Wellington, FL Accessory Structures: ADU Rules (2026)
ADU rules in Wellington, FL, also called accessory dwelling unit regulations or granny flat ordinances, cover setbacks, owner-occupancy, parking, and permit requirements.
Key Facts
- Size cap
- 800 sq ft, or 1,000 sq ft on 1+ acre
- Bedrooms allowed
- One bedroom maximum
- Occupancy limit
- Disabled, elderly, or income-qualified household member
- Units per lot
- One accessory dwelling per principal home
- Governing section
- LDR § 6.2.3.A
Summary
Wellington allows one accessory dwelling per single-family lot, capped at 800 square feet, or 1,000 square feet on a lot of at least one acre, with no more than one bedroom. LDR § 6.2.3.A limits occupancy to a household with a disabled, elderly, or income-qualified member.
A.Accessory dwelling:1.Occupancy of accessory dwelling shall be limited to a household that includes at least one member who is physically disabled or elderly, or who meets the low-income standards specified in affordable housing as defined in Article 3.2.A maximum of one dwelling unit may be permitted as an accessory use to a principal single-family dwelling unit. The accessory dwelling may be attached to the principal dwelling unit or freestanding.3.The accessory dwelling shall not exceed 800 square feet gross floor area, except when located on a lot that is at least one acre in size, in which case, the dwelling shall not exceed 1,000 square feet gross floor area.4.No accessory dwelling shall contain more than one bedroom. ... 7.The accessory dwelling shall comply with the minimum setbacks applicable to the principal single-family dwelling unit.
Full Breakdown
LDR § 6.2.3.A sets Wellington's standards for an accessory dwelling unit attached to or freestanding from a single-family home. Occupancy is restricted by design: the unit can only be occupied by a household that includes at least one member who is physically disabled, elderly, or who meets the low-income standard defined for affordable housing in Article 3.2 of the Land Development Regulations, so the use is not open-ended guest housing. Only one accessory dwelling is permitted per principal single-family unit, and it can be built attached to the main house or as a separate freestanding structure.
Size is capped at 800 square feet of gross floor area, rising to 1,000 square feet only if the lot is at least one acre, and the unit can never contain more than one bedroom regardless of lot size. Construction materials must match either the principal dwelling or other permanent accessory structures already on the lot, and the finished unit has to read as compatible in character and subordinate in size to the principal home rather than as a second house. The accessory dwelling must meet the same minimum setbacks that apply to the principal single-family dwelling on that lot, so it cannot be pushed closer to a property line than the main house could be.
Violations & Fines
Building an accessory dwelling larger than the 800/1,000-square-foot cap, adding a second bedroom, occupying it without a disabled, elderly, or income-qualified household member, or skipping the principal dwelling's setback violates LDR § 6.2.3.A. Wellington's Planning, Zoning and Building Department can issue a cease-and-desist order under LDR § 1.7.3, with contested cases going to a special magistrate under LDR § 1.7.1 and Florida Statutes chapter 162.
Frequently Asked Questions
How big can an accessory dwelling unit be in Wellington?
Who is allowed to live in a Wellington accessory dwelling unit?
Can I build more than one accessory dwelling on my Wellington lot?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Wellington
How Wellington compares: Easiest Cities to Build an ADU·Florida rules heatmap·Compare Wellington to another location·View the Florida accessory structures overview
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ADU Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Palm Beach County handle adu rules.