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ADUs are allowed in Unincorporated Polk
Types:DetachedInternal

Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Rules for Unincorporated Polk, FL

Is your property eligible for an ADU?

# of Properties
222,619
Owner-occupied
57%
Zoning districts
129
Avg Home Value
$176,561
Median Lot Size
0.22 acres
Avg Income
$74,305
Residential Types:
222,619 housing units
Other
99%
Zoning Districts:
300,091 parcels · 129 districts
A/RR
27%(82,234)
RS
14%(41,409)
RL-1
13%(37,524)
RL-3
8%(23,360)
Other
39%(115,564)

ADU Rules

What can you build in Unincorporated Polk, FL?

Unincorporated Polk, FL follows state and local rules for Accessory Dwelling Units. Here is a concise overview of the local rules.

Interior / Attached ADU Size Limits

  • –Maximum size of 1,000 sq ft of heated floorspace

Detached ADU Size Limits

  • –Maximum 1,000 sq ft of heated floorspace for a detached ADU
  • –Detached ADU must be smaller than the principal structure’s floor area (subordinate in size)

Max Units

  • –1 detached ADU per lot; 1 attached ADU + 1 detached ADU on single-family/mobile home lots

Owner Occupancy

  • –Owner-occupancy not required.

Parking

  • –No ADU parking requirement; none listed; parking study may establish needed spaces; on-street spaces and residential driveways may count.

Rental Restrictions

  • –Short-term rentals for ADUs prohibited; longer-term rentals permitted.

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.

Polk County

AuburndaleBartowDavenportDundeeEagle LakeFort MeadeFrostproofHaines CityHighland ParkLake AlfredLake HamiltonLakelandLake WalesMulberryWinter Haven
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