ADU Rules in Hialeah, Florida

Hialeah's Chapter 98 does not support a simple statement that an ADU is allowed on every residential lot.

The code does contain a specific second-dwelling form in the R-2 one- and two-family residential district.

R-2 Garage Apartment

Section 98-542 expressly permits:

• a one-family garage apartment;
• on the rear portion of the lot;
• when a single-family residence is on the front portion of the lot.

This is a specific R-2 zoning provision and should not be generalized to R-1, R-Z, R-3, or every other residential district.

Hialeah Code — R-2 District / §98-542

Accessory Buildings Are Not Automatically Dwelling Units

Chapter 98 also contains separate accessory-building rules. Section 98-1666 regulates accessory structures and prevents an ordinary garage or accessory structure from simply being treated as living quarters outside the applicable zoning provisions.

That means the existence of a garage or other detached structure is not enough to establish that it may be converted to a dwelling.

Hialeah Code — Accessory Buildings

How to Check a Property

1. Find the parcel's zoning in Hialeah's GIS.
2. If the property is R-2, review the garage-apartment provision and all applicable dimensional/parking rules.
3. For other districts, identify whether the proposed second dwelling is specifically permitted.
4. Confirm the interpretation with Hialeah Planning & Zoning before preparing permit plans.
5. Separately apply the Florida Building Code and Miami-Dade High-Velocity Hurricane Zone requirements.

Hialeah GIS Zoning Map

Hialeah Planning & Zoning

Florida State-Law Context

Florida Statutes §163.31771 does not require Hialeah to authorize an ADU in every single-family zone. Local Chapter 98 remains controlling.

Disclaimer: Confirm current zoning, dimensional, parking, and building-code requirements for the specific parcel before relying on this summary.