Garage apartments in Tampa Bay

A new garage with an apartment above or beside it. You keep covered parking and gain a compact efficiency unit.

Start my lot check Tampa height and size rules

What is a garage apartment?

It is a single structure that holds both a garage and a small apartment, usually upstairs. Many people call the apartment an efficiency because the living, sleeping and kitchen areas share one room. It is still a full ADU, with its own bathroom, kitchen and entrance.

Can I build one in Tampa?

In the ADU-eligible area, the general standards list two stories and 22.5 feet. The guide also states that height can equal the principal-structure limit in the underlying district; the two figures do not obviously match, so we confirm the number with city zoning staff. Overlay districts such as Tampa Heights carry their own height rules.

How is size counted when a garage is underneath?

That depends on the code. A 2026 summary of Hillsborough County's code says unconditioned garages and storage-only attics are not counted toward the 900 sq ft living-space cap. Tampa, St. Petersburg and Clearwater each measure in their own way. We confirm how your jurisdiction counts before fixing a floor plan.

Why does this type work well in flood zones?

Putting the living floor upstairs keeps it high above the ground, while the garage below functions as parking and storage. Under the flood rules, an enclosed garage below the required elevation needs flood openings and flood-resistant materials, and it cannot be finished as living space later.

What else should I plan for?

An exterior stair that meets code, and its footprint in the setbacks.
Fire separation between the garage and the apartment.
Privacy for neighbors from second-floor windows.
Wind design for a taller structure.

Two stories or one?

It depends on the district, the overlay and the neighbors. Where height is capped low, a side-by-side garage and efficiency on one level may be the only option. Where two stories are allowed, the stacked layout saves yard space. We check the height rule for your parcel first.

Find out what your lot allows

Tell us what you want over or beside the garage. We start with the height rule for your parcel.