Working With Us
Hiring an ADU builder in Brewster
Lower Cape ADU is a licensed accessory dwelling unit builder serving Brewster and the seven other Lower Cape towns. Our office is in North Eastham, at Unit #7, 4250 State Highway, about twenty minutes from Brewster by way of Route 6 or 6A. We work throughout Brewster, including along the 6A corridor.
Brewster combines generous lot sizes with historic district review along 6A and full reliance on private septic. A builder who has worked both sides of that can tell you quickly what your property will and will not support.
We handle Brewster ADU projects end to end — site assessment, design, permitting, and construction supervision — so you are working with one accountable party from the first conversation through to occupancy, rather than coordinating a designer, an expediter, and a contractor yourself.
- Vern Hatt, owner
- MA Construction Supervisor License #CS62739
- MA Home Improvement Contractor License #177590
- Office in North Eastham
What an Brewster ADU project looks like
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Free consultation
We sit down with you — no charge, no obligation — and talk about what you are actually trying to solve on your Brewster property: rental income, room for family, a place to downsize into, or staying put as you age.
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Property assessment
We walk the property and look at the things that decide the project: lot area, setbacks, septic or sewer, grade, access, and what the existing house can support.
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Legal and physical limits
We establish what Brewster and the Massachusetts Affordable Homes Act actually allow on your parcel, so the design starts from a real envelope rather than a hopeful one.
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Preliminary design and estimate
We produce a preliminary design and a good-faith estimate as part of the bidding process, so you can see the project and its cost before committing to anything.
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Permitting
We prepare and submit the permit package and represent the project before the Brewster Building Department, the Brewster Board of Health for Title 5 review, and the Old King’s Highway Regional Historic District Committee for properties along the Route 6A corridor as required.
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Construction supervision
We supervise construction through to occupancy, as a licensed Massachusetts Construction Supervisor working on your Brewster property.
What We Build
Types of ADUs we build in Brewster
Which of these fits depends on your lot, your septic or sewer situation, and what you are trying to accomplish. We work through that with you before recommending one.
Standalone Cottages in Brewster
A detached cottage on your own lot — the most flexible option when land and septic allow it.
Garage Conversions in Brewster
Converting an existing garage, or building above one, often on an already-approved footprint.
Basement Conversions in Brewster
A lower-level unit using space you already have, where ceiling height and egress work out.
Attic Conversions in Brewster
Overhead space turned into a compact unit without expanding the building footprint.
Modular & Prefab in Brewster
Factory-built units that shorten on-site construction time and tighten the schedule.
The Local Picture
Brewster blends bay-side calm with deep green space
Brewster lines the bay along the historic Old King's Highway, a town of stately sea captains' houses, gentle tidal flats, and some of the largest tracts of conservation land on the Cape — including Nickerson State Park. It's quieter and more wooded than the towns to its east, with a strong year-round community and a deep appreciation for its history. That blend of space and character suits an ADU well: there's often room for a tasteful detached cottage, set among trees and screened from the road.
Why an ADU Fits Here
Brewster character, Brewster opportunity
What makes Brewster Brewster—and how a well-designed accessory dwelling unit fits naturally into it.
Old King's Highway & Sea Captains' Homes
Brewster's stretch of the Old King's Highway is a designated historic district lined with captains' homes. ADU design here respects that heritage — subordinate, well-proportioned units that complement the main house.
Nickerson State Park & Conservation Land
Brewster holds Nickerson State Park and extensive conservation land, giving many properties a wooded, private setting that's ideal for a screened, detached ADU cottage.
Bay-Side Flats
Brewster's famous low-tide flats draw families year after year, sustaining seasonal rental demand while the town keeps its unhurried, residential feel.
Family-Friendly, Year-Round
Brewster's strong schools and year-round population make it a natural place for multi-generational living — an ADU can house an aging parent or adult child close by, with privacy on both sides.
The Rules, In Brief
Brewster ADU rules at a glance
How the statewide ADU law applies in Brewster — and what still gets decided locally.
By-Right, Statewide
Since February 2025, a first ADU is allowed by right in single-family zoning under the Affordable Homes Act, with no owner-occupancy requirement for that unit.
Size Limits
By-right units are capped at 900 square feet or 50% of the primary dwelling, whichever is smaller.
Old King's Highway Review
Properties in the Old King's Highway Historic District are subject to design review by the regional historic district committee, which can affect a detached ADU's appearance and placement.
Septic & Water Protection
Brewster's bay watershed and sole-source aquifer mean Title 5 septic capacity and water-protection rules often shape ADU design.
Local Knowledge
What to think about for a Brewster ADU
Brewster gives many homeowners something valuable: room. Wooded lots and generous setbacks often make a detached cottage feasible where a denser town couldn't fit one. The two factors to plan around are historic review and water protection. If your property sits within the Old King's Highway Historic District, a detached ADU's design and placement will go through the district committee — something we build into the schedule from the outset. And like the rest of the Cape, septic capacity in Brewster's protected watershed can govern bedroom counts. We evaluate both early so your Brewster ADU is designed to be approvable from day one.
Permitting an ADU in Brewster typically involves the Brewster Building Department, the Brewster Board of Health for Title 5 review, and the Old King’s Highway Regional Historic District Committee for properties along the Route 6A corridor. We prepare the package and represent the project through that process as part of every job.
Common Questions
Brewster ADU questions we get asked
Do I need a special permit to build an ADU in Brewster?
Under the Massachusetts Affordable Homes Act, a first accessory dwelling unit is allowed by right in single-family zoning, which means a special permit is generally not required for that first unit. You still need a building permit, and Brewster still applies its own setback, height, and lot coverage rules. Second units, oversized units, or properties in overlay districts may require additional local review. We confirm the current requirements with the town as part of every project.
How big can an ADU be in Brewster?
The by-right cap is 900 square feet or 50% of the primary dwelling’s floor area, whichever is smaller. On a modest Brewster home, the 50% figure is often the binding number rather than the 900 square feet — which is why we measure the existing house early instead of assuming.
Will septic or sewer limit an ADU on my Brewster property?
Brewster has no municipal sewer, so Brewster ADUs depend on private septic and Title 5 capacity. The upside is that Brewster lots are generally larger than the Outer Cape average, which often leaves room for a system upgrade or a new leaching field if one is needed. We assess this before design.
How long does an ADU project take in Brewster?
Design and permitting typically run a few months, and construction depends on the type of unit and the season. Garage, basement, and attic conversions generally move faster than new detached construction. We give you a realistic schedule for your specific Brewster property at the consultation rather than a generic range.
Can I rent out an ADU in Brewster?
Long-term rental of an accessory dwelling unit is generally permitted. Short-term rental rules are set locally and vary meaningfully from town to town on the Lower Cape, so if short-term rental income is part of your plan, confirm current Brewster rules before you build. We raise this early because it can change which design makes sense.
Let's Talk
Thinking about an ADU in Brewster?
The first conversation is free. Tell us about your Brewster property and what you are trying to solve — rental income, family space, or downsizing in place — and we will walk you through whether it makes sense, with a preliminary design before any estimate.
Start with a Free ConsultationVern Hatt · Licensed Construction Supervisor #CS62739 · Home Improvement Contractor #177590