Tampa allows an accessory dwelling unit only inside the "ADU Eligible Areas" fixed by Sec. 27-156, Table 4-1 footnote 17 (Seminole Heights, Tampa Heights, East Tampa, the Lowry Park/Sulphur Springs/Temple Crest corridor, Wellswood and parts of Riverside Heights), approved as an administrative Special Use S-1 with no public hearing (a permitted use in the Tampa Heights Overlay). The unit is capped at 950 sq ft of living space (1,100 sq ft in Tampa Heights), sits 3 ft from rear and side lot lines, needs one parking space, and the owner must live on the property in either the house or the ADU (Sec. 27-132 as amended by Ordinance 2024-76). Everywhere else in the city the only option is an Extended Family Residence (EFR): 600 sq ft, related occupants only, no rent, on a homesteaded property (Ordinance 2025-143, effective January 2026). The S-1 application currently costs $194 and is decided by the Zoning Administrator; the building permit follows through Construction Services. If your address is in unincorporated Hillsborough County (Brandon, Carrollwood, Town 'n' Country, Riverview), the county's LDC Sec. 6.11.02 applies instead: up to 900 sq ft on a 7,000 sq ft lot with an owner-occupied house, approved without a hearing.
Zoning & Size Requirements [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11]
Sometimes — Tampa allows ADUs, but not by right on a typical lot. ADUs are allowed only inside the ADU-eligible areas in Sec. 27-156 Table 4-1 footnote 17 (Seminole Heights, Tampa Heights, East Tampa, Sulphur Springs/Lowry Park/Temple Crest, Wellswood, parts of Riverside Heights) as an administrative Special Use S-1; everywhere else only a family-only Extended Family Residence (600 sq ft, no rent) is possible.
| Allowed Zones | Only inside the "ADU Eligible Areas" set by Sec. 27-156 Table 4-1 footnote 17 (Ordinance 2024-76): (1) west of North Boulevard, south of W. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd and east/north of the Hillsborough River; (2) south of W. Busch Blvd and north of W. Hillsborough Ave; (3) south of Hillsborough Ave, east of N. Armenia Ave, west of the river and north of W. MLK Jr. Blvd; (4) the East Tampa Overlay (Sec. 27-240) as a special use; plus the Tampa Heights Overlay where an ADU is a permitted use (Sec. 27-244), the Seminole Heights zoning districts (Sec. 27-211) and the Neighborhood Mixed Use districts. The city describes the 2024 additions as Sulphur Springs, Temple Crest, Wellswood and parts of Riverside Heights. Everywhere else only a family-only Extended Family Residence (EFR) is possible. Confirm your parcel on the city's ADU GIS Map Viewer |
| Max Size (Detached) | 950 sq ft of living space (Sec. 27-132); 1,100 sq ft in the Tampa Heights Overlay (Sec. 27-244). An ADU larger than 15% of the lot area must sit 20 ft from the rear line and 7 ft from the side line instead of 3 ft |
| Max Size (Attached) | 950 sq ft of living space inside the house with its own entrance (Sec. 27-132). The 600 sq ft figure often quoted is the cap for an Extended Family Residence, a separate family-only permit |
| Max Size (JADU) | No JADU category. The nearest equivalent is the Extended Family Residence: 600 sq ft of living area, occupants related by blood, marriage, adoption or guardianship, no rent, property must be homesteaded, no separate electric or water meter (Sec. 27-132, Ordinance 2025-143) |
| Max Height | Same maximum height as the principal structure in the underlying zoning district (city ADU General Standards, Sec. 27-290). Seminole Heights: 22.5 ft / 2 stories, dropping to 15 ft / 1 story within 20 ft of a one-story house on another lot (Sec. 27-211.2.1). Tampa Heights: 22.5 ft / 2 stories, up to 35 ft inside the Tampa Heights Historic District (Sec. 27-244) |
| Max Units | 1 ADU per lot |
Setback Requirements [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11]
Tampa requires a rear setback of about 3 ft for a detached ADU, and one off-street parking space is required. Owner-occupancy is required.
