ADUs are allowed in Fernandina BeachTypes:DetachedInternal
Types:DetachedInternal
Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Rules for Fernandina Beach, FL
Is your property eligible for an ADU?
# of Properties
6,146
Owner-occupied
67%
Zoning districts
32
Avg Home Value
$687,251
Median Lot Size
0.19 acres
Avg Income
$97,913
Residential Types:
6,146 housing units
Single Family
94%
Apts (4+ units)
5%
Other
1%
Zoning Districts:
16,673 parcels · 32 districts
R-3
23%(3,883)
R-2
18%(3,031)
R-1
18%(2,927)
R-2/PUD
9%(1,554)
Other
32%(5,278)
ADU Rules
What can you build in Fernandina Beach, FL?
Fernandina Beach, 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 625 sq ft for an in-home accessory dwelling within a principal industrial or commercial building in I-1 or I-A; no cap otherwise.
Detached ADU Size Limits
- –Maximum detached ADU building area of 625 sq ft citywide; in OT-1/OT-2, limit is 500 sq ft per level (still capped at 625 sq ft overall).
Max Units
- –Residential (incl. Old Town): 1 detached ADU per lot
- –Industrial caretaker/employee (I-1/I-A): 1 per lot or per business (more restrictive)
Owner Occupancy
- –Owner-occupancy required; ADU occupied by owner, manager, or employee.
Parking
- –No ADU-specific parking required; in I-1/I-A industrial districts, ADU parking may be shared with the business it serves.
Rental Restrictions
- –Short-term rentals (30 days or fewer) prohibited; ADU rental only 31+ days and only if property has a homestead exemption.
- –In I-1/I-A, accessory dwellings limited to owner/manager/employee occupancy (no public rental).
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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Is your property eligible for an ADU?
ADU rules in other Florida municipalities
Rules change at the town line. Check the municipality your property is actually in.
Nassau County