Pembroke Pines's Accessory Structures: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles accessory structures a little differently. In Pembroke Pines, Florida, there are 3 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Garage Conversions

Pembroke Pines lets a homeowner turn an attached garage into a legal accessory dwelling unit, but the Land Development Code demands specific work: if the garage door faced the street it must come out, the opening enclosed to match the house's finishes and color, and the whole unit must meet size, parking, and permitting standards under Code of Ordinances § 155.621(A)(7).

Key details: Governing section: § 155.621(A)(7). Front garage door: Must be removed if converted. Unit size: 300 to 1,000 sq ft. ADUs per lot: One maximum. Parking added: 1 paved space required.

Chapter 155 carries no ADU-specific fine schedule, so an unpermitted garage conversion falls under the city's general penalty, § 10.99: up to a $500 fine, up to 90 days in jail, or both, with each day the violation continues counted as a separate offense. In practice, Code Enforcement documents the illegal conversion and refers it to the city's Code Enforcement Board or Special Magistrate process under Chapter 32 before any fine is imposed.

Shed & Carport Rules

Pembroke Pines allows one shed per residential lot under Code of Ordinances § 155.620(C)(1), and Table 155.620 caps a standard shed at 200 square feet with 5-foot side and rear setbacks, a 15-foot street-side setback on corner lots, and a height no taller than the primary house or 24 feet, whichever is less.

Key details: Sheds per lot: One shed per residential lot. Side/rear setback: 5 feet. Street-side setback: 15 feet (corner lots). Max height: Primary building height or 24 feet, less. Max size: 200 square feet (Table 155.620).

A shed that exceeds the 200-square-foot cap, sits closer than the setback line, is built taller than 24 feet or the primary building, or arrives prefabricated is a Land Development Code violation under § 155.313(B), enforced by the Planning and Economic Development Department and Code Compliance Division. As with any LDC violation, the process runs through Chapter 32 of the City Code and F.S. Chapter 162, ending in a hearing before the Code Enforcement Board or a special magistrate if the shed isn't brought into compliance.

ADU Rules

Pembroke Pines lets a single-family lot add one accessory dwelling unit under Code of Ordinances § 155.621(A)(7), sized between 300 and 1,000 square feet and always smaller than the main house. An ADU needs its own kitchen, bath and living space, one dedicated paved parking spot, and can't be added to a lot served by septic.

Key details: Floor area: 300 to 1,000 square feet. Per lot: One ADU per single-family lot. Parking: 1 additional paved off-street space required. Septic lots: ADUs not permitted. HOA rule: City can't enforce HOA/deed ADU bans.

An ADU that breaks these standards, most often by exceeding the 1,000-square-foot cap, doubling up a second unit, or skipping the required parking space, is a Land Development Code violation under § 155.313(B), enforced by the Planning and Economic Development Department and Code Compliance Division. Because the section disclaims city authority over HOA and deed-restriction violations, an association's own complaint about an ADU is the association's fight, not the city's; only Code-based defects reach the Code Enforcement Board or a special magistrate.

The Bottom Line

Pembroke Pines's accessory structures rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Pembroke Pines is broadly strict or permissive.

All of the above reflects Pembroke Pines's municipal code as of our last review. If you need specifics on fines, exemptions, or filing requirements, the detailed ordinance pages linked above have the full breakdown.