| Rear Setback | 3 ft; 20 ft if the ADU exceeds 15% of the lot area |
| Side Setback | 3 ft interior; 7 ft if the ADU exceeds 15% of the lot area (0 ft for an attached ADU in the SH-RS-A Seminole Heights district) |
| Front Setback | 60 ft from the street, so the ADU sits behind the house. From the principal structure: 10 ft eave-to-eave in RS-75/RS-100/RS-150, 5 ft in all other districts (Seminole Heights: 5 ft face-to-face, 3 ft eave-to-eave). Corner lots: 15 ft from the side street in RS-75/100/150, 7 ft elsewhere, 3 ft in Seminole Heights |
| Parking Required | 1 off-street space per ADU; the Tampa Heights Overlay requires the space only for ADUs over 600 sq ft (Sec. 27-244) |
| Owner Occupancy | Required: the property owner must reside on the property, in either the main house or the ADU (Sec. 27-132(b), Ordinance 2024-76, effective August 2024). No more than two unrelated occupants in the ADU; staff review the S-1 permit every year and a change in conditions requires a new permit |
| Min Lot Size | No minimum lot size; eligibility is by location, not lot area. Keep the ADU at or under 15% of the lot or the 20 ft rear / 7 ft side setbacks apply |
Permit Process & Fees [12][13][14][15][16][17]
An ADU permit in Tampa goes through a standard permit review. No published review clock for the S-1 or the building permit. City figures: 28 homeowners started the ADU process and seven finished construction in the two years after the 2024 rule change (August 2026). Budget several months from application to permit, longer in FEMA flood zones, Seminole Heights overlay review or the Tampa Heights historic district. Permit fees: S-1 special use application for an ADU or EFR: $194 (current fee listed in the city's July 2026 fee study; a proposed rise to $445, then $695 and $945 over three years had not been adopted by Council as of September 2026). Zoning fees are set by Council resolution and charged in Accela. Building permit fees are valuation-based through the city's online Fee Estimator, plus the 2.5% Florida building permit surcharge.
| Approval Process | Two administrative steps, no public hearing: (1) Special Use S-1 permit decided by the Zoning Administrator, filed in Accela (aca.tampagov.net) with a site plan, survey and notarized owner affidavit; in the Tampa Heights Overlay the ADU is a permitted use and skips the S-1; (2) building permit through Construction Services (2555 E. Hanna Ave, 813-274-3100). Development Coordination (TampaZoning@tampagov.net, 813-274-3100 option 2) recommends a call before filing. The city does not check private deed restrictions or HOA covenants. Check the parcel on the ADU GIS Map Viewer first; a legally nonconforming detached garage may be converted if it meets the Florida Building Code |
| Review Timeline | No published review clock for the S-1 or the building permit. City figures: 28 homeowners started the ADU process and seven finished construction in the two years after the 2024 rule change (August 2026). Budget several months from application to permit, longer in FEMA flood zones, Seminole Heights overlay review or the Tampa Heights historic district |
| Permit Fees | S-1 special use application for an ADU or EFR: $194 (current fee listed in the city's July 2026 fee study; a proposed rise to $445, then $695 and $945 over three years had not been adopted by Council as of September 2026). Zoning fees are set by Council resolution and charged in Accela. Building permit fees are valuation-based through the city's online Fee Estimator, plus the 2.5% Florida building permit surcharge |
| Impact Fees | City multi-modal (transportation) impact fee, schedule effective July 1, 2026: a detached dwelling under 1,500 sq ft is $1,529-$3,074 depending on the fee district (e.g., $2,168 Central East, $2,003 North Central), with rates stepping up each July 1 through 2029; ask Construction Services how an ADU is classified before budgeting. Hillsborough County school impact fees are also collected inside city limits |
| Plan Check | Electronic plan review in Accela; plan review and inspections are itemised in the Fee Estimator for new construction. Flood-zone lots need a FEMA elevation review; Seminole Heights adds overlay design review and Tampa Heights adds historic review (Sec. 27-244) |
| Pre-Approved Plans | Not offered by the city |
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Construction Costs [18][19][20][21]
Building an ADU in Tampa typically costs $100,000-$250,000 ($170-$350 site-built per sq ft); a garage conversion runs $60,000-$140,000.
