Free · No Obligation · 24-Hour Response
Free Boise ADU Lot Check
Find out whether your property may be a good fit for a detached ADU, garage conversion, backyard cottage, or Boise pre-approved ADU plan before you spend money on design or permitting.
- Check ADU feasibility for your specific lot
- Compare detached vs garage conversion options
- Review access, utility, and plan-fit considerations
- Get practical next steps before investing in plans
Serving Boise, Meridian, Eagle, Garden City, Nampa, Kuna, Star, Caldwell, and nearby Treasure Valley communities.
What is an ADU lot check?
An early feasibility review of your property against the local ADU code — zoning, lot size, setbacks, access, utilities, and pre-approved plan fit. It's not a final permit approval, an engineering review, a survey, or a guarantee. It exists so you can decide whether to invest in plans, surveys, and engineering before spending money on a property that may not qualify.
We check the same eight feasibility factors covered in detail on our Boise ADU feasibility framework — zoning, setbacks, access, utilities, configuration fit, site conditions, pre-approved plan fit, and HOA / overlay constraints. Read that page if you want the full depth before submitting. Or submit now and we'll handle the analysis on your parcel.
Who this is for
Any Boise or Treasure Valley homeowner considering an ADU, regardless of stage. Common scenarios we see on the lot-check intake:
- I want to build a backyard cottage
- I want to convert my garage into an ADU
- I want housing for aging parents
- I want rental income from my lot
- I want to know which Boise ADU plan fits my property
- I'm not sure my property qualifies for an ADU
- I'm comparing ADU cost vs property value
- I want to house hack — live in one, rent the other
What happens after you submit
- 1
Send us the property address and goals
Short form below. Address + what you're hoping to build. Two minutes.
- 2
We review the property and ADU options
We pull zoning, parcel data, and aerial imagery. We map the buildable envelope and check pre-approved plan fit.
- 3
We follow up with practical next steps
You get a written summary — what's likely possible, what blockers exist, and which path makes sense to pursue.
- 4
If it looks promising, we go deeper
Site visit, finalized scope, plan selection, and a fixed-price construction estimate — only if you want to keep going.
Lot check FAQs
Is the ADU lot check really free?
Yes — no credit card, no fee, no obligation. The lot check is a desk review using parcel data, zoning, and the information you provide. We invest the time because most homeowners don't know whether their lot qualifies, and we'd rather help you find out than have you pay for plans on a property that won't permit.
Does a lot check guarantee I can build an ADU?
No. The lot check is an initial feasibility review, not a final permit approval, engineering review, survey, or guarantee. Final feasibility depends on city plan review, site conditions, professional surveying, engineering, and the permitting process itself. Our review helps you decide whether it's worth investing in those next steps.
What information do you need from me?
Just the property address, what you're hoping to build (or 'not sure'), your contact info, and anything you already know about the lot — slope, mature trees, existing garage, HOA constraints. The more context you share, the more specific our follow-up.
Can you check if a Boise pre-approved ADU plan fits my property?
Yes. Boise has six pre-approved ADU plans (Goldfinch, Waxwing, Kingfisher, Kestrel, Sandpiper, Osprey) that skip 4–8 weeks of design review. We check whether any of them fit your buildable envelope after setbacks, and we explain the trade-offs of each so you know which one (if any) makes sense for your lot, goals, and budget.
Can you help with garage conversions?
Yes. Garage conversion ADUs are one of the most common configurations we work with — typically 30–50% cheaper than ground-up detached builds. The lot check evaluates whether the existing garage structure, utilities, and access support a code-compliant conversion.
Do you serve cities outside Boise?
Yes. We cover the full Treasure Valley — Boise, Meridian, Eagle, Garden City, Nampa, Kuna, Star, and Caldwell. Each city has its own ADU code, so the lot check pulls the rules that apply to your specific jurisdiction.
What happens if my lot is not a good fit?
We tell you straight. If the lot doesn't qualify or has blockers that make an ADU impractical, we explain why — zoning, setbacks, easements, slope, utilities, HOA restrictions. You walk away with clarity instead of spending money on plans for a property that won't permit.
How soon can I talk to someone?
We respond to lot check requests within one business day. If you submit on a weekday morning, you'll typically hear back the same day. For complex lots, we sometimes ask follow-up questions before we send the written summary.
Want to dig in before submitting?
The lot check is the right starting point for most homeowners, but a few resources help orient you first:
Free · No Obligation
Ready to find out what your lot can build?
Two-minute form. We respond within one business day with a written summary of feasibility, plan fit, and practical next steps.