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Tampa, FL Accessory Structures: ADU Rental Restrictions (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Key Facts

Occupant cap
2 unrelated occupants maximum
Governing clause
Sec. 27-132(d)
Applies regardless of
Unit's 950-sq-ft size cap
Not capped
Related family members

Summary

Tampa caps an accessory dwelling unit at two unrelated occupants at any time. Sec. 27-132(d) blocks group-house or multiple-roommate rentals in a backyard unit even though the owner is otherwise free to rent it out.

d.At no time may the number of unrelated occupant(s) of an accessory dwelling unit exceed two (2).

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 148).

Full Breakdown

Sec. ' The limit is on unrelated occupants specifically, the text doesn't cap the number of related family members who could occupy the unit together, so a family of any size living as relatives isn't restricted by this clause the way two or more unrelated tenants would be. The cap functions independently of the unit's floor area: even at the maximum permitted 950 square feet, a Tampa ADU still can't house three or more unrelated renters at once. Compliance is checked as part of the same paperwork that governs the whole special use, Sec.

27-132(e) requires the entire permit, including its conditions, to be reviewed by staff annually, giving the city a recurring checkpoint to catch occupancy creep rather than relying solely on complaint-driven enforcement.

Violations & Fines

Housing three or more unrelated occupants in a Tampa ADU at the same time violates Sec. 27-132(d)'s special use standard. The zoning administrator can flag the overage at the mandatory annual review and decline to renew or can revoke the special use permit outright, and Code Enforcement can pursue the Sec. 1-6 general penalty of up to a $500 fine and 60 days' imprisonment for each day the overcrowded arrangement continues.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many roommates can live in a Tampa ADU?
At most two unrelated occupants at any time, per Sec. 27-132(d): the cap applies specifically to people who aren't related to each other.
Does the two-person limit apply to family members too?
No. Sec. 27-132(d) caps only unrelated occupants at two; the text places no separate numeric limit on how many related family members can occupy the ADU together.
Who checks compliance with Tampa's ADU occupancy cap?
The zoning administrator reviews it as part of the mandatory annual staff review of the whole special use permit required by Sec. 27-132(e), and Code Enforcement can act on violations under the citywide Sec. 1-6 penalty.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Tampa

Animal Ordinances: Chickens & LivestockSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Height LimitsSome RestrictionsADU RulesSignificant RestrictionsShed & Carport RulesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: RV & Boat ParkingSome RestrictionsADU Owner OccupancySignificant RestrictionsParking Rules: Towing & Impound RightsSignificant RestrictionsParking Rules: Commercial & Oversized VehiclesSignificant RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Veterinary Clinic ZoningSome Restrictions

All Tampa rules

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