ADU Cost Guide
ADU, Coach House & Carriage Home Costs
High-level turnkey ranges for Squamish, North Vancouver, and Sea-to-Sky, plus the site factors that move your number.
24–72h • Remote • No obligation
Sea-to-Sky & North-Vancouver ADU pricing
Typical ADU Project Costs
Typical ADU projects in the Sea-to-Sky & North-Vancouver range from $240k to $800k+ depending on size, design, and site conditions.
Single-Storey ADU
$240,000 – $600,000+
Compact and efficient for rentals, guest suites, downsizing, or home offices.
Single-Storey ADU
$240,000 – $600,000+
Compact and efficient for rentals, guest suites, downsizing, or home offices.
Complete, move-in-ready pricing.
Two-Storey ADU & Carriage Homes
$425,000 – $800,000+
More living space while keeping the building footprint compact.
Two-Storey ADU & Carriage Homes
$425,000 – $800,000+
More living space while keeping the building footprint compact.
Ideal when maximizing your property's potential.
Modular Home Pricing
$300 – $500+ per sq ft
Factory-built structure pricing only — not total project cost.
Modular Home Pricing
$300 – $500+ per sq ft
Factory-built structure pricing only — not total project cost.
This generally includes the completed modular home with interior finishes and appliances.
Site costs not included:
- foundation
- excavation and site preparation
- utility connections
- delivery and crane installation
- permits and engineering
These site-specific costs vary significantly between properties.
Cost per Square Foot
Why ADUs Cost More Per Square Foot
Smaller homes often cost more per sq ft than larger homes.
Cost per Square Foot
Why ADUs Cost More Per Square Foot
Smaller homes often cost more per sq ft than larger homes.
That’s because expensive components — kitchens, bathrooms, HVAC systems, and utility connections — are required regardless of the building size, so the cost is spread over less square footage.
Explore by area
See city-specific pages for local lot fit, rules, and cost context.
Get a realistic estimate for your property
The most accurate way to estimate ADU costs is to review your lot first. With a free lot assessment, we’ll send you:
- what type of ADU is likely possible
- key site constraints
- realistic cost ranges for your specific property
Modular vs. on-site construction
Homeowners can choose from three main build types, depending on property and goals.
Modular / Prefab builds Fastest + most predictable ▾
Built off-site in a controlled environment and delivered 90%–95% complete, modular homes offer the best value and quickest delivery.
Your site work happens while the home is being prefabricated — you save weeks, if not months. They also help reduce architectural and engineering costs.
Best for: homeowners and investors wanting predictable costs, faster completion, and minimal disruption.
We proudly offer modular homes through our partnerships with aux box, Click Modular, Good Way Homes, Hewing Haus and ORCA LGS.
Each unit is sold and installed by NewlinesADU at the manufacturer’s advertised price.
Pre-reviewed carriage homes Faster approvals ▾
Architectural designs already pre-reviewed by the District of Squamish, helping you reduce lengthy design and permit reviews.
Best for: homeowners seeking a legal ADU quickly, without full custom design costs.
Custom carriage homes Highest flexibility ▾
Fully tailored to your property, architecture, and site challenges.
Best for: long-term family use or premium rental properties that need a one-of-a-kind design.
What affects cost
No two properties are the same — and that’s what makes building here both exciting and unpredictable. Beyond the size and finishes of your carriage home, a few local site factors can have the biggest impact on cost.
1 Development Permit Areas (DPAs) ▾
Some neighbourhoods fall within wildfire, floodplain, or streamside protection zones, which require additional reports and design adjustments. These aren’t dealbreakers — they just add coordination and engineering time.
2 Foundation and site conditions ▾
Steep slopes, soil type, or flood construction levels (FCL) can mean deeper foundation or raised habitable space.
If your lot is flat and outside floodzones, this is usually one of the easiest savings areas.
3 Utilities and services ▾
Many older homes need power upgrades to 200 or 400 amps or sewer lift stations to handle the new home. These depend entirely on how your existing systems are set up.
4 Access and layout ▾
Tight driveways, trees, or other physical constraints can affect where a crane or excavation equipment can reach, especially for modular installations. Good access saves both time and money.
5 Design and engineering scope ▾
Custom architecture and Step Code energy modeling naturally increase soft costs, while modular or pre-reviewed plans keep things efficient. Prefabricated models also reduce the need for extensive architectural and engineering work.
The bottom line
These variables are normal in the Sea-to-Sky region — they just need to be identified early. That’s exactly why our Free Lot Assessment exists: we review your zoning, flood levels, access, and services so you know what’s possible (and what’s worth budgeting for) before you start.
BEYOND CONSTRUCTION COST
Cost is only part of the decision
For many homeowners, an ADU also creates flexibility: rental income, space for family, or a way to add long-term value to the property.
Rental income can help offset housing costs
Detached space gives more flexibility for family use
A legal secondary dwelling can strengthen long-term resale appeal
The value depends on the property, the layout, the finish level, and the local rental market.
WHY START WITH NEWLINESADU
Clear scope leads to better pricing
The fastest way to get closer to the right budget is to look at the lot early, identify the main cost drivers, and match the project to the right build path.
Local guidance from zoning and lot review through to build
Multiple build paths, depending on the property and goals
Early clarity on access, servicing, design scope, and site conditions
NEXT STEP
Get a cost range that fits your property
This guide gives you a strong starting point, but the next step is to look at your lot. We can help you understand what may fit, what could affect cost, and which build path makes the most sense.
Free • Remote • No obligation