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| Average Build Cost | $100,000-$250,000 |
| Cost per Sq Ft | $170-$350 site-built |
| Garage Conversion | $60,000-$140,000 |
| Prefab ADU (Installed) | $90,000-$200,000 |
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Rental Income Potential [22]
A 2-bedroom ADU in Tampa rents for around $1,700-$2,300/mo (Tampa apartment average $2,102; Tampa Heights $2,327), an estimated 5-8% net annual return (roughly $17,000-$22,000 a year in rent on a $150,000-$220,000 unit before taxes, insurance, vacancy and maintenance).
| Avg Rent (1 Bedroom) | $1,400-$1,850/mo (Tampa apartment average $1,746 in September 2026; Old Seminole Heights $1,683, Wellswood $1,595, Lowry Park $1,475, Temple Crest $1,208) |
| Avg Rent (2 Bedroom) | $1,700-$2,300/mo (Tampa apartment average $2,102; Tampa Heights $2,327) |
| Short-Term Rental | Not addressed for ADUs in Sec. 27-132; the owner-residency rule, the two-unrelated-occupant cap and the annual staff review apply regardless, and an Extended Family Residence may not be rented at all. Confirm with Development Coordination before planning a short-term rental |
| Est. Annual ROI | 5-8% net annual return (roughly $17,000-$22,000 a year in rent on a $150,000-$220,000 unit before taxes, insurance, vacancy and maintenance) |
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Recent Law Changes
What's Changed Recently
- Ordinance 2024-76 (adopted July 18, 2024 by a 7-0 vote, effective 30 days later): rewrote Sec. 27-156 Table 4-1 footnote 17 to expand the ADU-eligible areas (the city describes the additions as Sulphur Springs, Temple Crest, Wellswood and parts of Riverside Heights) and amended Sec. 27-132 so the owner may live in either unit, an ADU may go in a legally nonconforming accessory structure such as an old detached garage, and the annual staff review no longer triggers a new public hearing
- Ordinance 2025-143 (adopted December 4, 2025 by a 6-0 vote, effective early January 2026): Extended Family Residence rules rewritten. The property must be homesteaded instead of the main house being owner-occupied (so the owner may live in the EFR), an EFR may occupy a conforming or nonconforming accessory structure, no separate electric or water meter, occupants may not pay rent, and the owner files an annual affidavit naming the occupants
- July 1, 2026: a new multi-modal transportation impact fee schedule took effect (adopted December 18, 2025), with further step-ups each July 1 through 2029
- July 2026: the city's Development & Growth Management fee study recommends raising the S-1 ADU/EFR application fee from $194 to $445, $695 and $945 over three years; Council received the study on July 16, 2026 but had not adopted a new fee schedule as of September 2026
- Florida 2026 session: SB 48, which would have required every city and county to allow ADUs in single-family zones, passed the Senate but died in House messages on March 13, 2026; the companion that became law (HB 1389, Ch. 2026-179) contains no ADU provision. Fla. Stat. 163.31771 still says a local government "may" allow ADUs and was last amended in 2020
- City count (news release, August 19, 2026): 28 homeowners had started the ADU process and seven had completed construction since the 2024 rule change
Tips for Building an ADU in Tampa
- Check the address before anything else: only parcels inside the "ADU Eligible Areas" map (Exhibit A to Sec. 27-156) can get an ADU; elsewhere the only option is a family-only Extended Family Residence. The city's ADU GIS Map Viewer answers this in seconds
- Keep the ADU at or under 15% of the lot area: on a 5,000 sq ft lot that is 750 sq ft. Go bigger and the rear setback jumps from 3 ft to 20 ft and the side from 3 ft to 7 ft, which rules out most narrow lots
- An old detached garage that is legally nonconforming can become an ADU under Ordinance 2024-76 if it meets the Florida Building Code, which is usually the cheapest route to a unit
- You may live in the ADU and rent out the main house, as long as the owner resides somewhere on the property; the ADU itself is capped at two unrelated adults and staff re-check the S-1 conditions every year
- Tampa Heights Overlay is the friendliest corner of the city: the ADU is a permitted use (no S-1), 1,100 sq ft, up to 35 ft in the historic district, and parking is required only above 600 sq ft, but historic design review applies to the exterior
- Outside the eligible areas an EFR (600 sq ft, related occupants only, no rent, homesteaded property, no separate meters) is a real option for aging parents or adult children, but it cannot later become a rental without an eligible location and a new permit
- Unincorporated Hillsborough County is a different regime: up to 900 sq ft (variance to 1,200 sq ft on lots of 14,520 sq ft or more), a 7,000 sq ft minimum lot, an owner-occupied main house, and the ADU set back at twice the district front setback (LDC Sec. 6.11.02). Many "Tampa" mailing addresses in Brandon, Carrollwood, Town 'n' Country and Riverview are county, not city
- Pull the FEMA flood determination before design: much of the eligible area runs along the Hillsborough River, and elevated, wind-rated construction adds cost and time
- Cost basis (2026-09-19 re-verification): avg build cost: $100,000-$250,000 for a 600-950 sq ft detached unit (Tampa-specific guides cluster at $90,000-$210,000; Florida-wide guides reach $320,000 for larger custom builds) | garage conversion: $60,000-$140,000 (interior conversions from about $40,000) | prefab adu: $90,000-$200,000 all-in; modular units run about $150-$270 per sq ft delivered and set, before foundation, utility tie-ins and site work
ADU Builders in Tampa
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Sources & References
All data on this page is sourced from official government records and verified market data. View our full methodology.
