Florida ADU Laws by County (2026 Guide)
- Max size: 1,200 sq ft or 50% of primary dwelling (whichever is less)
- Setbacks: 5 ft side, 10–15 ft rear (varies by transect zone)
- Parking: One additional off-street space typically required
- Permit timeline: 6–12 months
- Cities with own codes: Miami Beach, Coral Gables, Hialeah (check municipal code separately)
- Max size: 800–1,200 sq ft (varies by municipality)
- Setbacks: 5 ft side, 10 ft rear (typical)
- Garage conversions: Allowed where parking rules are met
- Permit timeline: 4–8 months
- Notable: Some Broward cities waive impact fees for ADUs under 750 sq ft
- Max size: Up to 1,200 sq ft in most zones
- Setbacks: 7.5 ft side, 10–15 ft rear
- Permit timeline: 5–10 months
- Short-term rental: Varies by city — check local STR regulations before planning a vacation rental
Florida has no single statewide ADU law — regulations are set at the county and city level, which means the rules can vary dramatically depending on where your property is located. Here's what homeowners need to know in the most active ADU markets.
Miami-Dade County
Miami-Dade follows the Miami 21 Zoning Code for the City of Miami and separate codes for its 34 incorporated municipalities. Most T3-zoned (Sub-Urban) single-family lots permit detached ADUs by right. Key rules:
Broward County
Broward's Unified Land Development Code allows ADUs in single-family residential zones. Fort Lauderdale and Hollywood have streamlined their ADU permitting and are among the most ADU-friendly cities in South Florida.
Palm Beach County
Palm Beach County has actively encouraged ADU development to address housing supply. West Palm Beach and Boca Raton have both updated their codes to make ADU permitting more accessible.
Other Key Florida Counties
Orange County (Orlando area): ADUs allowed on lots of 7,500+ sq ft in R-1 zones. Max size 800 sq ft or 30% of primary home floor area. Garage conversions popular and faster to permit.
Hillsborough County (Tampa area): ADUs allowed in RS-50 and larger residential zones. Max height 25 ft. Setbacks 5 ft side, 10 ft rear. Tampa city recently expanded ADU rights city-wide.
Pinellas County (St. Petersburg area): Allows detached ADUs on lots meeting minimum size thresholds. St. Pete has been expanding ADU rights in its 2030 General Plan.
What to Do Before You Start
1. Identify your zoning district — search your county's GIS/parcel viewer
2. Check if your city has its own code — incorporated cities may differ from county rules
3. Verify HOA restrictions — HOAs can prohibit ADUs even where zoning allows them
4. Request a pre-application meeting — most Florida building departments offer this for free
ADU4Florida's property feasibility review covers all of the above for your specific address.