ADUs are allowed in Fort LauderdaleTypes:DetachedInternal
Types:DetachedInternal
Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Rules for Fort Lauderdale, FL
Is your property eligible for an ADU?
# of Properties
71,428
Owner-occupied
48%
Zoning districts
95
Avg Home Value
$821,947
Median Lot Size
0.23 acres
Avg Income
$102,958
Residential Types:
71,428 housing units
Single Family
51%
Other
49%
Zoning Districts:
89,153 parcels · 95 districts
RS-8
22%(19,627)
RMM-25
15%(13,113)
RMH-60
13%(11,198)
RD-15
5%(4,365)
Other
46%(40,850)
ADU Rules
What can you build in Fort Lauderdale, FL?
Fort Lauderdale, FL follows state and local rules for Accessory Dwelling Units. Here is a concise overview of the local rules.
Eligibility
- –Internal / Attached ADU: By Right
- –Detached ADU: By Right
Interior / Attached ADU Size Limits
- –Maximum size of 600 sq ft or 49% of the principal building’s gross floor area, whichever is less.
Detached ADU Size Limits
- –Maximum size of 600 sq ft
- –Maximum size of 49% of the gross floor area of the principal structure
Max Units
- –1 per single-family lot
- –0 per lot for duplex/two-family and multifamily lots
Parking
- –3 total spaces required (1/ADU + 2 for primary); no max; reductions limited to RAC districts, historic properties, Uptown Urban Village, or a PDD; tandem spaces may count for only one dwelling unit.
Rental Restrictions
- –RS-8/RD-15: ADUs can only be servant's quarters for on-site non-family employees; cannot be rented as a separate unit (no short-term rentals). Internal/attached ADUs have the same restriction (no renting as a separate dwelling).
ADU State Law
What can you build in Florida?
- –Florida does not have a statewide ADU mandate. There is no state-level requirement for cities or counties to allow ADUs.
- –ADUs in Florida are regulated entirely at the local level. Some jurisdictions allow ADUs broadly, others allow them with strict conditions, and some prohibit them altogether.
- –Florida Statute 163.31771 is optional. It allows local governments to adopt ADU ordinances for affordable housing, but it does not require any jurisdiction to allow ADUs, and local governments may adopt ADU rules outside of this statute.
- –County and city rules may differ. In unincorporated areas, county zoning controls whether ADUs are allowed; within city limits, municipal zoning codes apply.
What's allowed on your lot?
These are the municipality-wide rules. What's allowed on a specific property also depends on state laws, setbacks, floor area ratio, lot coverage, environmental constraints, topography, and other property-specific factors. Search your address on FutureLot to see what's allowed on your property.
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ADU rules in other Florida municipalities
Rules change at the town line. Check the municipality your property is actually in.
Broward County