Add an ADU. Add Income.
Massachusetts now allows ADUs by right on most residential lots. LVL Builders designs, permits, and builds them — backed by Your MA ADU, our dedicated ADU advisory arm. From feasibility to finished unit, one team handles the whole path.
A second home on your own lot.
An Accessory Dwelling Unit is a self-contained living space — its own kitchen, bath, sleeping area, and entrance — on the same property as your main home. A finished basement apartment, a garage conversion, an internal carve-out, or a detached backyard cottage. For homeowners it means rental income or space for family. For investors it's one of the strongest forced-appreciation plays in Massachusetts right now.
Conversions
The fastest, most cost-effective path — using space you already have.
- Basement apartments
- Attached & detached garage conversions
- Attic and internal carve-outs
Detached New Builds
A standalone backyard cottage, built ground-up for maximum flexibility.
- Custom backyard cottages up to 900 sq. ft.
- Full design, layout, and finish control
- Utility trenching, DIG SAFE, service upgrades
Multifamily ADUs
Adding a unit to a two-, three-, or four-family — our specialty.
- Interior ADUs in existing multifamily stock
- ROI metrics and equity comps included
- Scopes aligned to local zoning and code
Powered by Your MA ADU.
ADUs are their own world — zoning, permitting, financing, ROI math. So we built a dedicated resource for it. Your MA ADU is LVL's ADU advisory arm, run by partner and licensed MA broker Tyler Munroe, publishing town-by-town rules, walkthroughs, and project videos for homeowners and investors across the state.
- Town-by-town ADU rules for Massachusetts municipalities
- The ADU Roadmap: an in-person site visit and written feasibility report
- Broker-backed ROI metrics, rent comps, and equity analysis
- Help sourcing properties primed for ADU conversion
The math landlords are running.
The 2024 Affordable Homes Act made ADUs by-right statewide as of February 2025. That changed the calculus for every homeowner and small multifamily owner in Greater Boston.
Add a rentable unit without buying more land — offsetting your mortgage or generating cash flow on a property you already own.
Adding a dwelling unit can reclassify and revalue the property — single-family to two-family, two to three — forcing appreciation on your terms.
House aging parents or adult kids now, rent it later. Or rent the main home and downsize into the ADU. One build, many exits.
Feasibility to finished unit.
The biggest ADU risk is finding out too late that your lot, utilities, or budget won't support the plan. We surface all of that up front.
Roadmap
An on-site visit and written feasibility report: what your lot allows, which ADU type fits, and the real cost and ROI picture.
Design & Permit
Design aligned to local zoning, then full permitting — service upgrades, trenching, DIG SAFE, and code pathway decided before we break ground.
Build
One coordinated crew of vetted subcontractors. Clear scope, clear schedule, clean job site, regular communication.
Rent or Move In
A compliant, move-in-ready unit — plus broker-backed rent comps if you're renting it out.
What homeowners ask first.
Can I build an ADU on my property in Massachusetts?
In most cases, yes. The 2024 Affordable Homes Act allows one ADU by right on single-family lots statewide as of February 2, 2025 — no special permit or public hearing required when the unit meets the standard criteria. Towns can still set reasonable rules on placement and design, but they can't ban ADUs outright. The first step is confirming your specific lot and town, which is exactly what an ADU Roadmap does.
How big can an ADU be?
Up to 900 square feet, or 50% of your main home's gross floor area — whichever is smaller. That's the by-right limit. Some towns allow larger ADUs through a special permit.
Do I have to live on the property?
No. Under the new state law, municipalities cannot require owner-occupancy for protected-use ADUs in single-family zones. That means you can buy a single-family, add an ADU, and rent both units — though an extra parking space may be required to waive owner-occupancy in some cases. This is a major reason investors are paying attention.
What does an ADU cost to build?
It depends heavily on type and existing conditions. A basement or internal conversion that already has utilities nearby is the most cost-effective path; a detached new-build cottage with new trenching and a service upgrade sits at the higher end. We give you a real number — not a guess — in the Roadmap report before you commit to anything.
How long does it take?
Conversions are typically the fastest. New detached builds take longer because of foundation, utility, and permitting work. Modular options can compress the timeline. We lay out a realistic schedule during design so there are no surprises.
Can you help me find a property to add an ADU to?
Yes — that's a Your MA ADU specialty. With a licensed MA broker in-house, we can identify properties primed for ADU conversion and run the rent and equity comps before you buy.
See what your lot can do.
Tell us about your property and goals. We'll start with a Roadmap and give you the real feasibility, cost, and ROI picture — no pressure, no guesswork.
Book a Free ADU Consult Or call (617) 410-6623