- Ordinance No. 2024-76, Chapter 27 text amendments (Sec. 27-132 ADU criteria, Sec. 27-156 Table 4-1 footnote 17) - City of Tampa Council agenda item 94, July 18, 2024 Municipal Code — Accessed 2026-09-19
- City Council Regular Meeting minutes, July 18, 2024 (adoption of Ordinance 2024-76, roll call 7-0) - City of Tampa OnBase Agenda Online Municipal Code — Accessed 2026-09-19
- Ordinance No. 2025-143, Sec. 27-132 Extended Family Residence criteria (substitute ordinance) - City of Tampa Council agenda item 41, December 4, 2025 Municipal Code — Accessed 2026-09-19
- City Council Regular Meeting minutes, December 4, 2025 (adoption of Ordinance 2025-143, roll call 6-0) - City of Tampa OnBase Agenda Online Municipal Code — Accessed 2026-09-19
- Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) General Standards handout - City of Tampa (2025) Planning Department — Accessed 2026-09-19
- ADU Seminole Heights Supplemental Standards handout - City of Tampa (2025) Planning Department — Accessed 2026-09-19
- ADU Tampa Heights Supplemental Standards handout (Sec. 27-244) - City of Tampa (2025) Planning Department — Accessed 2026-09-19
- ADU East Tampa Supplemental Standards handout (Sec. 27-240) - City of Tampa (2025) Planning Department — Accessed 2026-09-19
- Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU) - City of Tampa City Planning (updated July 15, 2026) Planning Department — Accessed 2026-09-19
- Planning Commission staff report, LDC Text Amendment 24-1 (Sec. 27-156 ADU areas), June 10, 2024 Planning Department — Accessed 2026-09-19
- Hillsborough County LDC Text Amendment 19-1055, Accessory Dwellings (Sec. 6.11.02 as adopted by Ord. 20-17) - Hillsborough County BOCC Legistar Municipal Code — Accessed 2026-09-19
- ADU GIS Map Viewer (ADU Eligible Areas) - City of Tampa Planning Department — Accessed 2026-09-19
- Development & Growth Management and Right-of-Way Fee Study, July 7, 2026 (S-1 ADU/EFR fee: existing $194, proposed $445/$695/$945) - City of Tampa Planning Department — Accessed 2026-09-19
- Multi-Modal Transportation Impact Fee District Schedule, effective July 1, 2026 (Exhibit I) - City of Tampa Planning Department — Accessed 2026-09-19
- Permit Fee Schedules / Fee Estimator - City of Tampa Construction Services Planning Department — Accessed 2026-09-19
- Special Use application instructions (Accela filing, fees set by Council resolution) - Tampa Development Coordination, rev. 08/2025 Planning Department — Accessed 2026-09-19
- City of Tampa to highlight the increase in ADUs since rule changes - City of Tampa news release, August 19, 2026 Planning Department — Accessed 2026-09-19
- ADU Cost in Tampa: 2026 Guide - OneOak Capital industry — Accessed 2026-09-19
- ADU Laws and Regulations in Tampa, Florida - Mesocore industry — Accessed 2026-09-19
- Cost to Build an ADU in Florida (2026) - ADU Florida Info industry — Accessed 2026-09-19
- What Does an ADU Actually Cost in Central Florida in 2026? - Central Florida ADU industry — Accessed 2026-09-19
- Average Rent in Tampa, FL (September 2026) - RentCafe / Yardi Matrix Market Data — Accessed 2026-09-19
- Fla. Stat. 163.31771 Accessory dwelling units (2026 Florida Statutes) - Florida Legislature Government Data — Accessed 2026-09-19
- SB 48 (2026) Housing - bill history, died in House messages March 13, 2026 - Florida Senate Government Data — Accessed 2026-09-19
- CS/CS/HB 1389 (2026) Affordable Housing, enrolled text (Ch. 2026-179) - Florida Senate Government Data — Accessed 2026-09-19
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