From garage conversion to fully detached accessory dwelling unit. Design, permits, construction, and certificate of occupancy — all under one licensed GC contract. Built for Florida Live Local Act by-right ADU approval in Hillsborough County.
Representative example finishes for illustration — not a specific completed project.
Our ADU & Garage Conversion Work
How it works
ADUs involve zoning review, architectural drawings, engineering, multiple permit departments, and a final CO inspection. We manage the entire process under one contract — you don't project-manage it.
We review your lot, zoning, setbacks, utility connections, and HOA restrictions before you spend a dollar on drawings. We tell you what's buildable before anyone gets excited about floor plans.
Architectural drawings, structural engineering, and permit submission. We manage the back-and-forth with the Building Division, Zoning, and any required HOA approvals. Permit fees included in written scope.
Foundation, framing, roofing, electrical, plumbing, insulation, drywall, flooring, kitchen or kitchenette, bathroom — all trades coordinated under our GC license.
Final inspections across all trades, CO issued by the county. You receive a completed, legal dwelling unit with a certificate of occupancy — ready to rent or move family in.
What we build in Tampa
Garage conversions are the fastest and most cost-effective ADU option in Tampa. Detached ADUs on large lots offer more flexibility and rental income potential. We build both.
Convert your existing attached or detached garage into a legal, permitted living space. We handle the floor leveling, insulation upgrade, mini-split HVAC, electrical panel sub-feed, plumbing rough-in for a kitchenette and bathroom, and CO application. Most efficient ADU path in Tampa.
A standalone dwelling unit built on your lot — separate from the main house. New foundation, full mechanical systems, its own utility connections, kitchen, bathroom, and CO. Best option for maximizing rental income or creating a fully independent living space for family.
Already have a builder but need help getting through the Hillsborough County or City of Tampa permit process? We provide architectural drawings, engineering, HOA approval coordination, permit submission, and project management through CO — without doing the construction ourselves.
Honest pricing
ADU costs are driven by structural complexity, existing condition of the space being converted, utility connection distance, and finish level. These ranges include design, permits, and CO — not just construction. We quote the total project cost in writing before you commit.
Convert an attached or detached garage into a legal ADU. Fastest path to a CO'd unit in Tampa — existing structure, existing roof, existing footprint.
New detached ADU, 400–750 sq ft. New foundation, CBS or frame construction, full mechanical systems, kitchenette or full kitchen, bathroom, and independent utility connections.
750–1,200+ sq ft detached ADU with full kitchen, 1–2 bedrooms, 1–2 bathrooms, laundry hookup, and high-spec finishes. Designed for long-term rental income or a permanent family suite.
Tampa / Hillsborough County · What property owners need to know
Hillsborough County's Land Development Code runs through Ordinance 92-5 as amended — and Tampa Bay's wind code sits in a middle band between inland Orlando and the Gulf Coast counties to the south.
The City of Tampa runs its own Construction Services Center — separate from Hillsborough County's Development Services Department, which administers the county's Land Development Code (Ordinance 92-5, as amended). Carrollwood, Riverview, and Town 'n' Country are unincorporated Hillsborough County, not City of Tampa, even though people call the whole area "Tampa." We confirm jurisdiction before we quote — not after you've paid for drawings.
Hillsborough County's ultimate design wind speed runs roughly 140–160 mph depending on how close your lot sits to Tampa Bay — higher than inland Orlando but below the HVHZ counties. Waterfront and bay-adjacent parcels typically land at the top of that range and need impact-rated openings; inland New Tampa and Brandon lots are often lower. We verify the exact figure for your address before specifying materials.
A significant share of Hillsborough County homes — especially in Riverview, FishHawk, New Tampa, and Westchase — are in HOA communities with restrictions on ADU construction, including setbacks from property lines, exterior materials, roofline requirements, and architectural review timelines of 30–60 days. We review your HOA or condo association documents and CC&Rs before any money is spent on design. Building without approval is a covenant violation with real legal exposure.
Detached ADUs require electrical service (new sub-panel or meter), water connection, and sewer tap. In Hillsborough County, impact fees for new construction can run $8,000–$18,000 on top of utility connection costs charged by Tampa Water or Hillsborough County Public Utilities, depending on which serves your address. We include the full fee assessment in your written scope — not a rough estimate.
An unpermitted "in-law suite" can't be legally rented, has no standing at resale, and can jeopardize your homeowner's insurance. We build every Tampa-area ADU toward a certificate of occupancy at close-out — the permit timeline is ours to manage, and the project isn't done until the CO is in your hands.
