Rental Income
A second unit on land you already own can bring in steady monthly income. What kind of letting is permitted varies by municipality, so we confirm the rules for your address during the zoning review, before you commit to anything.
Accessory Dwelling Units in Cincinnati, Built by One Team
Detached guest houses, garage conversions and in-law suites, designed, permitted and built by one accountable team.
The Bulldog Way
A Second Home on Your Own Lot
An ADU is a complete, self-contained living space on the property you already own: a detached backyard cottage, a converted garage, or a finished addition with its own entrance, kitchen and bath. Families use them for aging parents, adult children, guests, a home office, or rental income. They are also the most demanding thing we build: a single project that combines foundation and framing with a full kitchen, a full bathroom, and its own plumbing, electrical and HVAC. That is exactly the work we already do every day, just under one roof instead of two. One contract, one project manager, one accountable team from zoning review to the final walkthrough.
See it for yourself
A two-bedroom ADU, built in the backyard
Have a look at this beautiful 617-square-foot, two-bedroom accessory dwelling unit, designed and built by Bulldog Remodel Group in the backyard of a single-family home. One accountable team and one fixed price, from the foundation to the final walkthrough.
View Featured Projects
Why Build One
Four reasons Cincinnati homeowners add an ADU
Most people arrive with one of these in mind, and often end up using the space for two or three of them over the years.
Aging Parents
Keep family close without moving anyone into a spare bedroom. A single-level unit with a step-free entry, a walk-in shower and grab bars gives them independence and privacy, and puts you a few steps away instead of across town.
Adult Children
A first place of their own that isn’t a rental across the city. Their own entrance, kitchen and bath: the independence of moving out, without the cost of moving away.
Guests, Work, or Both
A proper guest suite over the holidays, a home office with a door that actually closes, or a studio. Because it’s a full dwelling, it can change jobs as your family does.
Three Ways To Build
Detached, attached, or a conversion
Which of these your lot supports is the first thing we check. Where more than one works, we price them side by side so you can compare real numbers.
Detached
A standalone cottage in the back yard. The most private option and the most involved build: foundation, framing, roofing and siding, plus utilities run out from the house.
Attached
An addition sharing a wall with your home, but with its own entrance and no interior door. Cheaper than detached because one wall and part of the roofline already exist.
Conversion
A garage or basement turned into a legal dwelling. Usually the most cost-effective route: the shell is already standing, so the work is insulation, moisture control, utilities, egress and finishes.
Zoning & Permits
Can you build an ADU in Cincinnati?
Yes. ADUs are allowed in the City of Cincinnati wherever a single-family home is permitted, as long as the unit is permitted and registered with the city. The main rules: one ADU per home, the owner or a designated responsible person must live in either the main house or the ADU, and the lot must meet the minimum lot size for its zoning district.
- Where
- Allowed on lots with a single-family home in the City of Cincinnati, by building new or converting existing space.
- How many
- One ADU per home.
- Who lives there
- The owner, or a designated responsible person, must live in the main house or the ADU. A restrictive covenant to that effect is recorded with the Hamilton County Recorder.
- How big
- No larger than the finished square footage of the main house. On lots of 4,000 sq ft or more, a detached ADU’s footprint is capped at 800 sq ft or 15% of the lot area, whichever is greater. Smaller lots have their own limit tied to total lot coverage.
- Lot size
- The lot must meet the minimum lot size of its zoning district.
- Paperwork
- The ADU must be permitted and registered with the city. We handle the permit and registration as part of the job.
These rules cover the City of Cincinnati. Townships, other cities and Northern Kentucky set their own, so we confirm what your lot allows before anything is designed. Full details are on the City of Cincinnati ADU page.
Invest in your future
A building that can earn, or keep family close.
An ADU is unusual among remodeling projects in that it can produce income or replace a cost. Rented, it is an asset on the same lot you already own. Occupied by a parent or an adult child, it is the alternative to a care arrangement or a second mortgage, with independence on both sides.
What decides feasibility is not the design but the lot: zoning, setbacks, utility routes and access. We establish all of that before anyone draws anything.
The first honest question is whether your lot can take one at all. We would rather answer that in week one than after you have paid for drawings.
Planned Before It's Built
An ADU is a larger build than a single-room remodel, and anyone who promises you a fixed number of days before seeing your lot is guessing. What we do promise is that the schedule is set before demolition starts: zoning confirmed, permits filed, materials ordered and staged, every trade booked. You get a realistic timeline in writing, a dedicated project manager, and daily updates, not a moving target.
