Kissimmee, FL Accessory Structures: ADU Owner Occupancy (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- LDC § 14-6-2.C
- Requirement
- Owner-occupied with homestead exemption
- Effect
- Bars investor-only rental ADUs
- Non-compliant ADUs
- Subject to abatement
Summary
Kissimmee only allows an accessory dwelling unit where the main house is owner-occupied and holds a valid homestead exemption, so an owner who doesn't live on the property can't add a legal ADU.
C.Occupancy standards. The principal structure shall be owner-occupied and shall maintain a valid homestead exemption.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 5).
Full Breakdown
Under LDC § 14-6-2.C, an accessory dwelling unit is only permitted where the principal structure, the main single-family house on the lot, is owner-occupied and maintains a valid homestead exemption. That ties ADU eligibility directly to the owner living on the property, not just owning it. An investor or landlord who doesn't occupy the primary residence and claim the homestead exemption cannot add or maintain a legal ADU there, and an illegally created ADU is subject to compliance action or abatement under the same section.
Violations & Fines
An ADU built or occupied on a property where the owner doesn't live and hold homestead status is illegal under § 14-6-2.C and, per the same section, must be brought into compliance or abated.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I build an ADU on a rental property I don't live in?
What happens to an ADU built without meeting this rule?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Kissimmee
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Kissimmee to another location·View the Florida accessory structures overview
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