ADU Construction in Cary, NC
Room for family on land you already own. Detached ADUs, garage conversions, and in-law suites across Cary, Raleigh, and the Triangle.
NC License #100043•Fully Insured•Building in the Triangle Since 2021
Keep Your Family Close Without Moving Anyone In
You're building a whole house at one-third scale. Own kitchen, own bath, own front door. Whoever needs it can live in it. Your mother now. A kid home from college in six years. A tenant after that.
Zoning decides all of it: how big the town lets you build, and where it sits. Abdallah has been building accessory dwelling units across Cary, Raleigh, and Apex since 2021. He knows the zoning, the permits, and the process in each town.
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(984) 222-9198
Choose the ADU That Fits Your Property
Detached ADU
A standalone building in the yard. New foundation, roof, and utility connections.
Garage Conversion
An existing garage converted to living space. Insulation, utilities, kitchen, and bath.
Above-Garage ADU
A unit built over the garage. Usually needs the structure below reinforced first.
Attached ADU
Built onto the house with its own kitchen, bath, and entrance. Cary calls these Utility Dwelling Units.
Interior Conversion
A unit inside the existing footprint. Requires egress, ceiling height, and a private entrance.
How People Use ADUs
Aging Parents
Daily contact without either household losing its privacy.
A Guest House
Family stays a week and everyone still likes each other.
Rental Income
A long-term tenant on land you already pay taxes on. Triangle one-bedrooms rent for $1,200 to $1,800.
Home Office
A commute across the yard, and work that stays out there at night.
Grown Kids
A first apartment forty feet from the house.
Zoning & Permits
Yes, Your Lot Probably Qualifies
Recent ordinance changes have opened up ADUs across much of the Triangle. Rules differ by town. Here's where each stands.
Cary
Cary rewrote its ordinance in 2025. Under ACT 32, effective June 2, detached ADUs are allowed in every residential district that allows detached homes. The size cap rose to 50% of the primary dwelling, up to 800 square feet, with one parking space per unit.
If you were told your property didn't qualify a few years ago, that answer is out of date.
Raleigh
Raleigh allows ADUs in residential districts and runs a Fast Track permitting program, under its own size and setback rules.
Across the Triangle
Apex, Morrisville, Holly Springs, Durham, and Chapel Hill each set their own limits on size, height, setbacks, and placement.
North Carolina requires a licensed general contractor on any project costing $40,000 or more, which covers most ADU builds. We hold that license, file the permits, schedule the inspections, and handle the follow-up.
Find out where your property stands. The walk-through is free.
Start a ProjectTimeline
What an ADU Project Looks Like
Four to six months of construction on a detached ADU, eight to twelve weeks on a garage conversion. Design and permitting come before either clock starts.
Feasibility and Design
Zoning check first, then drawings sized to what the town allows. Utility routing, septic or sewer capacity, and driveway access get settled here.
Permitting
Plans filed with the town, then revisions and approval. The least predictable phase, and the reason ADU schedules get quoted in months.
Site Work, Foundation, and Framing
Grading, utility trenching, footings and slab, then framing and dry-in.
Utilities, Finishes, and Certificate of Occupancy
Plumbing, electrical, and HVAC rough-in and inspection, then insulation, drywall, kitchen, bath, and flooring. Final inspection issues the CO, and the unit is legal to live in.
Abdallah Atieh • Founder
Why Triangle Homeowners Choose AG-CM for ADUs
An ADU is the biggest thing most homeowners will ever build on their own land. The person who quotes it should be the person who runs it.
Abdallah Atieh founded AG-CM in 2021 and runs every project himself, coordinating trade partners for site work, framing, plumbing, electrical, and HVAC. One person on the job from the first site walk to the certificate of occupancy.
AG-CM holds NC General Contractor License #100043, is insured through Builders Mutual, and belongs to NCHBA, the HBA of Raleigh-Wake County, and NAHB.
ADU Construction Service Areas Across the Triangle
We are based in Cary, NC, and take on projects across the Triangle. If you're outside these cities, get in touch — we travel for the right project.
What Our Clients Have to Say
"We spoke to 6-8 GCs and AG-CM stood out with their proactive and honest proposal and projections to complete the project in the right way. We will definitely contact them for any future projects."
"AG-CM was very professional and courteous. They showed up on time and were very neat throughout our remodel. I was always informed on issues or delays. I look forward to working with them in the future."
"Abdallah's project management was complete, very understandable, on schedule and with no unexpected additions. In fact, we asked him to include several last-minute changes that he adeptly folded into the schedule and delivered flawlessly."
ADU FAQs
How much does an ADU cost in Cary or Raleigh, NC?
A garage conversion runs $60,000 to $130,000, since the structure already exists. A detached ADU built from the ground up runs $180,000 to $300,000 or more, depending on size, site work, utility runs, and finish level. Above-garage units start around $120,000, more if the structure below needs reinforcement. We put a real number to yours after walking the property.
Ranges reflect typical material and labor costs in the Cary–Raleigh area and are not a quote. Final pricing depends on site conditions, utility connections, permitting, structural requirements, and finish selections.
How long does an ADU take to build?
Four to six months of construction on a detached unit, eight to twelve weeks on a garage conversion, broken down phase by phase above. Design and permitting run ahead of both and vary by town.
Will my lot in Cary qualify for an ADU?
Most Cary lots that allow a detached house now allow a detached ADU. In Raleigh, Apex, Morrisville, and the rest of the Triangle it depends on the district, lot size, and setbacks. We check your address before you spend anything on design.
Do you handle ADU permits and inspections?
Yes, across Cary, Raleigh, Apex, Morrisville, and the Triangle. Drawings, whatever revisions the town comes back with, and every inspection through the certificate of occupancy.
Does an ADU need its own utilities?
Yes. Water, sewer or septic, and power. Whether those branch off your existing service or need a new tap depends on capacity, settled during feasibility because it moves the budget.
Can I rent my ADU?
Long-term rental is permitted in most Triangle towns. Short-term rules vary and are stricter, so confirm with yours before counting on that income.
Does an ADU add value to the property?
Yes. It adds finished, permitted square footage and a rentable unit, and appraisers and buyers count both. How much depends on the market and the build. Our guide to renovation projects with the highest ROI in Cary compares ADUs to other additions.
There's a House in Your Backyard Waiting to Be Built
Somewhere for your parents to live, and a building that keeps earning long after. Start with a free walk of your property.