5 rules for unincorporated Collier County, Florida.
Verified from official government sources
Collier County permits a detached guesthouse as an accessory use, but renting or leasing it is prohibited. It requires at least a one-acre (43,560 sq ft) lot, cannot exceed 40% of the main home's living area, and must sit 20 feet from the principal dwelling.
Collier County LDC 5.03.03
Leasing or renting a guest accommodation facility shall constitute a violation of this LDC. ... Minimum lot area shall be 43,560 square feet. ... The maximum floor area shall be forty (40) percent of the air-conditioned, enclosed living area ... Detached guest houses shall not be closer than twenty (20) feet to the principal dwelling.
In unincorporated Collier County, a detached shed or utility building must sit at least 10 feet from the rear lot line and meet the principal-structure side setback. Accessory buildings can't cover more than 5% of the lot, and sheds under 500 sq ft are still allowed if setbacks are met.
Collier County LDC 4.02.03
Accessory buildings and structures must be constructed simultaneously with or following the construction of the principal structure ... Accessory buildings shall not occupy an area greater than five (5) percent of the total lot area in all residential zoning districts.
Converting a garage into living space in unincorporated Collier County needs a building permit, and adding a kitchen can turn the space into a separate dwelling unit. That is barred in single-family zoning, and renting a converted garage as a second unit is a code violation.
Collier County LDC 4.01.02
A room or area shall be considered a kitchen when ... there is an apparent food preparation area having one or more of the following criteria: A range; ... or An unexplained 220-volt electrical outlet that could be used for a major kitchen appliance, such as a range.
A carport for a one- or two-family home in unincorporated Collier County must meet the principal-structure front and side setbacks, sit at least 10 feet from the rear lot line, and stand 10 feet from other detached structures. A building permit is required.
Collier County LDC 4.02.03(D)
Carports (one- and two-family) [setbacks]: Front - SPS; Side - SPS; Rear - 10 feet; Structure to Structure (if detached) - 10 feet. ["SPS" = same as principal structure.]
Collier County has no dedicated tiny-home ordinance. A tiny house on a foundation must meet its zoning district's minimum dwelling floor area and the Florida Building Code. A tiny home on wheels is treated as an RV, allowed only in TTRVC parks, not a permanent residence.
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