Broward County, FL Building Safety: Anti-Mansionization (2026)
Key Facts
- Max building length
- 80 feet
- Plot coverage cap
- 30 percent of lot
- Height limit
- 35 feet
- Applies only in
- unincorporated RSO District
Summary
In unincorporated Broward's RSO transitional district, no single-family home or office building can run longer than 80 feet, on top of plot-coverage and height caps.
Sec. 39-1222. - Building size limitations. The maximum length of a building shall not exceed 80 feet.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 72 | Administrative Code: Supplement 28).
Full Breakdown
Broward County Code § 39-1222 sets a flat 80-foot maximum building length for structures in the RSO (Residential Single-Family Detached and Office) District, one of the county's transitional zoning classifications for unincorporated land. The same article layers on a 30 percent plot-coverage cap and a 35-foot height limit (§ 39-1211, § 39-1212), so an oversized single-family house in this district is constrained on length, footprint and height simultaneously rather than by a single floor-area-ratio number. This chapter applies only in the unincorporated area (§ 39-2); Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Pembroke Pines, Coral Springs and Broward's other 27 municipalities set their own bulk and mass limits for single-family homes.
Violations & Fines
Building Code and Zoning staff reject permits for plans exceeding the 80-foot length cap or the 30 percent plot-coverage limit; a home already built beyond these limits without approval is a zoning code violation subject to Chapter 8½ Code Enforcement action, fines and a required cure or variance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this 80-foot cap apply to my house in Fort Lauderdale or Hollywood?
Does the cap apply to every unincorporated single-family lot?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Broward County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Broward County to another location·View the Florida building safety overview
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