Casita

A casita, Spanish for "little house," is a compact secondary living unit on the same property as the main home. It is a Southwest term for what zoning codes call an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) or guest house. A casita typically has a private entrance, a bathroom, and often a kitchenette or full kitchen, so a person can live there with some independence from the main house.

People use casitas in many ways: a guest suite, a place for aging parents or adult kids, a home office, a short-term rental where local rules allow, or a pool house. A casita can be detached, sitting as its own small building in the yard, or attached, joined to the main home but with a separate outside door. The right setup depends on the lot and the family's needs.

Building one is a zoning question first. Size limits, whether a kitchen is allowed, parking, and especially setbacks all govern where a detached casita can sit on the lot. Arizona cities set their own ADU rules under state law, and they vary. Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Maricopa County each have different limits on casita size and use.

For example, a Scottsdale custom home with a wide rear yard might add a detached 600-square-foot casita with a bedroom, bath, and kitchenette for visiting family, placed to clear the rear and side setbacks. A casita is often a custom-build feature rather than something found in a finished spec home. We treat it as its own small project, with its own permit, plumbing, and finish allowances inside the main contract.