Sometimes referred to as a “mother-in-law suite,” or “next generation suite” an accessory dwelling unit is a second residential area or an attached unit on a homeowner’s property. The accessory unit is typically either detached from the main home as a separate structure or walled off from the home for the privacy of the second residents. In some cases they are a unit not detached but having an exterior and interior entrance to the main property. These units are often installed on a property to house family members close by, or to rent out to another family altogether. Local laws and zoning ordinances often restrict the size and other features of these structures, and sometimes do not allow them at all.