Dade City, FL Accessory Structures: ADU Rules (2026)

4-1, with the substantive standards spelled out in Sec. 4(A). An ADU must meet all applicable development standards for a principal dwelling in whatever zone district it sits in, and mobile homes, recreational vehicles and travel trailers cannot be used as ADUs. Sec. 4(A)(3) sets the size cap: no accessory dwelling unit can exceed 33 percent of the habitable floor area of the principal dwelling, or 800 square feet, whichever is less. Sec. 4(A)(4) limits a lot to one ADU in addition to the principal single-family detached dwelling, so a property cannot carry a main house plus two garage apartments.

Placement is restricted separately under Sec. 2(E)(1)(d), which flatly bars an ADU from any required yard, meaning it has to sit in a buildable area behind the front and side setback lines like any other structure. At least one off-street parking space is required for each bedroom in the ADU under Sec. 4(A)(5), and the unit does not count toward the lot's maximum residential density under Sec. 4(A)(6). An ADU cannot be sold apart from the principal dwelling on the same lot, per Sec. 4(A)(7).

Notably, Sec. 4(A)(8) prohibits running a home occupation inside an accessory dwelling unit, closing off a common workaround for combining the two accessory uses. Where any conflict arises between these ADU standards and another LDR requirement, Sec. 4(A)(9)(b) provides that the ADU-specific standards control.