ADU Design
Site evaluation, concept floor plans and construction-ready drawings shaped around your lot.
Serving Murray and 23 nearby cities
ADU Builder in Murray, UT
ADU design and construction for Murray homeowners. A central valley city with an old core, good transit and a housing stock that suits conversions.
No obligation. Every estimate starts with a straightforward conversation and a walkthrough of your lot.
Design → Permits → BuildDetached · Attached · Garage
Building ADUs in Murray
Murray sits in the middle of the Salt Lake Valley, one of the older incorporated cities in the county and one of the few with a genuine historic downtown rather than a strip of retail. It borders Millcreek and Holladay to the east, South Salt Lake to the north and Taylorsville to the west.
Its position is the practical advantage. Murray is central to the valley and well served by transit, which is exactly the profile that makes a second unit attractive — whether for a family member who does not drive, or as a long-term rental where location does a lot of the work.
The housing reflects a long build-out. Older streets near the core carry the deeper lots, detached garages and full basements that make conversions straightforward. Later suburban development brought attached garages, tighter setbacks and less spare yard. Both exist within a short distance of each other.
The ground is essentially flat across the city, sitting on the valley floor rather than the bench. That takes slope, retaining and complex drainage out of the equation and leaves space and setbacks as the real constraints.
What Shapes an ADU Project in Murray
An Older Core With Deeper Lots
Streets near Murray’s historic centre carry the lot depth, detached garages and full basements that make a conversion the natural first option.
Flat Valley-Floor Ground
Off the bench and essentially level, so foundations, drainage and site access are straightforward. Setbacks and yard space are what limit a project here.
Central and Well Connected
A central valley position with good transit access — a practical consideration if the unit is intended as a long-term rental or for a family member who does not drive.
What we build
ADU Services in Murray
ADU Construction
Full-scope building from foundation and framing through mechanical rough-in and final finishes.
Garage Conversion
Turning an attached or detached garage into a self-contained unit using what is already on site.
Detached ADU
Standalone backyard units with their own foundation, entrance and utility connections.
Attached ADU
Additions sharing a wall or roofline with the main house while staying fully self-contained.
ADU Remodeling
Updating an existing ADU, basement apartment or converted space to a livable standard.
Murray Property Conditions to Plan For
What we assess on a Murray property:
- Age of the street — the best predictor of lot depth, garage type and how services were laid out
- Detached versus attached garage — a detached structure on an older lot is usually the strongest conversion candidate
- Basement height and egress potential — common on older Murray homes and often the quickest route to a unit
- Backyard depth after setbacks — decides whether a standalone build is realistic
- Electrical and plumbing capacity — older housing, second kitchen, the usual upgrade question
- Utility distance — longer on deeper older lots, shorter on newer subdivision plots
Older Murray properties usually favour a garage conversion or a basement conversion. Where the yard has depth, a detached ADU gives more separation and more design freedom. We compare both after seeing the lot rather than recommending one from the address.
Need Help?
ADU Questions From Murray Homeowners
What comes up most often when we walk properties in Murray.
Are ADUs allowed in Murray?
Utah state law makes internal ADUs a permitted use in most residential zones statewide. Detached units are governed by Murray City ordinance, and cities can apply parking, owner-occupancy and rental licensing requirements. Requirements change, so confirm the current position with Murray City during planning. We prepare what the process requires.
Is a Murray ADU a good long-term rental?
Homeowners raise it frequently, given the central location and transit access. What we can speak to is how the build affects durability and spec for a tenanted unit — flooring, fixtures and surfaces get specified differently. Rental licensing and any owner-occupancy requirements are set by the city and worth confirming before you plan around income.
My home is near the old centre. Does that help?
Usually yes. The older streets tend to have the deeper lots and detached garages that make an ADU straightforward. The trade is age: wiring, plumbing and insulation from that era rarely support a second dwelling without upgrades, and we budget for that rather than discovering it.
Can I convert my basement instead of building?
Often, and on many Murray properties it is the fastest route. It depends on ceiling height once insulation and finished flooring are added, whether a compliant separate entrance and egress window can be created, and how close the existing plumbing sits to where a bathroom would go.
How far is Murray from your base?
A straightforward drive south from Bountiful. Site visits are easy to arrange and there is no meaningful travel premium in the estimate.
Nearby Areas We Serve
We work across South Davis County and the greater Salt Lake area. If your property is near Murray, these are the neighbouring communities we cover:
- Millcreek — immediately north-east
- Holladay — east
- Taylorsville — west
- South Salt Lake — north
- Bountiful — our base in South Davis
The full list is on our service areas page.
Build an ADU in Murray
Murray’s older streets tend to have everything an ADU needs already on the property — depth, a garage, a basement — which usually makes converting the sensible first question.
We design and build detached ADUs, garage conversions, basement conversions and attached ADUs throughout Murray.
Send us the address and we will tell you which route your property actually favours.