Osceola County ADU Rules (2026)

Osceola County, Florida ADU rules: the Accessory Living Unit ordinance, why short-term rental isn't allowed anywhere in the county, and permit specifics.

By Andy West Updated July 18, 2026

Osceola County ADU Rules (2026) — At a Glance

Maximum ADU size

Not publicly confirmable (LDC §3.6.1.A subparagraph inaccessible) -- verify with Community Development

Minimum lot size

Not confirmed as ALU-specific -- verify with Community Development

Short-term rental allowed?

Short-term rental of an Accessory Living Unit is prohibited countywide, in all zoning districts -- there is no overlay exception for ALUs. Per LDC §3.6.1.A (Ord. 2025-10), an ALU may be rented only if the primary structure carries a homestead exemption, and even then only long-term. The county's separate "Short Term Rental Overlay" (§3.12.2) governs whole-property STR in Planned Development zones only and does not create an ADU exception.

Owner-occupancy required?

Yes

Current ordinance status

LDC §3.6.1.A governs; ALU rental is long-term-only, tied to homestead exemption

Typical permit timeline

12–18 weeks

Detailed rules

Max ADU size	Not publicly confirmable (LDC §3.6.1.A subparagraph inaccessible) -- verify with Community Development
Min lot size	Not confirmed as ALU-specific -- verify with Community Development
Setbacks	5 ft rear/side (general accessory-structure rule); ALUs often exempt even from that
Parking	Not confirmed in accessible primary-source text -- verify with Community Development

Permit process

Permit office	Osceola County Community Development
Phone	(407) 742-0200
Online portal	https://www.osceola.org/agencies-departments/community-development/
Typical timeline	12–18 weeks
Typical fees	$2,500–$4,500 total; verify current schedule

Cities in Osceola County ADU Rules (2026)

Incorporated cities may have rules that differ from the county. Click a linked city for its specific ordinance.

Kissimmee
St. Cloud
Celebration — Celebration is unincorporated but governed by HOA covenants — ADUs are generally prohibited.
Poinciana — Straddles Osceola and Polk counties; confirm parcel jurisdiction.

🌐 ¿Prefiere español? Este artículo está disponible en español: Reglas para ADU en el Condado de Osceola

Osceola County regulates accessory dwelling units as an “Accessory Living Unit” (ALU) under Land Development Code §3.6.1.A. The rule that trips people up isn’t a geographic overlay — it’s rental eligibility: an ALU can only be legally rented out if the primary structure carries a homestead exemption, and even then only long-term. Short-term rental of an ALU is prohibited countywide, in every zoning district, with no exception anywhere in the county.

Osceola separately has a “Short Term Rental Overlay” (LDC §3.12.2, tied to Future Land Use Map 2A) that permits whole-property short-term rental inside Planned Development zoning — a band that happens to run through the US-192 / ChampionsGate / Reunion corridor. That overlay governs renting an entire house or condo short-term. It has nothing to do with ADUs. If you are counting on short-term rental income from an accessory unit anywhere in Osceola County, including inside that overlay, the ALU ordinance prohibits it regardless of location.

What the failed SB 48 means for Osceola

Florida’s 2026 ADU preemption bill (SB 48) did not become law. Osceola’s existing Land Development Code — including the ALU rule and the separate Short Term Rental Overlay — therefore remains the governing document in full. No state preemption is coming that would change this today, though a separate pending statewide ADU mandate (with a December 1, 2026 compliance deadline for local governments generally) may eventually preempt local STR bans and owner-occupancy mandates specific to ADUs — worth revisiting this page once that deadline passes.

Osceola’s ordinance permits detached, attached, and conversion ALUs in most residential zones, subject to size and setback standards set in §3.6.1.A. For the full statewide picture see the Florida ADU law pillar; for the legislative record see the SB 48 post-mortem.