Atlanta’s ADU services, built around the way you live.
Building an ADU in the Atlanta area means navigating zoning rules, a permit office, and a construction timeline all at once. Cottage Smith’s ADU contractors manage that entire process under one roof, so you are not coordinating between a separate architect, permit expediter, and builder on your own.
From your first site visit through the final walkthrough, our ADU services cover permitting, design coordination, and construction. We build detached ADUs, attached ADUs, home offices, custom garages, backyard getaways, and pool houses across Fulton, DeKalb, Gwinnett, and Cobb counties.
Cottage Smith’s ADU services cover six project types. Each one is built around how you plan to use the space.
Connected to your main house. Good for aging parents who want their own space close by, or adult children easing into independence. We handle the shared-wall permits and design details that come with building onto your existing home.
A standalone structure in your backyard. Good for a private rental unit, guest suite, or in-law space with no shared walls. Since it’s separate, we handle its permits and utility hookups on their own.
A quiet, separate workspace steps from your back door. Built for remote work or meeting clients, without walking through your house. We plan the electrical and internet wiring a workspace needs. That’s different from a simple storage build.
A garage built or converted for vehicles, storage, or a workshop. Matched to your lot and Georgia’s climate. A garage conversion and new construction often need different permits. We handle both.
A flexible small structure for a creative studio, guest retreat, or she-shed and man-cave space. Built around how you’ll actually use it. It’s one of our most flexible ADU types, and we help you settle on a layout before design starts.
A poolside structure for changing, storage, and entertaining. Built to fit your outdoor layout. We handle the plumbing and electrical work it needs alongside your existing pool equipment.
Hiring an ADU contractor should mean one thing: you stop having to manage the project yourself. Here is what that looks like when you work with Cottage Smith.
We start with a site visit to confirm what your lot allows. Then we handle your county’s permit process, including the site plan, survey, and paperwork. Fulton, DeKalb, Gwinnett, and Cobb each set their own rules on setbacks, lot size, and lot coverage. You won’t have to decode any of it yourself.
Once permits are moving, we match a floor plan to your lot and your budget. We design around how you’ll use the space: a rental unit, a home office, or a spot for aging parents. We flag zoning limits early, like height rules or setbacks. That way your design and your permit stay in sync.
We schedule and oversee every phase of the build, from foundation to final finishes. We stay your one point of contact the whole time. We schedule inspections at the right points, so you’re never guessing what comes next. You won’t be tracking down subcontractors or wondering who’s responsible for what.
Before we call a project done, we walk the finished space with you. We confirm it matches what was designed and permitted. If something needs fixing, we fix it before we call it complete, not after you’ve moved someone in.
We build ADUs and backyard structures, and only ADUs and backyard structures. That focus means every project gets its own permit path, its own design steps, and its own build order. Everything is built around this one project type.
Because ADUs are all we build, we stay current on Fulton, DeKalb, Gwinnett, and Cobb County rules for these projects. That focus helps keep your permit process moving and your inspections on schedule.
We are a family-owned team based in metro Atlanta, not a national franchise. One contractor manages your permits, design, and construction together.
With Cottage Smith, one team handles permits, design, and construction together. You don’t need to hire a separate architect or permit expediter before we start. You also don’t manage handoffs between them once the project begins.
Yes. Each county has its own setback, lot coverage, and permit process for ADUs. We handle the forms and inspections for your address. You won’t have to learn four different rulebooks yourself.
General contractors often treat an ADU like a standard addition. We only build ADUs and backyard structures. Our permit path, design choices, and build order are made for this project type. They’re not borrowed from a different kind of remodel.
Timelines vary by your county’s permit workload and the size of the build. At your consultation, we’ll map out a timeline once we know your lot and your ADU type. That’s more useful than a generic guess that might not hold up.
