ADU Zoning in Osceola County, Florida (2026)
What ADU can you build in your Osceola County backyard?
Instant zoning report — see exactly what your zoning allows: permitted ADU types, size limits, setbacks, and lot requirements for your specific property.
Osceola County ADU — Key Facts
- Osceola County calls ADUs accessory living units or guest homes (LDC Section 3.6.1.A)
- Under 1 acre: up to 60% of the home's air-conditioned area or 1,000 sq ft, whichever is less
- 1 acre or more: up to 60% of the home's air-conditioned area
- An ALU can only be rented if the main home is homesteaded, and only long-term (Ordinance 2025-10)
- Short-term vacation rental of an ALU is not allowed
- Applications need architectural drawings, front-facade photos and a land survey
Unincorporated Osceola County Rules
*These rules apply if your address is NOT inside a specific city limit.
Osceola County ADU Permit Process
- 1Confirm the parcel is in unincorporated Osceola County, not Kissimmee or St. Cloud.
- 2Check the Use Tables allow an accessory living unit in your zoning district and that the lot is conforming.
- 3Size the unit to 60% of the home's air-conditioned area (and no more than 1,000 sq ft on lots under an acre).
- 4Prepare architectural drawings, photos of the home's full front facade, and a survey by a Florida registered land surveyor showing lot area and all structures.
- 5Apply for permits with Osceola County.
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Cities in Osceola County
Osceola County ADU — Frequently Asked Questions
The most common questions from Osceola County homeowners about ADU rules, permits, and costs.
How big can an ADU be in unincorporated Osceola County?
On a lot under one acre, the lesser of 60% of the main home's air-conditioned area or 1,000 sq ft. On a lot of one acre or more, up to 60% of the home's air-conditioned area. For a 1,500 sq ft home on a quarter-acre lot that means 900 sq ft. Anything larger needs a Board of Adjustment variance.
Can I rent out an ADU in Osceola County?
Only if the main home has a homestead exemption, and then only for long-term rentals. Short-term rentals of accessory living units are not allowed (LDC Section 3.6.1.A, amended by Ordinance 2025-10 in March 2025).
Can I use an Osceola County ADU as an Airbnb near the parks?
No. Even with a homestead exemption on the main home, an accessory living unit can only be rented long-term, so nightly vacation rentals are not allowed.
What do I need to apply for an accessory living unit in Osceola County?
Architectural drawings of the unit, photographs of the complete front facade of the existing home, and a property survey by a Florida registered land surveyor showing the lot area and all existing and proposed structures. The unit must be architecturally compatible with the home.
Do Osceola County's rules apply in Kissimmee or St. Cloud?
No. These rules cover unincorporated Osceola County, including areas like Celebration, Buenaventura Lakes, Campbell and Harmony. Kissimmee and St. Cloud have their own rules.
Florida ADU Laws 2026 — What State Law Does and Doesn't Do
How §163.31771 works, and what your local government controls.
Find out what ADU you can build in your backyard
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