ADU Authority · Florida
Serving Palm Beach · Broward · Miami-Dade · Orlando · Tampa · Naples · Sarasota · Lee & St. Lucie Counties
Everything you need to build a legal, permitted Accessory Dwelling Unit or garage conversion in Florida — written by a licensed GC who pulls the permits and swings the hammer.
D&Co Homes builds ADUs and garage conversions in nine Florida markets. Pick your county for local pricing, code requirements, and a free feasibility review.
South Florida
ADU & garage conversion pricing, permitting, and code requirements for Palm Beach County homeowners.
View Palm Beach ADUSouth Florida
Broward County ADU and garage conversion guide — zoning, permit timelines, and build costs.
View Broward ADUSouth Florida
Miami-Dade ADU and garage conversion guide — NOA wind requirements, permitting, and pricing.
View Miami-Dade ADUSouthwest Florida
Lee County ADU and garage conversion guide — wind load code, permitting, and build costs.
View Lee County ADUCentral Florida
Orlando ADU and garage conversion guide — SB 48 by-right approval, impact fees, and pricing.
View Orlando ADUWest Florida
Tampa ADU and garage conversion guide — zoning, permitting, and build costs for Hillsborough County.
View Tampa ADUSouthwest Florida
Naples ADU and garage conversion guide — Collier County zoning, permitting, and pricing.
View Naples ADUWest Florida
Sarasota County ADU and garage conversion guide — zoning, permitting, and build costs.
View Sarasota ADUTreasure Coast
St. Lucie County ADU and garage conversion guide — zoning, permitting, and build costs.
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Ten deep-dive guides — read in order or jump to the issue you're facing right now.
Cost & Budgeting
$90–$180+ per square foot for new construction, or $40,000–$90,000 for a garage conversion. Hurricane wind load engineering, impact windows, and utility trenching — what actually drives Florida ADU costs.
Read the guideGuide 01 · Law & Policy
As of July 1, 2026, Orlando must approve your ADU permit within 60 days if your plans meet code. No more public hearings. No neighbor veto. Here's exactly what changed and how to use it.
Read the guideGuide 02 · Building Code
The 6 inspection checkpoints every Orlando garage conversion must pass — foundation, framing, electrical, HVAC, insulation, and final. Includes the HVAC interlock detail most contractors miss.
Read the guideGuide 03 · Zoning
Winter Park was historically one of the hardest municipalities in Florida for ADU approval. Here's the current setback grid, the Heritage Oak fine ($21,200), and how we still get projects approved.
Read the guideGuide 04 · Fees & Rebates
Full impact fee table for Orange County, how the Workforce Housing waiver works, and the step-by-step process to claim your $10,000 construction rebate at Certificate of Occupancy.
Read the guideGuide 05 · Tax Strategy
Building an ADU doesn't automatically cost you your homestead exemption — but only if it's structured correctly. Here's the myth vs. fact breakdown and the Granny Flat tax reduction under F.S. §193.703.
Read the guideGuide 06 · Rental Strategy
The Live Local Act unlocks four financial advantages for ADU landlords. Traveling nurses, teachers, and first responders are the ideal tenants — here's how to target them and what it means for your ROI.
Read the guideGuide 07 · Fire & Safety Code
FBC R302, egress windows, interconnected smoke detectors, CO detector placement — the top 7 inspection failures that kill final occupancy in Orlando ADU projects, and how we avoid every one of them.
Read the guideGuide 08 · Palm Beach County Cost
$45,000 for a garage conversion to $180,000+ for a detached unit. Zoning, impact fees, and how the Live Local Act changes the math for Palm Beach County homeowners.
Read the guideGuide 09 · Permits & Code
Yes — every ADU in Florida requires a building permit. What the Florida Building Code, the Live Local Act, and county zoning actually require, from a licensed GC.
Read the guide"Every one of these guides is written from field experience — not copied from the city's FAQ page. We've sat in the permit office, we've had plans red-lined, and we've figured out the workarounds that actually hold up at inspection. The reason we publish this information for free is simple: a homeowner who understands the code is a homeowner who can recognize a contractor cutting corners. We want you to know enough to hold us accountable."
— D&Co Homes, Licensed General Contractor · Florida (CGC1531095)
People Also Ask
Answers below reflect our Orlando / Orange County market. Permitting rules, fees, and timelines vary by county — visit your county's page for local specifics.
Client Reviews
Real experiences from homeowners who built ADUs with a licensed GC they could trust.
"I spent months worried I'd lose my homestead exemption if I built a backyard unit. The D&Co team walked me through the full tax picture before we broke ground — no surprises. The ADU has been rented for four months and basically covers my mortgage payment. Best decision I've made as a homeowner."
"We converted our garage for my mom who's 68. Jose told us about the Granny Flat tax reduction — I had never heard of it. We filed with the county by March 1st and it knocked over $300 off our annual tax bill. The build quality is excellent, the permit was pulled correctly, and it passed inspection without any issues."
"I did a lot of research before choosing D&Co. Being a licensed GC was non-negotiable for me — I wasn't going to let an unlicensed crew do a $70K build on my property. Permits were pulled, everything was done to code, and the unit was rented three weeks after the Certificate of Occupancy came in."
We model the full picture — tax impact, permit requirements, and build cost — before you sign anything. No surprises at assessment time, no hidden fees mid-project. Our license is public record: CGC1531095. Verify it anytime at the Florida DBPR. We're not going anywhere.
Licensed General Contractor · Serving 9 Florida Markets
We offer a no-cost site feasibility review for qualified properties in Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade, Lee, Orange, Hillsborough, Collier, Sarasota & St. Lucie Counties — survey, setbacks, tree protections, and impact fees reviewed before you spend a dollar on plans.