Florida Considers Legalizing ADUs

Florida state legislators are considering a proposal to legalize accessory dwelling units across the state.

As Giulia Carbonaro explains in Newsweek, “On top of climbing home prices, homeowners in the state are struggling with rising homeowners association (HOA) fees, high property insurance premiums, and other growing housing costs which are increasingly outpricing Floridians and forcing them to sell their homes and move.”

Now, two proposed bills would require municipalities to allow ADUs in single-family neighborhoods, with exceptions for planned developments. Lawmakers hope ADUs could offer an affordable housing option for the state’s lower-income workers.

Carbonaro adds, “While the granny flats would also face property taxes, homeowners would not lose their homestead property exemptions if they add such extensions. A change made to SB 184 by Gaetz earlier this month would also prevent granny flats from being used as short-term rentals—an issue that was raised during discussions of the bill.”