In-Law Apartment Home Addition

Costs
Durability
Maintenance
Pictures

Popular Home Additions Topics
Pros and Cons
Questions and Answers
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Even if you won’t be supporting your in-laws anytime soon, the in-law apartment is a multi-functional addition you may want to consider. It can be a basement unit, second- or first-floor add-on, a garage addition, or a free-standing exterior building. The space usually consists of a separate entrance, bedroom, private bathroom, living area, and kitchen or kitchenette. Here is some more information on in-law suites.

Costs

There are many factors that can affect the cost of adding an in-law apartment to a home, most notably the size and scope of the project, materials used, the type of bathroom and kitchen added, the amount of plumbing and electrical work that needs to be completed, and more. You can get a few price quotes to learn more about costs.

Pictures

Home Addition

Pros

An in-law apartment can be used as a long- or short-term living space for guests and family.

This addition could also be rented out for profit, serving as an extra income in times of need.

In-law apartments may be a selling point for potential homebuyers in the future.

Cons

In-law units can be a costly addition to take on.

Adding an in-law apartment can increase homeowner insurance rates.

If you plan on having a tenant pay their own utilities, then separate lines and meters will have to be set up for the addition.

Durability

The durability of an addition like an in-law apartment depends on the materials used, as well as the quality of the construction, etc.

Maintenance

Once built, an in-law apartment is subject to the same amount of maintenance as the rest of the home.

Common Questions and Answers

Are their zoning restrictions when it comes to building an in-law apartment?

The zoning restrictions depend entirely on the neighborhood you plan on building in. Often times, if a neighborhood is zoned for single-family residences, you can’t create an apartment addition due to traffic considerations. If this is the case in your area, however, you may be able to obtain an exemption.

What permits need to be obtained in order to build an in-law apartment?

If you plan on building an in-law apartment, you will need to obtain the necessary housing permits along with building/construction permits. If the space is simply undergoing a conversion, you will still need to make sure it passes a building inspection.