In recent years, the popularity of tiny homes has grown among the general public. Some have chosen to live in a tiny home as their primary residence, while others are seeking to add one to their property, typically known as an accessory dwelling unit (ADU). These structures are versatile and can be used as a guest room, a living space for family or family employee, a remote worker’s office, or even as a rental/Airbnb space.
Wondering if an ADU is right for you and your home? We’ll break down everything you need to know about accessory dwelling units in Florida and how manufactured homes can be the perfect ADU for your needs!
What Is an Accessory Dwelling Unit?
An accessory dwelling unit, sometimes also known as an additional dwelling unit, is a secondary housing structure built on the property of a main dwelling place or home. This secondary structure can be attached to the home or completely detached, depending on how it’s built.
As defined in Florida, an ADU is “an ancillary or secondary living unit that has a separate kitchen, bathroom, and sleeping area. An ADU exists either within the same structure, or on the same lot, as the primary dwelling unit.”
What Can an ADU Be Used For?
People more commonly refer to accessory dwelling units as “guest houses” or “in-law suites.” This is because ADUs are frequently used as a separate guest room or living space for aging parents. ADUs are popular for this purpose because they allow the resident to remain nearby while maintaining their independence and privacy.
But the use of ADUs extends past just guest hosting or family residents. Some other common uses include:
- Having a separate workspace for remote workers
- Game/play room for young kids and teenagers
- Room for children when returning from college
- Transitional space for young adult children looking for their next career move
- Home gym or hobby room
- Living space for home employees, such as full-time nannies
- Rental space for short-term or long-term leases
Most commonly, ADUs will house one or two people away from the primary residence, but can accommodate more depending on your needs and your property.
Can You Build an ADU in Florida?
In general, the answer is yes, you can build an ADU for your home in Florida. There are no statewide restrictions on having an ADU on your property; however, you may be subject to restrictions imposed by other regulatory bodies, such as your homeowner’s association (HOA) or local county or city government.
To determine if any restrictions apply to you, you’ll first want to contact your HOA if you’re a part of one. Even if your local government and zoning would allow an ADU on your property, your HOA may not. If you’re currently looking for a home and know you’ll want an ADU in the future, make sure your potential home isn’t in an HOA that would block such building projects.
Once you’ve determined your HOA requirements (if you have any), you’ll next want to check with your local city/county government. They can explain any zoning or housing restrictions that may be in place surrounding building an ADU on your property.
For example, some counties in Florida do not allow ADUs on your property, especially if you plan to use it for financial purposes (e.g., long-term rentals to non-family, Airbnb rentals, etc.)
For zoning purposes, they may have square footage requirements for both your property lot and the ADU that you’ll want to follow. If you want an example of what these regulations might look like, see the requirements for our major cities in this guide.
Your Options for ADUs
When considering adding an ADU to your property, you have a couple of options available. Some people opt to build an ADU from scratch by hiring contractors and other workers. Others may convert parts of their home, such as the basement, upper floor, or garage, into an attached ADU.
However, one option you may not know about is buying a manufactured or modular home for your property to act as a detached ADU. With plenty of choices for manufactured homes under 1,200 square feet, they make perfect ADUs, comply with your area’s building codes, and are built to last.
When you go with Prestige, you’ll be able to customize your new ADU to your exact vision. Often, with other ADU options, you sacrifice quality or luxury while spending more for less space or fewer features. By choosing a manufactured or modular home as an ADU, you’ll save time, money, and stress.
Get Started on Your ADU with Prestige’s Manufactured Homes
We at Prestige are experts at designing, building, and delivering manufactured and modular homes, and we’re more than happy to help you start your ADU journey. Here at Prestige, we offer full customization so that you’ll get exactly the results you want for your property.
Plus, we’ll deliver your new ADU once it’s ready, so you can begin enjoying a private space without the hassle of construction. To get started, take a look at our different floor plans below 1,200 square feet, and get in touch with us today!