What is cohousing, and what are its defining characteristics?

Cohousing is a form of intentional neighborhood in which residents actively participate in the design and operation of their own community. In cohousing, residents know their neighbors well and enjoy a strong sense of community that is typically absent in contemporary cities and suburbs.

Cohousing communities consist of private, fully equipped dwellings and extensive common amenities including a common house and recreation areas. Most communities forge a strong partnership with a professional development team. Together they create a custom-built, resident-managed, close-knit neighborhood that offers a healthy balance of privacy and community.

The six defining characteristics of cohousing are:

1. Participatory process. Future residents participate in the design of the community so that it meets their needs. Some cohousing communities are initiated or driven by a developer. In those cases, if the developer brings the future resident group into the process late in the planning, the residents will have less input into the design. A well-designed, pedestrian-oriented community without significant resident participation in the planning may be "cohousing-inspired," but it is not a cohousing community.
2. Neighborhood design. The physical layout and orientation of the buildings (the site plan) encourage a sense of community. For example, the private residences are clustered on the site, leaving more shared open space. The dwellings typically face each other across a pedestrian street or courtyard, with cars parked on the periphery. Often, the front doorway of every home affords a view of the common house. What far outweighs any specifics, however, is the intention to create a strong sense of community, with design as one of the facilitators.
3. Common facilities. Common facilities are designed for daily use, are an integral part of the community, and are always supplemental to the private residences. The common house typically includes a common kitchen, dining area, sitting area, children's playroom and laundry, and also may contain a workshop, library, exercise room, crafts room and/or one or two guest rooms. Except on very tight urban sites, cohousing communities often have playground equipment, lawns and gardens as well. Since the buildings are clustered, larger sites may retain several or many acres of undeveloped shared open space.
4. Resident management. Residents manage their own cohousing communities, and also perform much of the work required to maintain the property. They participate in the preparation of common meals, and meet regularly to solve problems and develop policies for the community.
5. Non-hierarchical structure and decision-making. Leadership roles naturally exist in cohousing communities, however no one person (or persons) has authority over others. Most groups start with one or two “burning souls.” As people join the group, each person takes on one or more roles consistent with his or her skills, abilities or interests. Most cohousing groups make all of their decisions by consensus, and, although many groups have a policy for voting if the group cannot reach consensus after a number of attempts, it is rarely or never necessary to resort to voting.
6. No shared community economy. The community is not a source of income for its members. Occasionally, a cohousing community will pay one of its residents to do a specific (usually time-limited) task, but more typically the work will be considered that member's contribution to the shared responsibilities.

How does cohousing differ from other kinds of collaborative living arrangements, such as intentional communities?

Some people involved with cohousing like to describe their communities as “intentional neighborhoods.” By contrast, “intentional communities” frequently connotes a shared religious, political, environmental or social ideology rather than simply the desire to have a strong sense of community with your neighbors. Cohousing residents privately own their homes and do not pool their incomes.

How large are cohousing communities and who lives there?

The majority of cohousing communities in the United States comprise 20 to 40 units, with others ranging from 7 to 67 homes. Many people feel that cohousing works best with 25 to 35 households. Different-sized groups enjoy specific advantages. For example, in a smaller community, you will know every person quite well if you choose to do so. A larger community usually has enough resources to support more extensive common facilities, and enough people to create a greater variety of community activities.

Cohousing attracts a wide range of household types: single people of all ages, couples, families and single parents of infants, toddlers and school-aged children, couples whose children are grown, and retirees.

Do cohousing communities incorporate green design and materials?

Most people who seek cohousing have a high level of environmental consciousness. Communities typically incorporate green building materials and techniques in the design and construction to the extent they can afford them, and are attentive to minimizing their impact on the natural environment.

Is cohousing based on a specific ideology, shared values or religious or spiritual beliefs?

Some cohousing communities create a shared vision or ethic, such as sharing resources, welcoming diversity and creating a safe environment for children, but residents typically represent a variety of religious and spiritual backgrounds.

How do I get started? How do people find a particular cohousing group?

For the most part, people learn about cohousing through grassroots marketing – a friend tells another friend. In addition, this website contains a Community Directory where you will find information about forming and existing communities around the U.S., as well as a marketplace of available cohousing homes across the country, links to cohousing professionals, list of essential reading, tour schedules and other valuable resources.

Do residents have their own kitchens?

This is the single most frequently asked question of cohousing residents and professionals. Yes, each residence has a fully equipped, private kitchen. In addition, the common house almost always contains a kitchen, where community members regularly share a few meals each week.

Tell me about common meals.

Cohousing residents generally feel that common meals hold the community together, and usually serve two or three meals each week in their common house. Eating common meals is always voluntary. In a few communities cooking is also voluntary, but in most cases it is not. However, the cooking (and cleanup) responsibilities can be structured in a variety of ways.

Commonly, a team of two to four persons prepares meals for diners who sign up in advance. Each adult resident helps cook and/or clean up once every five or six weeks. Residents pay only for the meals they eat, with dinner prices typically ranging from $2.50 to $5. Many communities encourage their cooks to provide a vegetarian and children’s option at most meals. Special food requirements are respected, although not every one of them will be accommodated at every common meal.