Orange County ADU Rules (2026)
Everything Orange County, Florida homeowners need to know about building an accessory dwelling unit: current ordinance, permit process, and costs.
Orange County ADU Rules (2026) — quick facts
- Maximum ADU size
- 1,000 sq ft OR 45% of primary dwelling living area, whichever is less; 1,500 sq ft for lots ≥ 2 acres; minimum 500 sq ft
- Minimum lot size
- Varies by zoning district; generally 6,000 sq ft in R-1
- Short-term rental allowed?
- No — 30-day minimum typical
- Owner-occupancy required?
- Yes
- Current ordinance status
- Chapter 38 governs; no pending amendments
- Typical permit timeline
- 8–14 weeks from application to final inspection
Detailed rules
Size and lot requirements
- Max ADU size: 1,000 sq ft OR 45% of primary dwelling living area, whichever is less; 1,500 sq ft for lots ≥ 2 acres; minimum 500 sq ft
- Min lot size: Varies by zoning district; generally 6,000 sq ft in R-1
Setbacks
Rear: 7.5 ft; Side: 7.5 ft; Front: match primary structure
Parking
1 additional off-street space required
Permit process
- Permit office
- Orange County Planning Division + Building Division
- Phone
- (407) 836-5600
- Online portal
- https://fasttrack.ocfl.net/
- Typical timeline
- 8–14 weeks from application to final inspection
- Typical fees
- $7,500–$11,000 combined for a 600 sq ft ADU: permit $1,800–$3,500, plus school/road/parks/fire impact fees $5,700–$7,500+
Cities in Orange County ADU Rules (2026)
Incorporated cities may have rules that differ from the county. Click a linked city for its specific ordinance.
- Orlando — City of Orlando has its own ADU code — see city page.
- Apopka — Municipal code applies within city limits.
- Winter Park — Historic district overlays may restrict ADU placement.
- Ocoee
- Winter Garden
- Maitland
- Belle Isle
Orange County covers Orlando, Apopka, Winter Park, Ocoee, Winter Garden, Maitland, and Belle Isle, plus a large unincorporated area. If your parcel is inside a city’s limits, the city ordinance governs; jump to the city list below. If you are in unincorporated Orange County, this page covers your rules.
Incorporated cities in Orange County with their own ADU rules:
- Orlando ADU Rules (2026): incentive rebates up to $14,400; no owner-occupancy requirement
- Winter Park ADU Rules (2026): strict STR ban; high combined impact fees; confirm standards before designing
The Orange County Code of Ordinances (Chapter 38) permits detached, attached, and conversion ADUs in most residential zoning districts, subject to size limits, parking, and owner-occupancy requirements. This is the operative rule for 2026 and is not expected to change on a state-mandated timeline. The 2026 legislative session’s ADU preemption bill (SB 48) did not become law. See our post-mortem on why SB 48 died for the full legislative record, and the Florida ADU law pillar for the statewide legal picture.
What to do next
If you are planning an ADU project in unincorporated Orange County, the practical sequence is: pull your survey and deed restrictions, call the Orange County Planning Division at (407) 836-5600 to confirm your parcel’s zoning and eligibility under Chapter 38, and work the current ordinance as it stands. There is no state law coming into effect that would materially change permit timing in 2026.
For most homeowners, the binding constraint will not be the ordinance — it will be the HOA covenants. Orange County’s master-planned communities (Avalon Park, Baldwin Park, Lake Nona, Hamlin) are generally deed-restricted against accessory structures, and no state law preempts HOA covenants. Pull your covenants before investing in site plans.