ADU Owner Occupancy: Safety Harbor vs St. Petersburg
How do adu owner occupancy rules compare between Safety Harbor, FL and St. Petersburg, FL?
Safety Harbor, FL
Pinellas County
No data available yet for Safety Harbor.
St. Petersburg, FL
Pinellas County
St. Petersburg's Land Development Regulations (City Code Chapter 16) condition ADU approval in single-family residential districts on owner occupancy of either the primary dwelling or the ADU. The condition is intended to prevent single-family lots from operating as de facto investor duplexes. Florida HB 1031 (2024) at Fla. Stat. §163.31771 encourages but does not preempt municipal owner-occupancy conditions. Pinellas County homestead status is the standard proof of compliance.
View full St. Petersburg rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Safety Harbor | St. Petersburg |
|---|---|---|
| Owner Occupancy | - | Required - one of two units |
| Code Authority | - | City Code Ch. 16 (LDR) |
| Proof at COO | - | Homestead/voter/FL DL |
| State Trend | - | Fla. Stat. §163.31771 (encourages removal) |
| HOA Authority | - | Fla. Stat. Ch. 718, 719, 720 |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Safety Harbor FAQ
No FAQs available.
St. Petersburg FAQ
Do I have to live on-site to rent out an ADU in St. Petersburg?
Yes in single-family residential districts. LDR Chapter 16 conditions ADU approval on owner occupancy of either the primary dwelling or the ADU — investor-only operation of both units on a single-family lot is not permitted as-of-right. The Codes Compliance Assistance Department may request proof of homestead through the Pinellas County Property Appraiser. Multi-family districts and mixed-use districts have different rules.
Did Florida ADU law eliminate owner-occupancy rules?
No. Florida HB 1031 (2024) at Fla. Stat. §163.31771 encourages local governments to consider permissive ADU frameworks, including removal of owner-occupancy requirements, but does not preempt local conditions. St. Petersburg's LDR Chapter 16 owner-occupancy condition remains enforceable. HOAs and condo associations may impose independent restrictions under Fla. Stat. Chapters 718, 719, and 720 regardless of city rules.
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