Pembroke Pines, FL Accessory Structures: Garage Conversions (2026)

621(A)(7)(d)5, a garage converted into an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) on the front façade of a structure must have its garage door removed entirely, and the resulting enclosure must be architecturally compatible with the style of the building, including finishes and color scheme, so painting over or leaving the door in place does not satisfy the rule. 621(A)(7). An ADU is permitted only as accessory to a single-family dwelling on the same lot, capped at one per lot, and it cannot be established before the principal building has been built or on any lot serviced by septic.

The converted unit must run between 300 and 1,000 square feet of floor area and stay smaller than the principal dwelling; for a detached conversion, that cap covers the combined footprint of the living space plus any attached storage, bathroom, or laundry area. The unit must function as a complete residence with its own kitchen, bathroom, and living or bedroom space, and a paved walkway at least two feet wide must connect its entrance to the required off-street parking. The homeowner must add one additional paved parking space, on top of what the main house already needs, located entirely on the property.

621(A)(7)(d)6, meaning a building permit through the city's Building and Zoning Department, not a simple homeowner remodel. The lot must also meet the zoning district's minimum lot-area requirement and cannot later be subdivided to split the ADU from the main house unless the split independently satisfies every zoning standard.