free plans, already approved

Anchorage is handing out free home building plans this spring.

The city is putting together a free catalog of home building plans, and they've already been cleared through Anchorage's own permitting process. That means you skip the design phase and a big chunk of the upfront cost.

We're talking about adding a second unit to your existing property, what most people call a backyard home or in-law suite. For a lot of families that's a place for aging parents, a grown kid saving money, or a rental that helps cover the mortgage.

Anchorage has been loosening the rules on these for a while now, but the cost of designing and permitting one was still keeping a lot of people out. This free catalog is the city basically removing that last excuse.

The city put this together alongside local planning and development teams to get more people building. And honestly, a second unit on your property isn't just extra space, it's an asset that can pay you back for years.