ADUs & Guest Houses in Fort Lauderdale

Self-contained accessory dwellings, from zoning feasibility through to a finished, permitted unit.

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An accessory dwelling unit is a second, self-contained home on a lot that already has one - its own entrance, kitchen, bathroom and living space. People build them for ageing parents, adult children, visiting family or rental income, and the appeal in Fort Lauderdale is obvious given what land costs here.

The build itself is straightforward. The part that decides whether a project happens at all is zoning, and that gets settled before anyone draws a floor plan.

A detached accessory dwelling unit in a Florida backyard

What's included

ADUs & Guest Houses

  • Zoning and lot feasibility review before design
  • Detached, attached and above-garage configurations
  • Full architectural and structural drawings
  • Utility strategy - shared or separately metered
  • Kitchen, bathroom and laundry installation
  • Independent HVAC and electrical service
  • Site work, access paths and privacy screening
  • Permitting through to certificate of occupancy

How it works

Our process

  1. Feasibility

    We check what your specific lot allows: permitted size, setbacks, lot coverage, height limits, parking and whether a detached unit is allowed at all. This is the stage that ends some projects, and it is far cheaper to learn it now.

  2. Design

    A layout that works as an independent home rather than a converted shed - real storage, real daylight, and a plan that keeps both households private.

  3. Permitting

    Drawings submitted for review, including the utility and drainage strategy.

  4. Construction

    Foundation, shell, systems and finishes, sequenced with inspections.

  5. Close-out

    Final inspections and handover as a legal, occupiable dwelling.

Options

Types of unit we build

Detached ADU

A separate building in the garden. The most private option and usually the most flexible, where lot coverage and setbacks allow.

Attached ADU

Built onto the existing house, sharing a wall. Often cheaper to service with utilities and a smaller footprint on the lot.

Above-garage unit

Uses space you already have, though it brings structural and access questions the other options do not.

Guest house / pool house

Where the aim is visitors and entertaining rather than a permanent second dwelling, which can change what is required.

Our work

ADUs & Guest Houses in Fort Lauderdale

Building in Broward

What this means in Fort Lauderdale

Zoning is the whole game with ADUs, and it is decided locally rather than by one statewide rule. Permitted unit size, setbacks, maximum lot coverage, height and whether you must provide an additional parking space all vary by district. We establish exactly what your parcel permits before any design work begins, because an ADU designed first and zoned second usually has to be redrawn.

Flood elevation matters more here than in most markets. On lower-lying Fort Lauderdale lots a new dwelling may need its finished floor raised, which changes the foundation, the access and the look of the building - and rules out slab-on-grade in some locations. Drainage is the related issue: adding a roof and a path adds impervious area, and that has to go somewhere other than your neighbour's yard.

Utilities are the third decision. A shared connection is cheaper up front; separate metering costs more but matters a great deal if the unit will ever be rented. Worth deciding deliberately rather than by default.

Questions

Frequently asked

Can I build an ADU on my lot?

It depends on your zoning district, lot size and setbacks rather than on any single citywide answer. That is exactly what the feasibility stage establishes, and we do it before you commit to design.

Can I rent it out?

Where permitted, yes - but short-term rental rules in particular vary by municipality and by district, and they change. We can tell you what the current position is for your parcel; if rental income is the point of the project, confirm it before building.

Does it need its own utility meters?

Not always, but it is worth considering. Separate metering costs more to install and makes a rental far simpler to run. Shared service is cheaper if the unit is for family.

Testimonials

Happy Clients

★★★★★

“They are an amazing construction company. They gutted and redesigned my entire kitchen, created an island, opened up the space to the living room and the entire front of the house. My house looks completely different and much, much more inviting. They make great suggestions. They stayed within the budget and even gave more than what was originally discussed for the price. They have an awesome team, and they are reasonably priced AND ON TIME with the schedule. And, they were always available to discuss any questions, and so on. I will not go anywhere else for my construction needs.”

Cheryl Tiano
Cheryl Tiano

Other services in Fort Lauderdale

Ready to start your project in Fort Lauderdale?

Start with a free consultation. Tell us about the project and we will talk through scope, budget and what is realistic.

Book a Free Consultation Call (954) 390-0999