Newlyweds Aislyn and Ali Benjamin felt they couldn't afford to buy a traditional property in their corner of California ... an accessory dwelling unit, or ADU. They now live in a 1,200-square ...

In California, where most backyard homes are built, permits can cost anywhere from $450 to $15,000, according to Backyard Unlimited, a company that builds ADUs. In October 2022, the Benjamins began ...