ADU Rules in St. Petersburg, Florida

St. Petersburg regulates accessory dwelling units locally under its Land Development Regulations. The City's official accessory-dwelling handout is based on Ordinance 509-H and provides specific standards that are more reliable than generic ADU estimates.

Florida Statutes §163.31771 is permissive and does not itself create a statewide by-right ADU mandate.

Core Local Limits

The City's accessory-dwelling standards state:

• One ADU maximum per single-family property where an ADU is allowed.
• An ADU may not be used for transient accommodation.
• Maximum floor area: 800 sq ft.
• All areas under roof associated with the ADU may not exceed 67% of the floor area of the principal dwelling unit.

Lot Eligibility

The City's handout identifies lot-size conditions by zoning district, including:

• all NT districts: minimum lot size of 4,500 sq ft;
• NS districts: generally 10,000 sq ft, with stated alley/corner-lot alternatives tied to district minimums.

Check the current Land Development Regulations for the exact parcel and configuration.

Parking

The standards require at least one parking space exclusively for the ADU, unless the project meets all conditions for the code's parking waiver.

Because the waiver is conditional, it should not be summarized as "no parking required."

Setbacks

Setbacks depend on whether the ADU is attached or detached and on the underlying zoning district. The City's handout includes specific standards, including a 10 ft minimum side setback for detached ADUs in NS districts.

Do not apply a generic 5 ft side/rear setback citywide.

Official Sources

City of St. Petersburg — Accessory Dwelling Handout

St. Petersburg Code of Ordinances

Disclaimer: Verify the current Land Development Regulations and parcel zoning before designing or permitting an ADU.