ADU Permits: Cape Coral vs Fort Myers
How do adu permits rules compare between Cape Coral, FL and Fort Myers, FL?
Cape Coral, FL
Lee County
Cape Coral's Land Development Code (LDC) currently restricts true accessory dwelling units (ADUs) to the Residential Estate (RE) zoning district on lots of at least 40,000 square feet. Standard single-family lots (typically 10,000 sq ft in zones such as R1-D) cannot host a separate ADU and are limited to a non-rentable guest house without a full kitchen. Florida Statute 163.31771 encourages but does not mandate municipalities to permit ADUs in single-family zones, leaving Cape Coral's restrictive framework in place pending local code amendments.
View full Cape Coral rules →Fort Myers, FL
Lee County
No data available yet for Fort Myers.
Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Cape Coral | Fort Myers |
|---|---|---|
| Permitted Zone | Residential Estate (RE) only | - |
| Minimum Lot Size | 40,000 sq ft for ADU | - |
| Governing Code | Cape Coral LDC Art. 4 and Art. 5 Ch. 2 | - |
| Building Code | 2023 Florida Building Code (8th Ed.) | - |
| State Law | Fla. Stat. 163.31771 (encouragement only) | - |
| Flood Compliance | Must meet FEMA BFE for Zone AE/VE | - |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Cape Coral FAQ
Can I build an ADU on a standard Cape Coral lot?
Generally no. Cape Coral's LDC limits ADUs to the RE (Residential Estate) zoning district with a minimum lot size of 40,000 square feet. Standard R1 lots (~10,000 sq ft) can only have a guest house without a full kitchen, not a true rentable ADU.
Does Florida law require Cape Coral to allow ADUs everywhere?
Not currently. Florida Statute 163.31771 authorizes but does not require local governments to permit ADUs in single-family zones. Pending state legislation could change this, but as of now Cape Coral's restrictive RE-only rule remains in effect.
Fort Myers FAQ
No FAQs available.
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