You might call them backyard cottages. The official name is “accessory dwelling units: ADUs.” They are nothing new; you will find existing units dotted around town, sometimes as garage apartments.
But ADUs are not as prevalent as you might expect in a city facing a housing shortfall. A few years ago the city’s Affordable Housing Advisory Committee (AHAC) began investigating accessory dwelling with an eye toward what changes might make the creation of these backyard cottages more practical for home owners as one way of getting more housing units online.
The City of Asheville has regulated them for years. At its June 23 meeting, City Council voted to change the regulations.