Florida ADU Laws & Rules (2026)

Compare ADU zoning rules across 4 Florida cities. Average ADU score: 4.8/10.

EvolvingLive Local Act

Key Florida ADU Laws

Florida ADU Laws

  • SB 48 died again (Mar 2026): the statewide ADU mandate passed the Senate 38-0 but died in House messages on the session's final day — local rules still govern
  • Live Local Act / §163.31771: a permissive framework — it lets (does not require) local governments allow ADUs in single-family areas; there is no statewide ADU mandate
  • City-level variation — Miami-Dade, Tampa, and Jacksonville leading adoption
  • Short-term rental rules vary significantly by municipality; the STR dispute is what killed SB 48

Florida Cities ADU Comparison

CityMax SizeSetbacksPermit FeesBuild Cost1BR RentScore
Jacksonville 25% of primary residence or 750 sq ft (whichever is smaller) 20 feet $3,200-$5,000 $125,000-$245,000 $1,100-$1,600/mo 5/10
Miami City of Miami: confirm current cap with City of Miami Planning (proposed ~500 sq ft / 10% of lot, capped at 800 sq ft). Unincorporated Miami-Dade: 400-800 sq ft in RU-1 districts (varies by district) 5 ft (RU-1 district) $5,000-$8,000 $180,000-$350,000 $1,600-$2,200/mo 5/10
Orlando 1,000 sq ft max, 500 sq ft min; must be smaller than the principal structure (varies by sector) 15 feet $2,800-$4,500 $130,000-$260,000 $1,200-$1,750/mo 6/10
Tampa 950 sq ft (larger setbacks apply when the ADU exceeds 15% of lot size) 3 ft (20 ft when the ADU exceeds 15% of lot size) $3,500-$5,500 $140,000-$280,000 $1,300-$1,850/mo 3/10

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