St. Pete launches new tool for ADU visibility
By Henry Queen
Tampa Bay Business Journal
Published: Sep 30, 2024

St. Petersburg wants to give its residents more clarity on what is and isn't allowed in their backyards.

The city launched a new Geographic Information System mapping tool last week to indicate where accessory dwelling units are allowed. In 2022, St. Pete expanded its ADU program to include 47 neighborhoods, granting the option to build small detached houses on thousands of more parcels.

Historic Old Northeast, Shore Acres and Snell Isle were among the neighborhoods included in the expansion. Some historic properties throughout the city have long had ADUs, which are also called granny flats or mother-in-law suites.

"Whether they're planning for multigenerational living or creating an additional income stream, the ability to easily check ADU eligibility puts more power in the hands of our residents," Amy Foster, housing and neighborhood services administrator, said in a statement. "This is another step toward a more affordable and inclusive housing landscape for our city."

ADUs have proven to a useful tool in the fight in California's severe housing crisis. As of July 2023, ADUs accounted for one in five new homes built in that state, according to state data. Florida cities have been slower to relax their restrictions.

Homeowners are among the beneficiaries of ADUs. In October 2023, the federal government announced that a homeowner can now use estimated ADU rental income to qualify for mortgages — capped at 30% of qualifying income.

St. Pete, though it has expanded ADU access, still has several code and design restrictions, mandating the following:

A full unit, which includes a bathroom and kitchen

Two means of egress

One extra parking space on-site

The structure must match the architectural style of the existing on-site home

Maximum unit size is 800 square feet or 67% of the existing home, whichever is less

Separate utility/electric meters and mailing addresses are optional.