Jurisdiction confirmation, wind-rated product specs, permit submittal, trade coordination, and the CO — all under one contract with one point of contact, instead of a separate architect, engineer, plumber, electrician, and framer you sourced yourself, now available across Tampa and all of Hillsborough County.
We bring the same feasibility-first ADU process we built in South Florida to Tampa. Here is what shapes every project here.
Tampa's Land Development Code runs through Ordinance 92-5 as amended, administered by Hillsborough County's Development Services Department — separate from the City of Tampa's own Construction Services Center. Whether your lot is inside city limits or in unincorporated areas like Carrollwood or Town 'n' Country decides which office reviews your permit, so that's the first thing we confirm.
Wind exposure near Tampa Bay is the other variable — waterfront and bay-adjacent lots land near the top of the county's 140–160 mph range and need impact-rated openings, while inland New Tampa and Brandon often don't. We verify the exact figure for your address and put impact fees ($8,000–$18,000) and utility costs in writing before you sign.
From South Tampa to Brandon — Tampa and Hillsborough County is our Tampa Bay market, backed by 10+ years of licensed GC experience in Florida.
Verified reviews from ADU and garage conversion projects across Tampa and Hillsborough County.
"Dariceli told us upfront that our HOA in Westchase would need to approve before any drawings were started. We got approval first, then permitted, then built. CO in hand 7 months after we first called. The process was exactly what she described."
"Garage conversion in Hyde Park. D&Co handled the drawings, the permit, all the trades, and the CO. My mother moved in within 4 months. The biggest thing was knowing the full cost upfront — no surprises on impact fees or utility hookups."
"I rent the unit out near Brandon. The total project cost was $81,000. I had two other contractors tell me they 'couldn't guarantee a CO.' D&Co was the only one who built it into the contract. That mattered more than the price."
Common questions
The process, the cost, what needs a permit, and what makes an ADU legal to rent in Tampa.
ADU cost in Tampa and Hillsborough County ranges from $40,000 for a basic garage conversion to $180,000+ for a custom detached unit with 2 bedrooms and premium finishes. Our pricing includes design, permits, construction, and CO — not just construction labor. The most common detached ADU project (400–650 sq ft) runs $65,000–$110,000 all-in.
Only if it has a certificate of occupancy as a dwelling unit. An unpermitted conversion — even a beautifully finished one — cannot be legally rented. It also creates liability when you sell (must be disclosed) and may void your homeowner's insurance. We build every ADU through to CO so the unit is legal, insurable, and rentable from day one.
Design and drawings typically take 4–8 weeks. Permit review by Hillsborough County Development Services or the City of Tampa takes 4–12 weeks depending on scope complexity and jurisdiction. We manage this timeline and track the permit status — you're not waiting on hold with the county.
Depends on your CC&Rs or condo docs. Many HOAs and communities in Hillsborough County — especially in Riverview, FishHawk, and Westchase — restrict or prohibit ADU construction — either by requiring architectural committee approval, specifying exterior material requirements, or prohibiting external dwelling units entirely. Florida's Live Local Act limits what local zoning can prohibit, but HOA covenants are a separate legal layer. We review your governing documents as part of the feasibility step before any money goes to drawings.
Setback and size limits vary by jurisdiction and zoning designation. The City of Tampa, Plant City, Temple Terrace, and unincorporated Hillsborough County each have different rules on lot size, setbacks, and maximum ADU square footage relative to the main dwelling. We review your specific parcel rules before quoting — not after you've paid for drawings.
ADU projects in Hillsborough County typically include: impact fees ($8,000–$18,000 for new construction), utility connection fees ($3,000–$12,000), permit fees ($1,200–$3,500), and architectural drawings and engineering ($6,000–$18,000). All of these are included in our written total project cost — no surprises at permit issuance. Contractors who quote "just construction" without addressing these fees are giving you an incomplete picture.
Yes. D&Co holds Florida Certified General Contractor license CGC1531095, which authorizes all phases of residential and commercial construction including ADU design-build projects. Dariceli Kunhardt has 10+ years in construction, development, and project management. All work is fully permitted and inspected under our GC license. Verify at the Florida DBPR website.
Ready to explore?
Tell us your lot, your goals, and your timeline. We'll review zoning and give you an honest picture of what's buildable before you commit to anything.
Prefer email? office@dandcohomes.com
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