Florida ADU Cost & Permitting Checklist
For landowners and homeowners planning an adu · Updated October 19, 2026
An accessory dwelling unit (ADU) can add rental income and value to a Florida property — but the cost and the approval path depend on your specific lot, your city's rules and the type of unit you build.
This checklist walks through what to confirm before you hire a designer or sign a contract: the lot, zoning and HOA rules, utilities, the permits you will need, the budget line items that most often get missed, financing options, and a realistic timeline. Where we give numbers, they are typical ranges from our published articles and city pages, with a link to the source.
What's inside
- Lot and site checks that most often change the price
- Florida ADU zoning items: size, setbacks, height, parking, owner occupancy, HOA
- Utility questions, including sewer, septic and separate metering
- The permit list from zoning approval to certificate of occupancy
- A budget line-item list with typical ranges for detached, attached, garage and prefab ADUs
- Financing options, rent checks and a phase-by-phase timeline
8 sections · 53 checklist items · printable
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