Plantation, FL Accessory Structures: ADU Rules (2026)
ADU rules in Plantation, FL, also called accessory dwelling unit regulations or granny flat ordinances, cover setbacks, owner-occupancy, parking, and permit requirements.
Key Facts
- Where allowed
- RS, RD, and PRD districts, by-right
- Max size
- Lesser of 50% of home or 1,250 sf
- Min size
- 250 square feet
- Rear setback
- 10 feet (25 feet in RS-1EP)
- Max height
- 35 feet, not taller than main home
- Occupancy rule
- One unit must be owner-occupied
Summary
Plantation permits accessory dwelling units by right in single-family, duplex, and PRD districts under Code Section 27-310(g), capping ADU size at the lesser of 50% of the main home's floor area or 1,250 square feet, requiring a 250-square-foot minimum, a 10-foot rear setback, and continuous owner-occupancy of either unit.
(g)Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) and Pool Houses(1)ADU Standards: ADUs shall be permitted by-right in all single-family (RS) and duplex (RD) and PRD districts; may be attached or detached to the primary house; shall not be considered an extra unit in terms of lot density; shall not be sold separately to another owner; must meet minimum housing standards of the FBC... b.the maximum area shall not exceed fifty percent (50%) of the gross area of the principal residence, including unairconditioned areas, or one thousand two hundred and fifty square feet (1,250 SF), whichever is less; and the minimum area shall be at least two hundred and fifty square feet (250 SF);...k.shall have a minimum rear setback of ten (10) feet, except in the RS-1EP district where it must maintain a 25-foot rear setback, and may have a minimum side setback of seven and a half (7.5) feet in certain districts as designated in Table 72-4 Note 2, except for the RS-1EP district, where it must maintain a 25-foot side setback...m.shall have a maximum height up to thirty-five (35) feet, but not be taller than the primary residence.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 30 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
Section 27-310(g)(1) permits Accessory Dwelling Units by-right in all single-family (RS), duplex (RD), and PRD zoning districts; an ADU may be attached or detached from the primary house, does not count as an extra unit for density purposes, cannot be sold separately from the main home, and must meet the Florida Building Code's minimum housing standards. Every ADU needs at least one bedroom, one bathroom, and a full kitchen. Size is capped at the lesser of fifty percent of the gross area of the principal residence, including unairconditioned space, or 1,250 square feet, and the minimum area is 250 square feet.
5 feet in districts listed in Table 72-4 Note 2 (25 feet in RS-1EP). Height is capped at 35 feet and cannot exceed the height of the primary residence, and an ADU together with the house and other impervious structures cannot push total lot coverage past 35 percent, or 20 percent in RS-1EP. An ADU can be rented separately from the main house only if either the primary residence or the ADU remains continuously owner-occupied, enforced through a recorded deed restriction and an annual residency statement filed by the owner; utilities must be shared with the main house, since separate meters are not permitted.
Before a certificate of occupancy issues, the owner must file the deed restriction in the Broward County public records and register the ADU with PZED. A single-family lot gets only one ADU, and a duplex lot gets one ADU per duplex unit.
Violations & Fines
Building an ADU larger than 1,250 square feet or 50% of the main home, skipping the 10-foot rear or 7.5-foot side setback, installing a separate utility meter, renting the ADU without maintaining continuous owner-occupancy of one unit, or skipping the recorded deed restriction and PZED registration violates Section 27-310(g), and the City can withhold or revoke the certificate of occupancy until the ADU complies.
Frequently Asked Questions
How big can an ADU be on a Plantation single-family lot?
Do I have to live in my Plantation property if I build an ADU?
How tall can a detached ADU be in Plantation?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Plantation
How Plantation compares: Easiest Cities to Build an ADU·Florida rules heatmap·Compare Plantation to another location·View the Florida accessory structures overview
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ADU Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Broward County handle adu rules.