Can you build an ADU on your property?

Backyard homes, garage conversions, rental units and in-law suites all depend on zoning, lot size and local rules.

ClearBuild determines:

  • If your property allows and ADU

  • What you could realistically build

  • What it would likely cost

  • What grants or incentive programs may apply

ClearBuild answer these questions in a 7-days.

If initial zoning confirms an ADU is not permitted on your property, we provide a full refund.

This is for you if…

  • You’re considering building an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU)

  • You want to understand what your property actually allows before hiring a designer or builder

  • You want a realistic cost range before investing in drawings

  • You want to know if government grants or funding programs may apply

  • You want to make a confident decision before spending significant time or money


This is not for you if…

  • You’re only looking for free advice or a quick estimate

  • Your project is very small in scope

  • You’re primarily shopping contractors for the lowest bid

  • You plan to move forward without addressing zoning, feasibility or budget first

What your Property Review answers

Within 7 Days, ClearBuild determines four critical things.

1 |‍ ‍What zoning allows on your property. We review local zoning and municipal by-laws to determine whether and ADU is permitted and what the key constraints are.

2 |‍ ‍What you could realistically build. Zoning rules alone don’t tell you what the project actually looks like. We translate regulations into real-world possibilities, such as: approximate square footage, layout possibilities and what rooms can realistically fit.

3 |‍ ‍What a project like this typically costs. We provide realistic construction cost ranges based on current building conditions in your region.

4|Grants and funding programs that apply: We review available government grants, loans and incentive programs that may help support your ADU project.


This comes before a construction quote, when you still have options.
It’s a decision document designed to reduce risk before you commit serious time and money.

How it works

1 | Tell us about your property

You share what you’re thinking about, even if it’s just an idea or goal. If you have drawings or site information, great. If not, we start where you are.

2 | Property review

We review and assess zoning, by-law and site constraints to identify what can be built and where.

3 | Layouts & Budget

We determine likely ADU sizes and layout options along with preliminary budget ranges and available funding programs.

4 | Receive your report

You receive a clear written summary explaining: what’s possible, what it likely becomes, what projects like this typically cost and what your next steps are.

Why homeowners start here.

Most residential project begin by hiring a designer or builder. But early in the process, key questions often take weeks or months to answer: what zoning actually allows, what the project becomes realistically , what it will likely cost.


Designers and Builders are primarily hired to design and build projects, so these feasibility questions often get answered gradually as plans develop.

That means homeowners often spend significant time and money before they fully understand whether their project makes sense.

ClearBuild exists to answer those questions first, in 7 days, so you can move forward with clarity before committing to design or construction.

What this review helps you decide

After a ClearBuild review, you’ll understand:

  • Whether an ADU is realistically possible on your property
    • What type and size of space could likely be built
    • What projects like this typically cost today
    • Whether government programs could help support the project

    With those answers, you can confidently decide whether to:

    • Move forward with design
    • Adjust the project scope
    • Or pursue a different option


Start with clarity.

If you’re thinking about building an ADU but want to understand what’s possible before taking the next step, this is where to begin. You don’t need plans or drawings. The form takes about 2–3 minutes.

If initial zoning confirms an ADU is not permitted on your property, we provide a full refund.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • ClearBuild comes before a construction quote. It clarifies feasibility, scope, risk and realistc budget ranges so that pricing, when it happens, is grounded and reliable.

  • More reliably, it reduces the risk of costly redesigns, scope changes, and false starts by identifying issues early, when they’re still inexpensive to address.

  • Most projects that run into trouble do so because key decisions were made before feasibility, cost and constraints were fully understood.

  • No. ClearBuild comes first.

    This review helps you clarify feasibility, scope and realistic budget ranges before you engage a designer, architect or contractor.

    Many homeowners use the ClearBuild report to confidently select the right professionals, align expectations from the outset, and avoid costly redesigns or mismatched proposals later on.

  • We’ll tell you, clearly and early. In many cases, that clarity saves significant time, money, and stress by preventing a project from moving forward on the wrong assumptions.