Why most Austin ADUs are 1-bedroom
We've built more one-bedroom ADUs than every other configuration combined. The reason isn't aesthetic — it's that 1-BR hits the optimum across four constraints simultaneously: the plan fits comfortably under HOME Phase 1's 40% / 45% coverage caps on a typical SF-1, SF-2, or SF-3 lot; it pencils out as a long-term rental in Austin's actual market; it costs noticeably less than a 2-BR but rents to nearly the same demand pool; and one bedroom is what the unit actually needs to do, for most use cases people have in mind when they call us.
What people actually use them for
Guest house. Long-term rental income. In-law suite for an aging parent. Adult child moving back temporarily. Dedicated home office that's also a full guest room when needed. The same 1-BR plan can serve all of those over the life of the building — flexibility is the second-order win, after raw cost.
Sizing range we build
Most of our one-bedroom plans land between 450 and 700 square feet. Below 450 you're back in studio territory once the bedroom is walled off; above 700 the plan starts adding a flex room or second bath that's closer to a small 2-BR. The sweet spot for an honest one-bedroom — sleep area separate, real kitchen, full bath, comfortable living space — is around 550 to 650 square feet.
Austin permit notes for 1-BR builds
Under HOME Phase 1, you can build up to three dwelling units on most SF-1, SF-2, and SF-3 lots of 5,750 square feet or larger; a single one-bedroom ADU is the easiest case and the most common configuration we permit. Smaller infill lots between 1,800 and 5,749 square feet often still support a single 1-BR ADU under HOME Phase 2's Small Lot Single- Family path. We handle the eligibility check, site plan, impervious-cover math, and AB+C Portal submittal end-to-end — your involvement is design choices, not city paperwork.
