Type A · 280 sqft studio · Garden City, ID
The Goldfinch ADU in Garden City
A Goldfinch studio ADU in Garden City starts at $115k turnkey and estimates to $1,200–$1,450/mo in rent — about 11.3–17.1% gross yield on a $102k–$127k Standard build. Here's how the 280 sq ft Type A plan fits Garden City lots, what it costs, and how fast it permits.
- Footprint
- 280 sqft
- From (Essential)
- $115k
- Est. Garden City rent
- $1,200–$1,450
- Gross yield
- 11.3–17.1%
Why the Goldfinch fits Garden City lots
The Goldfinch is one of our top picks for Garden City. 280-square-foot Type A studio. Our most-built plan in Garden City because it fits 5-foot setbacks on narrow urban lots without site-specific redesign. Starts at $115k.
Garden City lots vary widely — older 50' × 100' grid lots near downtown and the Greenbelt, narrow 35-45' wide live-work lots along 36th Street, and larger 70'+ residential lots in the northern and eastern parts of the city. The narrow lots are why custom plans show up more often in Garden City than in Boise — pre-approved plans don't always fit the side-yard envelope.
Detached vs. garage in Garden City: Garden City splits more evenly between detached and conversion than other Treasure Valley cities. The older grid neighborhoods south of Chinden often have alley-loaded detached garages that convert well. The northern subdivisions favor detached new builds. The live-work corridor along 36th Street is the place where custom plans most commonly out-perform pre-approved on rental yield.
What does a Goldfinch cost to build in Garden City?
The Goldfinch starts at $115k turnkey at Essential finish. Most Garden City owners build at Standard finish — $102k–$127k. Garden City is a four-square-mile infill market wrapped by Boise, so rent tracks close to Boise's while smaller, tighter lots favor the compact plans.
| Finish Tier | Per sqft | 280 sqft in Garden City |
|---|---|---|
| Essential | $340/sqft | $86k – $107k |
| Standard | $405/sqft | $102k – $127k |
| Premium | $480/sqft | $121k – $151k |
Methodology: per-sqft rates match our cost calculator (Essential $340, Standard $405, Premium $480) with a 0.9–1.12 range factor for lot conditions. Build cost is roughly uniform across the Treasure Valley; what changes city-to-city is land, fees, the size cap, and the rent ceiling. See the full Garden City cost breakdown →
What rent and return does a Goldfinch earn in Garden City?
A studio ADU like the Goldfinch estimates to $1,200–$1,450/month in Garden City. Against a Standard-finish build of $102k–$127k, that's roughly 11.3–17.1% gross yield — about $15,900 a year in gross rent at the midpoint, before expenses and financing.
Monthly rent (est.)
$1,200–$1,450
studio · Garden City
Annual gross (mid)
$15,900
12 × midpoint rent
Gross yield
11.3–17.1%
rent ÷ Standard build
Rent is scaled from Garden City's sourced 1-bedroom median (Apartment List / Zillow Garden City, 2026) by unit size — a disclosed estimate, not a measured comp for this exact plan. Gross yield ignores vacancy, expenses, and debt service. This is information, not financial advice; validate with a local property manager before you build.
Permits and timeline for a Goldfinch in Garden City
Garden City runs its own permitting with tight infill setbacks (5 ft is common). The compact pre-approved plans fit its lots best.
Garden City is its own municipality with its own development code — separate from Boise, separate from Ada County. The code is generally more permissive on mixed-use, live-work, and accessory dwellings than surrounding Boise zones, but the river corridor and floodplain overlays add their own layer of review.
The Goldfinch is part of the City of Boise's pre-approved plan set, so it comes as a complete, already-engineered set of construction documents. That gives you a running start on review in Garden City (Ada County) — each city applies its own process, but a finished plan set clears review faster than a custom design.
The other 5 pre-approved plans in Garden City
Each pre-approved plan carries its own cost, rent, and lot fit in Garden City. Compare the full set for this city.
Type B · 396 sqft
Waxwing in Garden City
A 396 sq ft studio with more breathing room — full living, kitchen, and bath in a thoughtfully laid-out single space.
$135k · est. $1,200–$1,450/mo →
Type C · 491 sqft
Kingfisher in Garden City
Boise's pre-approved 491 sq ft one-bedroom — separate bedroom, full kitchen, full living room, ready to permit.
$170k · est. $1,400–$1,700/mo →
Type D · 695 sqft
Kestrel in Garden City
The largest pre-approved Boise plan — a 695 sq ft two-bedroom that lives like a small house.
$245k · est. $1,800–$2,175/mo →
Type G-1 · 396 sqft
Sandpiper in Garden City
A 396 sq ft studio paired with a single-car garage — pre-approved, dual-purpose, builds your storage and your rental in one footprint.
$145k · est. $1,200–$1,450/mo →
Type G-2 · 376 sqft
Osprey in Garden City
Sister plan to the Sandpiper — 376 sq ft studio with garage, a different layout, same pre-approved status.
$140k · est. $1,200–$1,450/mo →
The Goldfinch in nearby Treasure Valley cities
Same plan, different local rent, cost, and zoning. See how the Goldfinch pencils out a short drive away.
Goldfinch in Garden City — frequently asked
How much does a Goldfinch ADU cost in Garden City?
The Goldfinch (280 sq ft, Type A) starts around $115k turnkey at Essential finish in Garden City. Most Garden City owners build at Standard finish — roughly $102k to $127k. Per-square-foot build cost is close to the Boise baseline; garden City is a four-square-mile infill market wrapped by Boise, so rent tracks close to Boise's while smaller, tighter lots favor the compact plans.
What can you rent a Goldfinch for in Garden City?
A studio ADU like the Goldfinch in Garden City estimates to about $1,200–$1,450 per month, scaled from Garden City's sourced 1-bedroom rent (Apartment List / Zillow Garden City, 2026). On a Standard-finish build that's roughly 11.3–17.1% gross yield. These are estimates, not a rent guarantee — confirm with a local property manager.
How long does it take to permit a Goldfinch in Garden City?
Garden City runs its own permitting with tight infill setbacks (5 ft is common). The compact pre-approved plans fit its lots best. The Goldfinch is a complete City of Boise pre-approved plan set, so you start with finished, already-engineered construction documents — that shortens review in every Treasure Valley city versus a custom design, even though each city applies its own process.
Does the Goldfinch fit Garden City's ADU size limit?
Almost always. At 280 sq ft the Goldfinch is a compact footprint — Boise caps ADUs at 900 sq ft, and most Treasure Valley cities set their own limit (often a share of the primary home's floor area). The Goldfinch sits well under the typical cap, so in Garden City size is rarely the constraint — lot dimensions, setbacks, and access usually decide placement. We confirm Garden City's exact size rule for your parcel during the free lot check.
Garden City, Idaho · Type A
Build the Goldfinch in Garden City
Free 24-hour lot check covering plan fit, your Garden City zoning, cost, and the rent it could carry. Or call (208) 297-2036.