ADU (Accessory Dwelling Unit) permit in Orlando, FL
Yes — you need a permit for adu (accessory dwelling unit) work in Orlando.
You need a building permit to build a garage apartment, casita, or other accessory dwelling unit, and it must meet the ADU design standards. An ADU is a new dwelling unit, and Orlando adopted the Florida Building Code 2023 with no local list of work that skips a permit, so new residential construction is permitted work. The zoning code sets standards on top of the permit: the city's ADU rules (Ch. 58, Pt. 3A) govern where and how an ADU may be built, and in R-2A or R-2B districts any new accessory dwelling over 500 square feet built with a one-family dwelling must conform to added requirements.
| Permit needed? | Yes |
|---|---|
| Where the line falls | You need a building permit to build a garage apartment, c… |
| Fee | The code names no ADU amount. Orlando publishes its permit fee schedule on the city site at www.orlando.gov. |
| Review time | Not in the ordinance |
| Code section | Sec. 58.500; Sec. 58.501; FBC 105.2 |
| Based on | Orlando City Code, Ch. 58, Pt. 3A (Accessory Dwelling Units); Florida Building Code 2023 |
How to pull the permit
- Put together a site plan showing where the work goes, with dimensions.
- Apply through the Orlando building department.
- Pay the permit fee when the permit is issued. Work done before that isn't covered.
- Book each inspection listed on the permit as the job reaches that stage.
If you skip it
Orlando's code doesn't set a specific fine for this work. In practice the department can issue a stop-work order, and unpermitted work tends to surface during a sale, when the buyer's inspector or the title company asks for it.
Nearby cities, same job
Rules stop at the city line. If your lot is near a boundary, or you work across several towns, this is where they differ.
| City | Distance | Permit? | Where the line falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orlando | — | Yes | You need a building permit to build a garage apartment, c… |
| Kissimmee | 12 mi | Yes | You need a building permit to build an accessory dwelling… |
| Deltona | 34 mi | Yes | Building a garage apartment, casita, or other accessory d… |
| Melbourne | 42 mi | Yes | You need a building permit to build an accessory dwelling… |
| Lakeland | 49 mi | Yes | Building a garage apartment, casita, or other accessory d… |
| Daytona Beach | 55 mi | Yes | You need a building permit to build an accessory dwelling… |
See every Florida city on adu (accessory dwelling unit) work
Other work in Orlando
Questions people ask
How much does a adu (accessory dwelling unit) permit cost in Orlando?
The code names no ADU amount. Orlando publishes its permit fee schedule on the city site at www.orlando.gov.. Valuation-based fees mean the number depends on what the job is worth, so the department quotes it when you apply.
I already built it without a permit. What now?
Orlando can issue a stop-work order and require you to apply after the fact, sometimes with an extra fee. Work that was covered up may have to be opened for inspection. Full walkthrough here.
Does unpermitted work cause problems when selling the house?
Often, yes. A buyer's inspector or the title company may flag it, and lenders can balk at financing a home with open or missing permits. What to do about it.