ADU rules in Palm Beach County, FL — also called accessory dwelling unit regulations or granny flat ordinances — cover setbacks, owner-occupancy, parking, and permit requirements.
Unincorporated Palm Beach County allows accessory dwelling units (called Guest Cottages or Servant Quarters) under PBC ULDC Article 4.B.1.A on lots of at least one acre in agricultural and most residential zoning districts. Units are limited to 800 square feet and may not be rented separately.
PBC ULDC Article 4 defines a Guest Cottage as a detached residential unit accessory to a single-family principal dwelling, limited to 800 square feet of habitable area, requiring a minimum one-acre lot in AGR, AR, RE, RT, RR, and RS zoning. The unit must share utility connections with the principal dwelling and may not be sold or rented as a separate dwelling. Servant Quarters serve a similar purpose but may include kitchen facilities only with conditional approval. Setbacks follow the underlying district. Building permits must comply with FL Building Code 8th Edition (2023) including HVHZ wind load standards (Palm Beach County requires Risk Category II structures designed to withstand 170 mph winds in coastal zones). The Live Local Act (SB 102, 2023) does not override PBC ADU restrictions for unincorporated parcels. Septic and well capacity must be verified by PBC Health Department for non-sewered properties.
Unpermitted ADU construction: stop-work order, permit-after-the-fact at 4x fee, possible removal. Renting an ADU separately: zoning violation, Special Magistrate fines to 500 dollars per day.
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See how Palm Beach County's adu rules rules stack up against other locations.
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