What ADU can you build in your Navarre backyard?
Instant zoning report — see exactly what your zoning allows: permitted ADU types, size limits, setbacks, and lot requirements for your specific property.
The quick answer
Navarre ADU rules at a glance
- Owner-occupancy
Not required — you can rent both units - Short-term rentals
Allowed with local licensing — verify with the city - Where it's allowed
Eligibility varies by zoning district — check your address to confirm yours
ADU Rules in Navarre, Florida
We've researched Navarre's ADU rules so you don't have to. Here's what matters most — the facts that determine whether your project is possible, and how much it will cost.
- Governed by Santa Rosa County — a 'guest cottage' (ADU) is allowed by right in all residential districts
- Capped at 50% of the main dwelling; one per lot; no owner-occupancy
- The code is silent on renting a guest cottage — confirm with the county
Last verified: 2026-07-15
Backyard ADUs like this are being built across Navarre — here's how to do it right.
What Navarre's zoning may allow for an ADU
Navarre is unincorporated, so Santa Rosa County's Land Development Code governs. The county allows a 'guest cottage' (its term for an ADU) by right as an accessory use in all residential districts, one per lot, capped at 50% of the main dwelling's floor area. Owner-occupancy is not required. The code does not address whether the guest cottage may be rented — confirm with the county.
Zoning allowance
'A guest cottage is allowed as an accessory activity within all residential zoning districts' by right (LDC §5.02.06); the definitions equate 'guest cottage' with 'accessory dwelling unit.' One per single-family lot; an accessory structure with a stove/oven is a guest cottage.
Size limits
'The guest cottage shall not occupy more than 50% of the total floor area square footage of the main dwelling' (LDC §5.02.06(1)); in Agricultural zoning, 50% of the heated area. No flat square-foot cap. Front setback 60 ft or behind the rear wall of the home; district height applies.
Lot + setbacks
Setbacks, lot coverage, and minimum lot size for an accessory dwelling vary by zoning district. Confirm the exact figures with the jurisdiction's planning department.
Height + coverage
Height and lot-coverage limits vary by zoning district. Confirm current limits with local planning.
Parking
Parking requirements for an accessory dwelling vary by district; typically one additional space. Confirm with local planning.
Rental / occupancy
No owner-occupancy requirement (none in the LDC). The code does not address renting a guest cottage — it is silent (a separate 'guest house/boarding house' renting rooms to transients is a distinct conditional use). Confirm rental treatment with Santa Rosa County Planning & Zoning.
Permit process
An accessory dwelling is permitted through the jurisdiction's standard zoning-review and building-permit process. Contact the local planning or building department for current requirements.
Building limits and rental rules, side by side
These figures are based on the best available data for Navarre and should be confirmed with the city's planning department before you commit to a design or a rental strategy — local ordinances change and vary by parcel.
Building Limits
- Max Size:See requirements above
- Detached Allowed?Check with city
Rental Rules
No Owner-Occupancy Requirement: Both units can be rented to tenants simultaneously.
Short-term rental rules vary — confirm with Navarre Planning.
Here's exactly what you'll pay — and how to avoid the fees that catch most homeowners off guard
Most homeowners spend 3–4 weeks piecing this together on their own. We've mapped the full Navarre permit process step by step — so you know exactly what's coming, and what to prepare.
Step 1: Pre-Application Zoning Check
- Where:
- Navarre Planning Department
- What to bring:
- Property address and parcel ID, preliminary site sketch, lot survey
- Timeline:
- No appointment fee — call ahead to confirm office hours
- Cost:
- No fee for initial inquiry
Step 2: Submit Permit Application
- Where:
- Navarre Planning Department — contact for portal link
- What to bring:
- Architectural plans, site plan, boundary survey, energy compliance docs
- Timeline:
- Contact planning to confirm current review timelines
- Cost:
- Contact planning for current fee schedule
Step 3: Plan Review & Revisions
- Where:
- Navarre Planning Department
- What to bring:
- Responses to any correction letters; revised drawings if required
- Timeline:
- Plan for one or more review cycles — timeline varies by submission completeness
- Cost:
- No additional fee for standard resubmittal
Step 4: Construction & Inspections
- Where:
- Navarre Building Department
- What to bring:
- Approved permit set must be on-site at all times during construction
- Timeline:
- Schedule inspections as each phase of work is completed
- Cost:
- Included in permit fee
Navarre neighborhoods where ADU permits are being filed — is your street next?
Navarre ADU — Frequently Asked Questions
These are the questions we hear most often from Navarre homeowners. If yours isn't here, our ADU Zoning Experts can answer it directly.
Can I build an ADU in Navarre, Florida?
'A guest cottage is allowed as an accessory activity within all residential zoning districts' by right (LDC §5.02.06); the definitions equate 'guest cottage' with 'accessory dwelling unit.' One per single-family lot; an accessory structure with a stove/oven is a guest cottage.
What is the maximum ADU size in Navarre?
'The guest cottage shall not occupy more than 50% of the total floor area square footage of the main dwelling' (LDC §5.02.06(1)); in Agricultural zoning, 50% of the heated area. No flat square-foot cap. Front setback 60 ft or behind the rear wall of the home; district height applies.
Do I need to be an owner-occupant to build an ADU in Navarre?
Navarre does not require owner-occupancy. Both the primary home and ADU can be rented to tenants simultaneously.
Can I use my Navarre ADU as an Airbnb?
Contact Navarre Planning to confirm current short-term rental rules for ADUs.
How do I get an ADU permit in Navarre?
An accessory dwelling is permitted through the jurisdiction's standard zoning-review and building-permit process. Contact the local planning or building department for current requirements.
Nearby Cities — ADU Rules
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This page provides general information based on current ordinances and publicly available data as of 2026-07-15. Zoning rules change — verify all requirements with your local planning department before making financial commitments.