About Us

Michael Novotny, Founder

Prior to founding the Backyard Homes Building Co., Mike worked in real estate development and construction for more than 15 years in Arlington and the greater Washington DC area for two of the area’s largest builders and developers - Clark Construction and Vornado/JBG Smith. He managed the design and approvals of over 6.5M SF of mixed-use residential, office and retail development, and new construction across all product types.

During that same time period, a growing housing shortage in this region continued to drive up home prices. In 2019 Arlington County adopted an important Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) ordinance which allowed property owners to add small second homes on their lots, and foster in a new era of more affordable and multi-generational housing. Mike founded the Backyard Homes Building Company to meet that moment, and has since developed an exciting new product line of small second homes.

We’ve partnered with Measure Architects PLLC to thoughtfully design each home, and a regional production facility to fabricate the home structures in a controlled environment and with the highest-quality materials and standards. Together with our construction team on the ground, we strive to build exceptional second homes for our clients.

From approvals to design to construction, building a small home is as complicated as building a larger home. That’s why Backyard Homes Building Co. takes care of everything, under one small roof. Our start-to-finish process is fast, and we will expertly guide your project to completion so you can enjoy your new Backyard Home in a matter of months. Our goal is to ensure you are absolutely thrilled with the final product!

Backyard Homes Building Co. is a Class A Contractor and fully licensed and insured in VA, DC and MD.