TAMPA, Fla. — Accessory dwelling units (ADUs) were first approved by the city of Tampa in July. Now, the city has reformed its policy to tackle the housing shortage.

The update will make it easier for homeowners to build accessory dwelling units (detached garage to apartment), also known as mother-in-law suites.

What You Need To Know

  • People can now be considered for an ADU conversion (detached garage to apartment) if they meet all the building and permit codes

  • Homeowners still must live on site, but no longer have to live in the primary home

  • The maximum of two occupants has been changed to a maximum of two unrelated occupants

When singer and songwriter Beth Alden decided to turn her old garage into an accessory dwelling unit, she consulted with the city and an architect to make the most of the space.

“My architect and I designed so that we would put storage up,” said Alden. “I have a loft up here.”

Her loft is where she also placed a small recording studio.

It’s a normal one-bed, one-bath apartment that is just steps away from her primary home — a three-bedroom, two-bath in which her parents now live.

“Another option for helping my parents would have been to sell this, you know, sell this property and then try to, you know, buy a larger house. But, you know, housing prices have been so crazy,” said Alden.

In an effort to increase its affordable housing inventory, the city of Tampa made policy reforms to make it easier for homeowners to build accessory dwelling units.

  • People can now be considered for an ADU conversion (detached garage to apartment) if they meet all the building and permit codes.
  • Homeowners still must live on site, but no longer have to live in the primary home.
  • The maximum of two occupants has been changed to a maximum of two unrelated occupants.

Mayor Jane Castor says the city is in need of 26,000 affordable units as of today.

“All levels of housing impact affordable,” said Castor. “We need to look at innovative ideas and initiatives that will allow us to create additional paths towards that (affordable housing).”

The geographic area for ADUs was limited to Seminole Heights, East Tampa, Tampa Heights and Armenia Gardens Estates. Under the new rules, eligibility has expanded north to Sulphur Springs and Temple Crest and west to Wellswood and parts of Riverside Heights. 

 “I love this neighborhood,” said Alden. “The rule changes made it easier for us to do something that we were wanting to do anyway.”

Homeowners who are interested can apply for an ADU immediately through the city’s planning department.