Shed Shop

The Shed Shop is a Bay Area shed, studio, and accessory dwelling unit (ADU) company based in Hayward, California. Established in 1989, the company specializes in built-to-order backyard buildings, including storage sheds, studios, home offices, workshops, detached garages, and living spaces. The company says it has installed more than 17,000 sheds in the San Francisco Bay Area.

An accessory dwelling unit (ADU) — also referred to as an in-law unit, granny flat, guest house, backyard cottage, or casita — is an independent living space located on the same property as a primary residence. The Shed Shop offers its Mini Cottage specifically as a detached ADU with a kitchen and bathroom. The company states that its Mini Cottage is a bona fide ADU and is intended for uses such as an in-law unit, rental unit, guest house, or backyard casita.

ADU Services

1. Detached ADU: The Shed Shop specializes specifically in detached ADUs. Its Mini Cottage is designed as a standalone backyard dwelling rather than an addition connected to the primary home.
2. Mini Cottage ADU: The company’s primary ADU offering is the Mini Cottage, available in sizes ranging from approximately 192 to 480 square feet. Homeowners can select different configurations for doors, windows, kitchen, and bathroom layouts.
3. In-Law Unit: The Mini Cottage can function as an independent living space for a family member, including an aging parent or adult child returning home.
4. Rental Unit: The company also markets the Mini Cottage for use as a rental unit, subject to local zoning and permitting requirements.
5. Guest House / Backyard Casita: The detached design can also be configured as guest accommodation or a backyard casita.

What The Shed Shop Offers Beyond Construction

The Shed Shop takes a streamlined, packaged approach to ADU development. Rather than requiring homeowners to coordinate an architect, general contractor, and multiple trades independently, the company says it manages almost the entire Mini Cottage process, including design and layout, permit procurement, construction, subcontractor coordination, site preparation, foundation work, utilities, plumbing, kitchen and bathroom installation, and dealing with the city.

The company provides built-to-order design options rather than selling a completely standardized building. Once the appropriate size and placement are established, homeowners can choose configurations for doors, windows, kitchen, and bathroom layouts. The Mini Cottage can be built in two-foot increments from approximately 14×16 feet up to 500 square feet, according to the company’s FAQ.

The Shed Shop also assists with permits and local regulations. Its team helps homeowners navigate the requirements involved in placing an ADU on a property, although homeowners may still need to handle certain property-specific items such as surveys, drainage plans, or applicable impact and utility fees.

For construction, The Shed Shop manages the project from start to finish and works with its own trusted subcontractors. The company also handles site preparation, foundations, gas and electrical connections, water and sewer connections, plumbing, kitchens, and bathrooms for its Mini Cottage ADUs.

The company also offers studio buildings that can be used as home offices, art studios, exercise rooms, music studios, and hobby spaces. Its broader product range includes Classic sheds, Studios, Titans, Mini Cottages, Fence Huggers, Half Sheds, and Rustic models.

Importantly, The Shed Shop states that its buildings are not sold as kits or shipped outside its service area. Instead, the company handles local delivery and complete on-site setup using its own trained installers.