Sanford, FL Accessory Structures: ADU Owner Occupancy (2026)

Section 11.2 of Sanford's Land Development Regulations, Definitions, Land Use, defines "accessory dwelling unit" as one dwelling unit contained within the principal building located on the premises and occupied by the owner, relative of the owner-occupant, caretaker or watchman employed on the premises. The same section pairs that use with "accessory residential structure," a detached one-family dwelling in addition to the principal building, and applies an identical occupancy rule: it too must be occupied by the owner, a relative of the owner-occupant, a caretaker or a watchman employed on the premises.

Because the occupancy limit is written into the definition itself, it is what the administrative official checks under Article II, Section 2.3's permitted land uses provisions before issuing a site development permit or certificate of completion for the use: the unit only qualifies as an accessory dwelling unit, and therefore only fits within the zoning districts where Schedule B allows that use, if it will be occupied by someone in one of those four categories. Renting the unit on the open market to an unrelated household takes it outside the definition altogether, since the code does not create a general "in-law suite" or unrestricted rental category, only the owner-occupant-linked accessory dwelling unit and accessory residential structure uses. The same restriction is what distinguishes an accessory dwelling unit from a duplex or a second dwelling permitted independently in an applicable multi-family district.