flooring
Rebuild Detroit does not publish price ranges. Get written quotes for the same scope and compare.
Permits and licensing in Michigan
Michigan licenses residential builders and maintenance and alteration contractors through LARA under Article 24 of the Occupational Code. A license is required for paid residential work above a threshold set by state law. In Detroit, permits and inspections go through BSEED; elsewhere, the city or township building department (or the county or state, where they enforce) issues them. Zoning approval usually comes first, then a building permit reviewed under the Michigan Residential Code.
Electrical, plumbing and mechanical work is done by separately licensed contractors under their own permits. Under the Michigan Construction Lien Act, your contractor gives you a sworn statement listing subcontractors and suppliers when requesting payment. Collect lien waivers as each is paid.
Verify: LARA license lookup Michigan building permit information Detroit BSEED How We Vet
How to compare quotes
- Confirm with the local zoning office that an ADU is allowed on your lot before paying for full plans.
- Get written quotes built on the same drawings and finish list.
- Verify the residential builder license on the LARA lookup and ask for proof of insurance.
- Ask who pulls each permit and which trades are subcontracted.
- Compare schedules, payment milestones and the written warranty.
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Common questions
ADU Construction FAQ
It depends on the municipality. Rules vary widely across the six counties, so check with the local planning or zoning office for your exact parcel.
Some communities allow rental ADUs and some limit them to family members or require the owner to live on site. Rental use may also trigger local rental registration and inspection.
It needs safe connections for water, sewer, power and heat. Whether those are separate meters or shared depends on the utility and local rules.
Planning and permits often take longer than construction. Once permits are issued, a detached unit usually takes several months depending on size and weather.
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