TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – As part of the latest Legislative session in Florida, state lawmakers are taking aim at the issue of affordable housing with a new proposal: Granny Flats.
More specifically, state Sen. Don Gaetz, R-1, filed a bill (SB 184) in January that seeks to bring down the cost of housing statewide.
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Under current laws, local governments can choose to allow accessory dwelling units (ADUs) — often dubbed “Granny Flats” — which are essentially add-ons to existing homes or properties that act as their own independent living spaces.
State law defines ADUs as having their own kitchen, bathroom and sleeping areas separate from the primary home on the property. They can include the following formats:
- Interior ADUs: Examples include converted portions of homes, like the basement or upper level of a home
- Attached ADUs: Examples include additions connected to a new or existing home, like an apartment in a basement or over a garage
- Detached ADUs: Examples include a separate structure from the primary home, like a converted shed, garage or mobile home
However, Gaetz’s bill would instead require local governments to allow these ADUs, which proponents argue would increase the available supply of affordable housing in the state.
“ADUs increase workforce housing because ADUs cost less to build. They cost less to rent,” Gaetz said during a committee meeting on Tuesday. “And they’re often located in urban areas where workers need to live in order to be close to their jobs.”
Furthermore, the bill would prohibit local governments from requiring more parking spaces to allow ADUs, nor could they require that homeowners actually live at the property to rent out an ADU.
The bill also sets out certain caveats, such as requiring that lease agreements for an ADU be at least 30 days, and including ADUs as part of a property owner’s tax liability.
“But they would not lose their homestead exemption on their original home,” Gaetz explained.
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A Legislative analysis of the bill shows that out of all Florida’s counties, only 16 haven’t addressed any ADUs in their land development codes. And of the 15 most populous cities in Florida, 11 of them explicitly allow ADUs in single-family districts.
Housing experts like UCF’s Dr. Owen Beitsch have claimed that an increase in ADUs would lower housing costs for low-income workers and detract from the influence that larger developers have over the cost of housing.
By allowing the owner of a single-family home to use a smaller portion of the property as an additional unit, Beitsch argued, more homes could be made in Florida, driving down prices and making the housing market somewhat more affordable.
“Suddenly, if we think of these individual property owners as potential developers, we have vastly improved the opportunities for multiple persons to deliver housing to the market without the constraints of relying on large developers,” he told News 6 back in 2023.
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The bill was approved during a Senate Committee meeting on Tuesday by a unanimous vote, putting it one step closer to consideration by the Legislature at large.
If it manages to pass through the Legislature and get Gov. Ron DeSantis’ signature, then the bill is slated to take effect on July 1.