Florida SB 184 Did Not Become Law: ADU Rules
Florida Senate Bill 184 did not become law. The official history says it died in returning messages on June 16, 2025, so Florida homeowners still need to start with the city or county ordinance that applies to the property.
Correction to Our Earlier Guide
An earlier version of this page incorrectly described SB 184 as enacted. That was wrong. We corrected the page on August 26, 2026 after rechecking the official bill history and current statute. The correction is being made prominently because legal-status accuracy matters more than preserving the original angle.
What the Official Sources Say
The Florida Senate bill page for SB 184 lists the last action as "Died in returning Messages" on June 16, 2025. The current Florida Statutes section 163.31771 says a local government may adopt an ordinance allowing accessory dwelling units in single-family residential areas. It does not create the statewide by-right mandate our prior version claimed.
A similar 2026 proposal, SB 48, passed the Senate but died in House messages on March 13, 2026. It also did not establish a statewide ADU mandate.
What Florida Homeowners Must Check Locally
- Parcel zoning and whether an ADU is allowed in that district
- Unit size, height, setbacks, lot coverage, and placement
- Owner-occupancy, rental, parking, and design rules
- HOA, planned-development, or private covenant restrictions
- Flood, wind, coastal, septic, well, drainage, and utility constraints
- Required architectural, structural, energy, and product-approval documents
Local Permit Requirements Still Matter Even When Zoning Allows an ADU
Jacksonville's official residential plan-review checklist calls for architectural drawings, sealed structural drawings, energy documentation, product approvals, drainage information, and other project-specific items. Miami-Dade's homeowner permit guidance identifies site, floor, elevation, structural, and trade information. Zoning feasibility and permit completeness are separate tests.
How Apex Uses the Corrected Rule
For a Florida ADU inquiry, Apex starts with the actual city or county, not a statewide entitlement that does not exist. The plan scope is built around the local ordinance, site constraints, and permit checklist. Where the project requires a Florida-licensed architect, engineer, surveyor, energy professional, or contractor, that responsibility is identified rather than implied.
Florida ADU Law FAQ
Did Florida SB 184 become law?
No. The Florida Senate's official bill page records that 2025 SB 184 died in returning messages on June 16, 2025.
Does Florida currently require every city to allow ADUs?
No. Florida Statutes section 163.31771 says a local government may adopt an ADU ordinance. Local zoning and permit rules remain decisive.
Did Florida SB 48 become law in 2026?
No. The official bill history says SB 48 died in House messages on March 13, 2026, even though it passed the Senate.
How do I know whether my Florida property allows an ADU?
Check the current city or county zoning code, parcel zoning, overlays, HOA or private restrictions, building requirements, utilities, flood conditions, and the permit office's current application guidance.
Have a project like this?
Tell us what you're building and we'll scope it, confirm the timeline, and give you a firm number before any drafting starts. Every plan set is drafted to your local jurisdiction's documentation standards.
Prefer to talk it through? Call (435) 990-3556.
Check the Local Rule Before You Design
Send the property address and the ADU you are considering. We will identify the local starting point and quote the drawing scope without relying on a dead bill.