HousingAnchorage · May 8, 2026
free backyard home plans
Anchorage just made it dramatically cheaper to add a small rental unit to your property.
Daily Alaska staff · May 8, 2026 · Anchorage
The Municipality of Anchorage released a new library of free, pre-approved building designs for accessory dwelling units this April, part of a program meant to make it faster and cheaper for homeowners to add a small rental unit to their property. Two designs are available now, the Williwaw, designed by Seattle based workshop AD, and the Near Point, designed by Anchorage based WILMWORKS.
Using a plan the city has already approved lets homeowners skip the design phase entirely, saving money on architect fees and cutting down the time it takes to get through the municipality's permit review.
The Williwaw is an 811 square foot one bedroom unit built to sit above a two car garage. It has peaked windows, an open kitchen, dining and living area, and a small office nook.
The Near Point is a smaller 460 square foot one bedroom unit with a vaulted kitchen and living space, a small flex room, and a stacked washer and dryer in the entry mudroom.
Additional designs are on the way from a University of Alaska Anchorage engineering class, expected to roll out later this summer. The program is aimed at Anchorage area homeowners considering rental income, multigenerational housing, or making use of unused space on their lot.
In this story
Questions people ask
What is an ADU?
An accessory dwelling unit, a smaller secondary home built either detached in the backyard or above an existing garage, used for rentals or housing a family member.
How many pre-approved ADU designs are available now?
Two: the Williwaw, an 811 square foot one bedroom over a two car garage, and the Near Point, a 460 square foot one bedroom with vaulted living space.
Who designed Anchorage's current ADU plans?
Workshop AD designed the Williwaw and WILMWORKS designed the Near Point.
When will more ADU designs be available?
Later this summer, from a University of Alaska Anchorage engineering class working on additional designs.
Evidence
Sources
Claims and where they come from
- The Municipality of Anchorage released a pre-approved design library for accessory dwelling units this April. · adn.com
- The Williwaw is an 811 square foot one bedroom ADU designed by workshop AD to sit above a two car garage. · adn.com
- The Near Point is a 460 square foot one bedroom ADU designed by WILMWORKS with a vaulted kitchen and living space. · adn.com
- A University of Alaska Anchorage engineering class is drawing up additional ADU designs expected later this summer. · adn.com
Produced with AI assistance, narrated with Slav Lund's voice clone with his consent, and reviewed by a person before publishing. How we use AI →