County · Florida
ADU rules in Pinellas County
These are the primary sources for accessory dwelling unit regulations in Pinellas County: the county's own zoning code, planning department pages, and permit guides. Start here before talking to anyone: the rules below are what your permit reviewer will apply.
Unincorporated areas only
County zoning applies only outside city limits. If your property is inside a city or town, that municipality's own ADU ordinance governs instead, even though it sits within Pinellas County.
Find your city's rules in FloridaRules at a glance
The ordinance states the accessory dwelling unit may be attached to the primary unit or be separate/detached. Accessory apartments, garage apartments, and guest houses may be permitted as accessory uses to any single-family detached home in all residential districts. A detached ADU's building height may not exceed the building height of the primary dwelling unit (unless required under Chapter 158) and may not exceed the primary unit's number of stories.
Land Development Code Sec. 138-3210(c)(1)h and (c)(1)dSec. 138-3210(c)(1)h expressly allows the ADU to be attached to the primary unit. An ADU must have an entrance separate from the primary unit and must contain sleeping quarters, a bathroom, and a full kitchen with sink, cooking unit, and refrigerator.
Land Development Code Sec. 138-3210(c)(1)h and (c)(1)iThe 1,000 sq ft cap reflects the July 30, 2024 update (Ord. No. 24-22, the LDR-24-01 amendments), which raised it from 750 sq ft; the county's announcement confirms the change applies in unincorporated Pinellas County only. The section was most recently amended by Ord. No. 26-8 (Feb. 17, 2026).
Land Development Code Sec. 138-3210(c)(1)a; ordinance history note (Ord. No. 24-22, 7-30-24; Ord. No. 26-8, 2-17-26)Either the primary dwelling unit or the accessory dwelling unit must be owner-occupied. The requirement may be waived if both units qualify as affordable to households at 80 percent or below of median family income (consistent with Chapter 420, Florida Statutes) and are under a Land Use Restrictive Agreement (LURA) for a minimum of 20 years. A signed declaration of land restriction acknowledging the owner occupancy requirement must be recorded with the property deed before the certificate of occupancy is issued.
Land Development Code Sec. 138-3210(c)(1)c and (d)The parking rule sits in the same subsection that exempts ADUs from district density limitations.
Land Development Code Sec. 138-3210(c)(3)Table 138-355 (Table of Uses) lists Accessory Dwelling Unit as 'A' (Accessory Use) across the residential district columns, not as a Board of Adjustment (Type 2) or BoCC (Type 3) use, subject to the specific use standards of Sec. 138-3210. Applicable development review fees are waived for ADUs. Approval of an ADU larger than the size cap goes through Sec. 138-77 (per the county announcement, staff-level review up to 20 percent over the maximum; beyond that a variance).
Land Development Code Table 138-355; Sec. 138-3210(c)(1) and (c)(1)jSec. 138-3210 is silent on short-term rentals and minimum lease terms; only the owner occupancy and affordability waiver provisions touch on tenancy.
Land Development Code Sec. 138-3210(c)(1)cThe fine print: 6 caveats that can change the picture
- These rules apply only in unincorporated Pinellas County; the county's own announcement notes that municipalities in the county have their own ADU rules.
- The 1,000 sq ft size cap drops to 750 sq ft in the Coastal Storm Area or flood hazard areas established in LDC Sec. 158-23, and unconditioned space serving the ADU (garage or storage) counts toward the cap.
- Only one accessory dwelling unit is allowed per lot or parcel of ownership, and mobile homes and recreational vehicles may not be used as ADUs.
- A detached ADU may not exceed the building height or number of stories of the primary dwelling unit (with a Chapter 158 exception for required height).
- A signed declaration of land restriction covering owner occupancy and non-conversion of ground-level open-air footprint must be recorded with the deed before the certificate of occupancy is issued.
- ADUs are exempt from district density limitations, and a larger ADU than the cap may be approved pursuant to Sec. 138-77.
Summarized from Pinellas County's ordinance text, read July 2026; every row links the code section it came from. Rules often vary by zone and lot, so treat this as orientation, not a permit determination, and confirm with the planning department before you commit to a design.
ADU regulations
- library.municode.comOfficial sourceVerified July 2026Code of Ordinances §138-3210https://library.municode.com/fl/pinellas_county/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIIILADECO_CH138ZO_ARTIXSPUSST_DIV2REUS_S138-3210ACDWUN
- library.municode.comOfficial sourceVerified July 2026Code of Ordinances §138-355https://library.municode.com/fl/pinellas_county/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIIILADECO_CH138ZO_ARTIIIZOLAUS_DIV3PELAUS_S138-355TAUS
- pinellas.govOfficial sourceVerified July 2026https://pinellas.gov/news/county-adu-update/
Florida statewide law also applies
Florida sets baseline ADU rights at the state level. Where local rules are stricter than state law allows, state law usually wins, so both are worth reading.
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Zoning codes change. If a link is dead or Pinellas County has updated its ordinance, report it and we'll verify against the official source.
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