Tiny Homes Zoning — State ProfileReviewed 2026-08-23
Can you put a tiny home in Florida?
Current tiny-home-on-wheels and ADU rules for Florida, sourced and dated — plus verified local builders.
DEPENDS ON LOCATION
Florida — Real statewide ADU law since 2023, but narrower than headlines suggest (verified 2026-08)
Tiny home on wheelsTiny homes on wheels are classified as RVs under Florida Statute §320.01 and are illegal as a permanent residence unless a specific local ordinance says otherwise.
ADU / accessory unitThis corrects and sharpens an earlier draft, which described Florida as having no statewide framework — that's inaccurate. Florida Statute §163.31771 requires local governments to adopt an ADU ordinance allowing ADUs on single-family-zoned lots and bars them from prohibiting ADUs outright or requiring owner-occupancy. The law's exact amending bill number is reported inconsistently across sources (HB 1339 vs. HB 1375 in 2023, with further changes reported under later bill numbers through 2026) — verify the current bill number directly against the Florida Legislature's site rather than any single secondary source. Importantly, the law does not override private HOA covenants, and cities retain real control over size, design standards, and (in many cases) owner-occupancy in practice.
Minimum square footageVaries by jurisdiction, generally within a state-set floor and ceiling
Foundation requirementThe Florida Building Code (Fla. Stat. §553.73) applies statewide to all permanent dwellings, including tiny homes — this correction replaces an earlier, less precise 'coastal counties' framing. Miami-Dade and Broward's High-Velocity Hurricane Zone (HVHZ) carries the strictest wind-load requirements in the state; the rest of Florida still requires hurricane-code compliance, just at a lower baseline than HVHZ.
Local notesBudget for Florida Building Code compliance regardless of how far inland you are — it's a bigger cost driver here than in almost any other state covered, and HVHZ specifically (not 'coastal' generally) is the highest tier.
!Zoning is set by your specific city or county, not the state as a whole. Use this as a starting point, then confirm with the local building or planning department before you buy land or start a build. Not legal advice.
Last reviewed 2026-08-23