Small Footprint, Big Impact: The Case for ADUs in the Hamptons

Call it a guest house, a cottage, a pool house with a secret. Whatever the name, accessory dwelling units—ADUs—are having a quiet moment on the East End. And not just because they’re charming. These compact, standalone structures are becoming one of the most flexible ways to add value and function to a property, without the headaches of a full-scale renovation.

They’ve always been around in one form or another. A converted garage behind the main house. A small studio near the back fence. A repurposed barn. But the way they’re being used—and built—has changed. More and more, homeowners in Westhampton Beach, Quogue, and Remsenburg are designing these spaces from the ground up to be as functional as they are beautiful.

Sometimes it’s for family. A parent who wants to stay close but independent. A college kid who’s back for the summer. Other times, it’s for friends—those who stay a little too long but are worth having around. Or it’s income. A seasonal rental that helps offset taxes or a year-round tenant who lives quietly and pays on time. The point is: an ADU doesn’t have to be one thing. It can shift with time and need.

The best versions don’t feel like a downsized main house. They feel like something else entirely. A tucked-away writing studio. A tiny wellness retreat. A place to dry off after a swim and grab a drink from a mini fridge built into the cabinets. When well-designed, an ADU adds more than square footage—it adds possibility.

And because they’re smaller by nature, they can be done smartly. Efficient layouts. Natural light. Radiant heat in the floors. It’s not unusual to see high-end materials—white oak, limestone, plaster finishes—used throughout. If the main house is about presence, the ADU is about intention.

From a sustainability standpoint, there are advantages. Smaller structures mean less energy use. Less disturbance to the land. Builders can site them to work with existing topography, avoiding major excavation or unnecessary impervious surfaces. And newer units often include energy-efficient systems—heat pumps, induction cooktops, tight insulation—all tailored to the Hamptons’ seasonal extremes.

Zoning used to be the biggest hurdle. In some towns, it still is. But that’s starting to shift. Municipalities across Long Island are beginning to see ADUs not as a loophole but as a solution.

In May 2025, the Southold Town Board amended its zoning code to encourage more accessory apartments—lengthening permit durations, removing outdated certificate requirements, and requiring new owners to reapply for rental status. Meanwhile, in Westhampton Beach, ADUs are already permitted in select residential districts like R-2 and R-4, provided homeowners meet key criteria around lot size and parking. The message is clear: zoning boards on the East End are beginning to adapt, opening the door to smarter, more flexible housing solutions.

For homeowners, the question becomes: how do you do it well? A good ADU doesn’t look like it was dropped in from somewhere else. It should echo the materials, palette, and proportions of the main home—without copying it outright. Landscape integration matters too. A hedge for privacy. A gravel path. Maybe a gate that feels like it’s always been there.

None of this is about overbuilding. In fact, most of the best ADUs are modest in size—under 800 square feet. What they lack in volume, they make up for in clarity. These are spaces that know what they’re for. That’s part of their appeal. No wasted rooms. No formal dining areas waiting to be used once a year.

Out here, where property lines stretch and guests never really leave, that kind of flexibility matters. An ADU isn’t just extra space—it’s extra freedom. And for more and more Hamptons homeowners, that might be the most valuable upgrade of all.