Miami · ADU builder · 2026
ADUs in Miami — rules, costs, and what to expect.
Miami is one of the most ADU-friendly cities in Florida. The Miami 21 code permits a backyard ADU on single-family lots zoned T3-L, T3-O and T4–T6 (not T3-R), the rental market is strong, and Sidesuite is made here in Miami. If you own a Miami backyard, Check My Lot gives you an answer for it right now.
What the Miami 21 code allows.
Miami's zoning code — Miami 21 — permits a detached ADU by right on single-family lots in T3-L, T3-O and T4–T6 through Section 3.18. T3-R lots are excluded. The framework is one of the most permissive in Florida:
- Max ADU size: 800 sq ft, and no more than 10% of the lot (a 407 sq ft Sidesuite needs a lot of at least 4,070 sq ft).
- Setbacks: 5 ft side, 5 ft rear, 10 ft from a side street.
- Unit type: Miami's minimum for a one-bedroom ADU is 450 sq ft, so the 407 sq ft Sidesuite may need to be permitted as a studio.
- Height limit: 25 ft.
- Owner-occupancy: the ADU can be rented only while the property has a homestead exemption.
- Parking: one off-street space for the ADU.
- Short-term rental (under 30 days): not permitted in T3 zones for ADUs.
What a Sidesuite costs in Miami.
| The home: finished, appliances included | $99,999 |
| Installation: billed separately, quoted for your lot | ~$30,000 est. |
| Your total, before lot costs | $99,999 + installation |
Lot costs on a Miami ADU
These are the lot-specific costs on any ADU build in Miami. Budget for these on top of the home and installation until your site-plan quote says otherwise:
| Miami building permit + impact fees | $3,500 – $6,500 |
| Foundation + site prep | $12,000 – $20,000 |
| Utility tie-ins (water, sewer, electrical) | $6,000 – $14,000 |
Miami rental economics
Furnished 1-bedroom long-term rents in Miami's mid-tier neighborhoods (Little Havana, Allapattah, Brownsville) sit at $1,600–$1,950/month. In high-tier neighborhoods (Coral Gables, Edgewater), 1-bed rents push past $2,300. Sidesuite is laid out as a one-bedroom, though in Miami it may be permitted as a studio. Treat these as its upper-range comparables. Sidesuite comes unfurnished, so budget for furniture or expect lower rent unfurnished. See the rental income page for the full breakdown.
How to get an ADU permit in Miami.
- Pre-application zoning verification — confirm your lot is T3-L, T3-O or a higher transect (T3-R lots don't allow ADUs). Free, online via Miami's Planning Department portal.
- Submit building permit application — drawings, structural calcs, site plan. Sidesuite's team walks you through the site plan and permits.
- Review and revision — typically 4–8 weeks of city review with comments.
- Permit issued — construction can begin.
- Inspections — foundation, framing, electrical, plumbing, final.
- Certificate of occupancy — you can move in or rent.
The home itself is 15 weeks from order to installed. Reserving is $999, fully refundable, and charged only after your address passes.
Miami homeowners — your backyard is a business.
Check My Lot is free and instant. We check zoning, the lot and the city's rules for every address in Miami-Dade.