ADU (Accessory Dwelling Unit) permit in Sunrise, FL
Yes — you need a permit for adu (accessory dwelling unit) work in Sunrise.
Building a garage apartment, casita, or other accessory dwelling unit is Building work, which Florida's exempt list (105.2) does not cover, so a permit is required.
| Permit needed? | Yes |
|---|---|
| Where the line falls | Building a garage apartment, casita, or other accessory d… |
| Fee | Not in the ordinance — the department quotes it |
| Review time | Not in the ordinance |
| Code section | FBC 105.2 |
| Based on | Florida Building Code, Building, 2023, 8th edition |
How to pull the permit
- Put together a site plan showing where the work goes, with dimensions.
- Apply through the Sunrise 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.
Either of you can pull it. When a contractor does the work, it is normally their job.
If you skip it
Working without a required permit is a building code violation: civil penalty $50 (first offense), $75, $100, up to $500 (Sec. 2-127).
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunrise | — | Yes | Building a garage apartment, casita, or other accessory d… |
| Tamarac | 2 mi | Yes | No size threshold in the code |
| Lauderhill | 2 mi | Yes | Building a garage apartment, casita, or other accessory d… |
| Plantation | 3 mi | Yes | No size threshold in the code |
| Davie | 7 mi | Yes | You need a building permit to build an accessory dwelling… |
| Coral Springs | 7 mi | Yes | You need a building permit to construct an accessory dwel… |
See every Florida city on adu (accessory dwelling unit) work
Other work in Sunrise
Questions people ask
I already built it without a permit. What now?
Sunrise 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.