One year ago today, ARLnow reported on the Arlington County Board’s decision to loosen zoning regulations on accessory dwelling units — also known as backyard cottages.
Now that you can build separate dwellings in your backyard — to house grandma and grandpa, host an au pair, or generate rental income — the question is: who do you get to build it?
Luckily, there’s a local small business that specializes in doing just that, and they’re a new sponsor of ARLnow, helping us bring you local news at a crucial time.
Backyard Homes was founded by Michael Novotny, who traded a career in commercial real estate development for an opportunity to help local homeowners while doing his small part to help solve the area’s housing shortage.
The company offers a variety of models that are built to last and can be built fast once Backyard Homes pulls permits from the county on your behalf.
Needless to say, during a pandemic the utility of a separate dwelling on your property has become increasingly clear for those who work in health care, who have older family members living with them, or who want a steady source of supplemental income. If that describes you, give this homegrown business a look.
Thank you to Backyard Homes for supporting local news during this time.