Accessory Structures in Miami-Dade County, FL (2026)

4 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 7 cities in Miami-Dade County, Florida.

Verified from official government sources

Note: These county rules apply to unincorporated areas of Miami-Dade County. If you live within an incorporated city, that city's own rules apply: see the city list below.

ADU Rules

Miami-Dade County allows ADUs in AU, EU, and RU districts within the Urban Development Boundary. RU-1 requires minimum 7,500 sq ft lot with 400-800 sq ft ADUs. Garage conversions permitted on 5,000 sq ft lots with 220 sq ft minimum habitable area.

Miami-Dade County ADU Rules

Some Restrictions

Miami-Dade County Code § 33-22

Miami-Dade County has approved an ordinance, allowing an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) or guesthouse in a single-family zoned district either as a newly detached or attached dwelling unit, including the conversion of a portion of an existing single-family dwelling... An ADU is an attached or detached accessory building, or portion thereof, that is used as an ancillary residential unit and is lo...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

ADU Impact Fees

Miami-Dade County charges its countywide mobility impact fee on every building permit application, including new accessory dwelling units. Code Section 33E-14(d)(7) exempts accessory buildings from the fee, but only when the land use is unchanged, no additional unit is created and no added vehicle trips result, a test most ADUs fail because they add a housing unit.

Miami-Dade ADU Mobility Fee Exemption Limits

Some Restrictions

Miami-Dade County Code § 33E-14(d)(7)

(7)Existing structure alterations and accessory buildings.(i)Any alteration, replacement or expansion of an existing structure or the addition of an accessory building shall be exempted provided that the land use has not changed and no additional units are created and no additional vehicle trips are generated pursuant to Section 33E-8.(ii)A parking garage that is accessory to a primary use stru...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

ADU Rental Restrictions

Accessory dwelling units in unincorporated Miami-Dade County must be rented for at least one month at a time: guesthouses can't be rented separately from the main home, and neither one can be used as a short-term vacation rental.

Miami-Dade ADU Rental Restrictions

Some Restrictions

Miami-Dade County Code § 33-22(2)(f)

(f)Sale and rental. The accessory unit shall not be sold separately from the principal dwelling and shall only be rented for a fee in accordance with the following:(i)An ADU may be rented for a fee, provided that the rental period is not less than one month.(ii)A guesthouse shall not be rented for a fee separately from the principal dwelling, nor shall a property owner live in the guesthouse an...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Shed & Carport Rules

Miami-Dade County caps utility sheds at 400 square feet per lot in unincorporated areas, with a relaxed 5-foot setback for small sheds under 100 square feet and 10-foot height, though larger sheds must meet full accessory-building setbacks.

Miami-Dade County Shed Size and Setback Limits

Some Restrictions

Miami-Dade County Code § 33-20(l)

Utility sheds and pergolas...there shall be no more than one utility shed per residential lot, up to a maximum of 400 square feet in size...Utility sheds and pergolas not larger than 100 square feet, not exceeding 10 feet in height, and incidental to an existing single-family residential use shall be setback as follows: Front 55; Rear 5; or 2 *; Interior side 5; or 2 *; Spacing from house 10; S...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