Budget ranges
ADU Prices in Cincinnati
What an ADU in Cincinnati costs with Bulldog. What you can build depends on your lot and zoning, which we confirm before anything is designed.
| Package | Typical range | Best for | What’s included |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basement Conversion | $50K – $120K | A legal apartment in the basement you already have. |
|
| Most popularGarage Conversion | $80K – $175K | An existing garage turned into a self-contained dwelling. |
|
| Detached Backyard ADU | $120K – $230K | A small house built from the ground up on your lot. |
|
Ranges are typical for 300 to 800 sq ft units and include design, permits, utilities and our lifetime workmanship warranty. Your exact figure comes after a site visit. We set these ranges from our own fixed-price contracts in Greater Cincinnati, where we have remodeled since 1993. Team Bulldog reviewed these ranges in October 2026.
What Every ADU Project Includes
Zoning Review First
Permits & Inspections Managed
In-House Design & 3D Renderings
Foundation & Framing
A Real Kitchen
A Full Bathroom
Utilities Run & Connected
Price Guarantee
Lifetime Workmanship Warranty
Our work
Recent projects in Greater Cincinnati
What homeowners in Greater Cincinnati say about Bulldog Remodel Group
Mount Lookout, Cincinnati, OH · Custom Home Remodel
Mark Davidson
At first, I wondered how Bulldog could possibly turn a home we already loved into our dream home. But when we saw the design concepts, we were completely blown away. Before the renovation, our house never truly felt like our home, and since I work from home, I also needed a dedicated office. We wanted a space where our kids could grow up before heading off to college. From the very beginning, the Bulldog team was welcoming, communicative, and supportive. They gave us time to make decisions, listened to what we wanted, and guided us through every step of the renovation. As homeowners, having experts handle every detail made the process so much easier. When we saw the finished project, it honestly brought tears to my eyes. It became the dream home we had imagined. Everyone was professional, courteous to our kids and dogs, and a pleasure to work with. We’ll definitely use Bulldog again. They’re simply the best.
“We hired Bulldog Remodel Group to handle the addition on the back of our bungalow and garage. They added a family room, kitchen, renovated our old kitchen into a dining room, and completed an addition to our detached garage. We are thrilled with the outcome of our gorgeous and functional “new” home. Everyone we encountered during the process was professional, friendly, and highly knowledgeable, and it shows in the final product. From the planning stage to the final nail, their expertise was a… tremendous help in bringing our dream home to reality. It’s been just shy of a year since project completion, and we’ve had no issues to speak of. If you are looking for quality work, Bulldog Remodel Group is the place to go.”
Good questions
Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU): your questions
What exactly is an ADU?
An accessory dwelling unit is a second, self-contained living space on the same lot as your main house. It has its own entrance, kitchen or kitchenette, bathroom, and sleeping area. It can be detached (a backyard cottage), attached (an addition with a private entrance), or a conversion of existing space like a garage or basement.
Am I allowed to build one on my property?
That depends on your municipality, your lot size and your zoning district, and it genuinely varies across Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky and Southeast Indiana. We start every ADU project by confirming what your specific lot allows, before you spend anything on design.
What can I use it for?
Most of our clients are thinking about aging parents, adult children, long-term guests, a private home office or studio, or rental income. Whether short- or long-term rental is permitted is a local rules question we'll check alongside the zoning review.
Is a garage conversion cheaper than building detached?
Usually, yes. You already have a foundation, walls and a roof. The work shifts to insulation, moisture control, utilities, egress and finishes. We'll price both approaches if your lot supports either, so you can compare real numbers rather than guesses.
How long does an ADU take?
Longer than a kitchen or bath. You're adding permitting and, for detached builds, foundation and framing. The honest answer is that it depends on your scope and your municipality's review times. We give you a realistic written schedule once zoning and design are settled, and we stage all materials before starting so the build itself runs tight.
What does an ADU cost?
Our ADUs typically run $50,000 to $120,000 for a basement conversion, $80,000 to $175,000 for a garage conversion, and $120,000 to $230,000 for a detached backyard ADU, which is priced closer to new construction because it needs its own foundation, roof and utility runs. We price once we have seen your lot, and our financing page sets out the options.
Do you handle design and construction, or just the build?
Both. Our in-house designer plans the layout and finishes with 3D renderings, and our own crews handle the build through final walkthrough, under one contract, with one project manager.
Does an ADU add value to my home?
It adds real, permitted, livable square footage and a use case most homes don't have, which buyers notice. As with any addition, quality of workmanship is what protects that value over time, so the build matters as much as the floor plan.
