Backyard home designs

Eight designs. Your lot picks.

The backyard homes United Signature builds, 550 to 1,216 sq ft. Your free report says which may fit your lot.

Four sizes

Start with the size, not the floor plan.

Setbacks and coverage pick the band. The report names yours.

Compact

500–650 sq ft

Studio or 1 bedroom · 1 bath
One person, a couple, a starter rental

Standard

650–800 sq ft

1 bedroom + flex room · 1 bath
A guest suite, or an office plus a bedroom

Family

800–1,000 sq ft

2 bedrooms · 1–1.5 baths
A parent, a small family, roommates

Spacious

950–1,200+ sq ft

2–3 bedrooms · 1–2 baths
Multi-generational living, a long-term rental

The designs

Smallest to largest.

Rendering of a small single-level backyard cottage at dusk Rendering
Compact band

Main St ADU

  • 550 sq ft
  • 1 bed
  • 0.75 bath
  • One level

The smallest of the set: open living, a real bedroom, built-in storage.

Rendering of a white single-level cottage with a covered entry Rendering
Standard band

The Country Cottage

  • 785 sq ft
  • 2 bed
  • 1 bath
  • One level

Great room up front, two bedrooms kept private in back.

Rendering of a single-level backyard home with gray siding and a front porch Rendering
Family band

Cedar Groove

  • 800 sq ft
  • 2 bed
  • 1 bath
  • One level

A bright single-level two-bedroom with a front porch and rear patio. Also available with a garage.

Rendering of a one-bedroom backyard home above a garage with a balcony Rendering
Family band

The Horizon

  • 981 sq ft
  • 1 bed
  • 1 bath
  • Two levels, over a garage

A true one-bedroom over the garage, with a balcony. Parking stays.

Elevation drawings of a two-level backyard home over a garage Elevations
Family band

The Ridge G

  • 994 sq ft
  • 2 bed
  • 0.75 bath
  • Two levels, over a two-car garage

Two bedrooms, full kitchen with pantry, covered porch — over a two-car garage.

Rendering of a two-level backyard home over a garage Rendering
Spacious band

The Atlas

  • 1,143 sq ft
  • 2 bed
  • 1.5 bath
  • Two levels

Full living upstairs, a flex room or two-car garage below. Also 1,213 sq ft over a two-car garage.

A dark, modern two-level backyard home with wood accents, built in Seattle Photo · built
Spacious band · built in Seattle, WA

Signature Modern

  • 1,216 sq ft
  • 2 bed
  • 2.25 bath
  • Two levels

Two levels, shared living apart from the bedrooms. The photos are the finished home.

Renderings show the design, not your property. Sizes as United Signature publishes them; a fixed price and final plan come after a site visit and design.

A dark, modern two-level backyard home with wood accents, built in Seattle
Signature Modern, SeattleBuilt by United Signature
Built

This one is finished, and lived in.

1,216 sq ft, two bedrooms, two levels, in Seattle. Built by United Signature.

Inside the Signature Modern backyard home, living room
Inside the Signature Modern backyard home, kitchen
Inside the Signature Modern backyard home, sitting area
What decides which one fits

Three numbers decide it.

Buildable area

What's left after setbacks and coverage. It sets the size band.

Height limit

Whether a second level clears it. At least 24 feet on most city lots.

Utilities and access

Sewer, water, and whether a truck can reach the back. These drive cost.

Which band is your lot?
Send the address. The report says — even if the answer is none.
Get my free report →

Questions people ask about the designs

Can I change a design?

Yes. These are starting points; design adapts them to your lot and your city.

Are these "pre-approved"?

Depends on the city. Some run pre-approved plan programs; elsewhere the design goes in with your permit.

What about an addition or a conversion?

Those are designed to your house, not picked from a catalog. The report covers them the same way.

Which one fits your lot?

Two minutes to ask. One hour to know.

Get my free report →