New York City launches platform to help property owners navigate city’s new ADU rules

New York City recently launched ADU for You, a digital platform developed by WXY architecture + urban design to help homeowners navigate the city’s new ancillary dwelling unit rules.

The platform takes a mix of zoning, code, and feasibility questions and translates them into a legible, everyday tool. A key feature is the Pre-Approved Plan Library that includes agency-reviewed backyard cottage designs sourced through a nationwide call for submissions from architecture firms. 

The platform also lets homeowners check eligibility, test how plans fit on their lot, estimate costs and rental income, and navigate permitting and construction.

The city will also reopen applications for the Plus One ADU program, which offers financial and technical assistance to qualified homeowners to add an ADU to their property.

“One of the solutions to the housing crisis can be found in our backyards, our attics, or our basements in an Ancillary Dwelling Unit,” said Mayor Zohran Mamdani. “That's why our administration is making it easier and more affordable to build an ADU through a library of pre-approved plans and new financing options. By making it easier for New Yorkers to turn their homes into an extra place for a loved one or a little more income, we’re allowing our city to grow while keeping the character of the neighborhoods we love.”