Still have a question? Call (513) 657-3750. We’re happy to help.
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Areas We Serve
ADU builders near you
Whether an ADU is possible depends on your lot and your jurisdiction. Here’s what that means where you live.
View all 170 neighborhoods we serve
Cincinnati Neighborhoods(52)
ADU Builders in SedamsvilleADU Builders in Sayler ParkADU Builders in RiversideADU Builders in East Price HillADU Builders in West Price HillADU Builders in Lower Price HillADU Builders in Over-the-RhineADU Builders in DowntownADU Builders in West EndADU Builders in Mount AdamsADU Builders in Mount AuburnADU Builders in CliftonADU Builders in CorryvilleADU Builders in NorthsideADU Builders in College HillADU Builders in Walnut HillsADU Builders in East Walnut HillsADU Builders in AvondaleADU Builders in Hyde ParkADU Builders in OakleyADU Builders in Mount LookoutADU Builders in Columbia-TusculumADU Builders in Mount WashingtonADU Builders in MadisonvilleADU Builders in Pleasant RidgeADU Builders in WestwoodADU Builders in PendletonADU Builders in QueensgateADU Builders in CUF (Clifton Heights, University Heights & Fairview)ADU Builders in Camp WashingtonADU Builders in South FairmountADU Builders in East EndADU Builders in North FairmountADU Builders in EvanstonADU Builders in South CumminsvilleADU Builders in English WoodsADU Builders in North AvondaleADU Builders in MillvaleADU Builders in Paddock HillsADU Builders in Spring Grove VillageADU Builders in LinwoodADU Builders in Bond HillADU Builders in Villages of Roll HillADU Builders in East WestwoodADU Builders in Western HillsADU Builders in CaliforniaADU Builders in CarthageADU Builders in Winton HillsADU Builders in RoselawnADU Builders in Mount AiryADU Builders in HartwellADU Builders in Kennedy Heights
Hamilton County, OH(54)
ADU Builders in NorwoodADU Builders in Blue AshADU Builders in MontgomeryADU Builders in MadeiraADU Builders in WyomingADU Builders in MariemontADU Builders in CheviotADU Builders in CovedaleADU Builders in St. BernardADU Builders in Elmwood PlaceADU Builders in Delhi HillsADU Builders in Golf ManorADU Builders in FairfaxADU Builders in MackADU Builders in Monfort HeightsADU Builders in BridgetownADU Builders in FinneytownADU Builders in AmberleyADU Builders in Arlington HeightsADU Builders in North College HillADU Builders in NewtownADU Builders in Turpin HillsADU Builders in SilvertonADU Builders in LocklandADU Builders in GroesbeckADU Builders in Mount HealthyADU Builders in ReadingADU Builders in DentADU Builders in Deer ParkADU Builders in Terrace ParkADU Builders in Dry RunADU Builders in White OakADU Builders in ForestvilleADU Builders in Cherry GroveADU Builders in KenwoodADU Builders in Lincoln HeightsADU Builders in DillonvaleADU Builders in WoodlawnADU Builders in AddystonADU Builders in GreenhillsADU Builders in NorthbrookADU Builders in Indian HillADU Builders in EvendaleADU Builders in GlendaleADU Builders in SharonvilleADU Builders in NorthgateADU Builders in SpringdaleADU Builders in MiamitownADU Builders in Forest ParkADU Builders in Pleasant RunADU Builders in ClevesADU Builders in North BendADU Builders in LovelandADU Builders in Harrison
Clermont County, OH(16)
ADU Builders in Mount CarmelADU Builders in SummersideADU Builders in WithamsvilleADU Builders in MilfordADU Builders in MulberryADU Builders in Mount ReposeADU Builders in Day HeightsADU Builders in New RichmondADU Builders in AmeliaADU Builders in BataviaADU Builders in OwensvilleADU Builders in GoshenADU Builders in MoscowADU Builders in NewtonsvilleADU Builders in WilliamsburgADU Builders in Bethel
Butler County, OH(9)
Warren County, OH(6)
Kenton County, KY(15)
ADU Builders in CovingtonADU Builders in ErlangerADU Builders in LudlowADU Builders in Park HillsADU Builders in BromleyADU Builders in Fort WrightADU Builders in Fort MitchellADU Builders in Villa HillsADU Builders in Lakeside ParkADU Builders in Crescent SpringsADU Builders in Crestview HillsADU Builders in EdgewoodADU Builders in Taylor MillADU Builders in ElsmereADU Builders in Independence