Royal RC Construction — Insured, est. 2010ADUs in Austin & Central Texas — feasibility, estimating, and construction, in one place.
Thinking about a backyard unit, a garage conversion, or an infill build? Start with what's actually buildable on your lot, get a real construction number, and know your options — before you spend a dollar on plans.
Know your lot, then let us handle it
Look things up yourself where you want to — the official sources are linked below each answer — or skip straight to the RRC service that does it for you. Either way works.
What is an ADU?
An Accessory Dwelling Unit is a secondary, independent living space on a property that already has a primary house — a backyard cottage, a garage conversion, or an attached unit. It has its own kitchen, bathroom, and entrance.
Not sure if your property qualifies? Our Tier 0 screen is a free first check.
See the service schedule →Can I build one on my lot?
In most cases, yes. Austin's HOME ordinance allows up to three housing units on many single-family-zoned lots without a rezoning case. Every lot is different — deed restrictions, lot size, trees, and utility capacity can all limit what's actually buildable.
↳ Check the official City of Austin ADU pageOr skip the research — we run zoning, deed restrictions, and site constraints against your specific parcel before you spend a dollar on plans.
Start a feasibility check →What's the permitting process?
New residential construction, including ADUs, is filed through the City's Austin Build + Connect portal. Timelines and requirements shift, so the official portal is the source of truth.
↳ Austin Build + Connect (permitting portal)We coordinate permitting as part of the Build phase below — plan submission, inspections, and the paperwork that goes with it.
See how a project moves →Can I rent it out short-term (Airbnb)?
Generally no. Newer ADUs in Austin are limited to a small number of short-term-rental days per year. Long-term or medium-term rental is the realistic income strategy for most new ADUs.
Our rental/exit underwriting models LTR and MTR scenarios specifically — never an unrestricted Airbnb assumption — so your numbers hold up.
See the service schedule →How much does one cost?
It depends heavily on size, finish level, site conditions, and utility work — there's no single honest number for every lot.
A real range comes from a line-item construction estimate against your actual property, not a generic square-foot rule of thumb — that's the Construction Estimate step below.
Submit a development opportunity →All official resources, in one place
The same sources referenced above, collected for quick reference — worth bookmarking if you're doing your own research too.
- City of Austin — Additional Dwelling UnitsOfficial City ADU guidance, permitting path, and current rules.
- City of Austin — HOME Ordinance & Residential Infill ToolsThe zoning ordinance that allows added units on many single-family lots.
- Austin Build + Connect (permitting portal)Where permits for new residential construction, including ADUs, are filed.
- Travis Central Appraisal DistrictLook up your property's zoning, lot size, and current appraisal record.
- Texas Department of Licensing and RegulationVerify a licensed electrician or electrical contractor.
- Texas State Board of Plumbing ExaminersVerify a licensed plumber or Responsible Master Plumber.
Three ways in, one intake
Whichever seat you're in, the process below is the same: source or bring the property, RRC screens and prices it, and everyone sees the same go/no-go criteria before time gets spent.
Add a unit without becoming a GC
Tell us about your lot. We check zoning, deed restrictions, and site constraints first — before you spend a dollar on plans — then hand you a real construction estimate and a rental or resale read.
Feasibility advisors and lead channels
Send us homeowner leads or ADU-eligible properties you've already identified. We run feasibility and pricing, keep you posted on status, and pay out on terms set in writing per partner — no need to price or permit anything yourself.
A pre-screened pipeline, not a lead list
Review qualified opportunities on a set SLA, with a standard deal package for each: feasibility, estimate, risk flags, and exit scenarios. Decide build, JV, or pass — no exclusivity required during pilot review.
Find → Feasibility → Underwrite → Build → Exit
Find
Property or homeowner comes in via a referral partner, direct inquiry, or developer request.
Feasibility
Zoning, deed restrictions, site and utility screen. Fatal issues get flagged here, fast.
Underwrite
Line-item construction estimate plus rental/resale scenarios: downside, base, upside.
Build
Construction coordination, scheduling, and change-order control through completion.
Exit
Owner-occupied, long-term rental, medium-term rental, or sale — documented up front.
Service & scope schedule
Each service below can be requested on its own or as part of a full pipeline. Turnaround times are business days from when we have a complete property record.
| Service | Scope | Typical turnaround |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 0 screen | Title, zoning eligibility, deed restrictions/HOA, floodplain, existing unit count. Kills unbuildable properties before any cost is spent. | 1–2 days |
| Preliminary feasibility | Lot dimensions, setbacks, coverage/impervious limits, trees, easements, utility capacity, access. | 3–5 days |
| Construction estimate | Line-item hard and soft costs — site prep, foundation, shell, MEP, interior finish, contingency. | 3–5 days |
| Rental / exit underwriting | LTR, MTR, and build-to-sell scenarios with downside/base/upside cases and documented assumptions. | 2–3 days |
| Deal package | Feasibility + estimate + underwriting combined into one reviewable package for a developer go/no-go. | Within 10 business days of a qualified lead |
| Construction coordination | Bid/subcontractor coordination, schedule tracking, and change-order management through completion. | Ongoing — quoted per project |
Partnership terms, in plain language
This is a summary for discussion. Every partnership is documented in a signed agreement before any fee, lead, or property information changes hands.
For homeowners
- Feasibility screening comes before any construction commitment.
- You keep title to your primary residence; any investment-entity structure applies only to the added unit, and is reviewed by your own counsel.
- Estimates are ranges until a site visit and current vendor pricing confirm them.
- No short-term-rental assumptions built in — Texas ADU rules restrict STR use, so we underwrite long- or medium-term rental by default.
For referral / lead partners
- No exclusivity required to start a pilot relationship.
- Compensation options: flat fee per qualified lead, a success fee on projects that close, or a hybrid of the two — set in writing per partner.
- "Qualified" is defined against our Tier 0 + feasibility screen, not a subjective call.
- You're told the outcome — advanced, needs more information, or passed — for every lead you send.
For developers / investors
- Standard review SLA: 10 business days per qualified deal package.
- No obligation to build any package you're sent.
- Return thresholds, product size, and preferred structure are set by you before sourcing begins.
- Data ownership (leads, estimates, project history) is defined in the partner agreement, not assumed.
General
- Royal RC is insured — not a lender, real estate broker, or law firm.
- Every figure on this site is preliminary and must be confirmed with current vendor pricing before a binding decision.
- Jurisdiction-specific rules (zoning, permitting, STR limits) are checked per property at the time of the project, not assumed from this page.
FAQ
What counts as a "qualified" lead?
A property that has cleared our Tier 0 screen — clear title, no fatal deed restriction, no fatal floodplain or site issue, and a decision-maker who can act. Anything short of that is logged as screened, not qualified.
Do you build outside Austin and the Rio Grande Valley?
Austin and the Rio Grande Valley are our primary service areas. Reach out with your property's location and we'll confirm fit before you invest time in an intake form.
Is there a cost to submit a property or lead?
No. Submission and the Tier 0 screen are free. Fees only apply to paid services further down the schedule, and always with agreement in advance.
Can Airbnb-style short-term rental income be assumed?
Not by default. Newer accessory dwelling units in Texas jurisdictions we serve are commonly limited to a small number of short-term-rental days per year. We underwrite long-term or medium-term rental unless a property's specific jurisdiction and permit history support otherwise.
Start a feasibility check
Fill in what you know. Incomplete is fine — we'll follow up for anything missing before the Tier 0 screen.