ST. PETE RULES

What the 2023 ordinance update allows.

The City of St. Petersburg permits ADUs in all single-family residential districts under its updated 2023 ordinance. The framework is one of the most investor-friendly in Florida:

Max ADU size: 800 sq ft.
Setbacks: 5 ft side, 10 ft rear.
Height limit: 25 ft.
Owner-occupancy: not required. St. Pete dropped this in the 2023 update.
Parking: one off-street space; waived in some transit-oriented overlays.
Short-term rentals: permitted with a city license in most districts.

Pinellas County unincorporated areas have a separate but similar ordinance. If your address is outside St. Pete city limits, refer to Pinellas County Build & Develop.

THE NUMBERS

What a Tooly costs in St. Petersburg, all-in.

Tooly unit (delivered, furnished, finished)	$85,000
St. Pete building permit + impact fees	$2,500 – $5,200
Foundation + site prep	$9,500 – $17,500
Utility tie-ins	$5,000 – $12,000
Total installed cost	$102,000 – $119,700

St. Petersburg rental economics

Furnished 1-bedroom rents in St. Pete's core neighborhoods (Old Northeast, Historic Kenwood, Crescent Heights, Grand Central) sit at $1,450–$1,750/month. Downtown and beach-adjacent areas push past $1,900. Lack of owner-occupancy makes this an ideal pure investor market.

PERMIT PROCESS

How to get an ADU permit in St. Petersburg.

Zoning verification — confirm ADU eligibility via the St. Petersburg Development Services portal.
Building permit application — Tooly provides the package.
Plan review — typically 3–5 weeks.
Permit issuance — construction begins.
Inspections + CO — standard FBC.

Realistic timeline from contract to move-in: 13–17 weeks.

St. Pete is set up for investors.

No owner-occupancy rule, strong rents, fast permits. Tell us your address.

Reserve a Tooly →

What the 2023 ordinance update allows.

What a Tooly costs in St. Petersburg, all-in.

St. Petersburg rental economics

How to get an ADU permit in St. Petersburg.

St. Pete is set up for investors.

Other Florida metros