Building an ADU in Idaho — from zero
One homeowner, no permits yet, and Idaho's brand-new ADU law.
I'm building an accessory dwelling unit on my own property in Post Falls, and documenting every step of it here. The research, the costs, the surprises. See the live build tracker →
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August 6, 2026
Does an ADU need its own gas and electric meter? I called Avista.
Avista quoted about $1,000 to $2,000 to trench for electric and nothing for gas. Then I asked about my other lot in the same city and almost none of it applied.
August 4, 2026
The arguments against more housing, including nine I can't answer
I've been making the case for building more homes in Kootenai County. So I wrote down every serious argument against it, including the ones I lose. Nine of the twenty-two are still open.
July 30, 2026
What does it cost to permit an ADU in Post Falls? I asked the city.
The city's fee schedule pointed at $13,000 in water and sewer hookups. For an ADU on a lot that already has a house, the real answer is $1,000 to $2,000 and no connection fee at all.
July 28, 2026
What hermit crabs know about the housing shortage
Hermit crabs line up by size to trade shells, and one new shell moves the whole line up. People do the same thing with houses. Why one more small home helps a family who will never live in it.
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