ADU Builder in St. Petersburg, FL

From the first zoning check to the final inspection, one contract.

Construction Corps is a veteran-owned design-build general contractor building ADUs in St. Petersburg, Florida: backyard cottages, garage apartments, attached suites, and garage conversions. We check whether your lot qualifies under the city's ADU program, then handle design, engineering, permitting, and construction under one contract.

St. Petersburg is one of the most ADU-friendly cities in Tampa Bay, and a lot of homeowners here are adding a backyard cottage, a garage apartment, or an attached suite for family or rental income. We're based in Clearwater and serve all of Pinellas County; design, engineering, permitting, and project management are managed in-house, and construction is performed by our W-2 field crews and vetted, licensed trade partners.

Does your St. Pete lot qualify for an ADU?

St. Petersburg runs a city ADU program, and it expanded eligibility into more neighborhoods in 2022. Whether your lot qualifies depends mostly on its zoning district and size. Under the city's published guidance:

NT zoning (traditional neighborhoods): the lot generally needs to be at least 4,500 square feet.
NS zoning (suburban neighborhoods): the lot generally needs to be at least 10,000 square feet, or sit on an alley, or be a corner lot.
Unit size: the city caps an ADU at 800 square feet or 67 percent of the existing home, whichever is less. The city also requires an extra parking space on the property, and an addition or new detached ADU has to match the architectural style of the existing home.

These rules change, and every parcel has its own setbacks, easements, and flood zone. That's why every ADU project with us starts with a parcel review before any design work. We confirm zoning, lot size, flood zone, and utility access, then tell you what fits and what it's likely to cost.

Flood zones matter in St. Pete

Much of St. Petersburg sits in a FEMA flood zone. If yours does, the city requires new buildings to be elevated, so a new ADU has to be built to current flood elevation requirements, which affects the foundation, the height of the finished floor, and the budget. Garage conversions in flood zones can be limited, because an existing garage slab often sits below the required elevation for living space. We check this up front so it doesn't surprise you in permitting.

Which ADU type fits your lot

ADU type	Typical fit	Watch for
Detached backyard cottage	Lots with yard space that clear the zoning minimums	Flood elevation and setbacks drive the foundation
Garage apartment	Alley and corner lots; new two-story garage or over an existing one	Existing structure must support the load
Attached suite	Smaller lots; family use with its own entrance	Counts against the 800 sq ft / 67 percent cap
Garage conversion	Existing garage, budget-first projects	Slab height in flood zones can rule it out

What an ADU costs in St. Petersburg

ADU projects with Construction Corps start at about $95,000 for a garage conversion. Detached new-build ADUs typically start around $200,000. Final cost depends on size, foundation and flood requirements, utility runs, and finishes. Our online estimator gives you a planning range in a few minutes, and the parcel review narrows it down for your lot.

How the process works

Parcel review: zoning, lot size, flood zone, and utilities checked against city rules
Design and engineering: plans drawn to fit the lot, the city's ADU standards, and your budget, with structural engineering by our in-house Florida-registered engineering firm
Permitting: we prepare and submit the permit package and manage plan review
Construction: our crews and licensed trade partners build the unit, with a single project manager as your point of contact
Inspections and closeout: we schedule inspections and close out the permit

Timelines depend on plan review, inspections, weather, and trade scheduling. We give you a realistic projected schedule once the design is set.

Why homeowners choose Construction Corps

One contract, one accountable company for design, engineering, permits, and construction
Six Florida licenses, including general contractor (CGC1530192) and a registered engineering firm
Veteran-owned, SBA-certified SDVOSB and VOSB
Led by a U.S. Army combat veteran with 35+ years in construction
5.0 stars on Google from more than 100 reviews

Start with a parcel review

Tell us your address and what you have in mind. We'll check whether your St. Petersburg lot qualifies and give you a realistic starting range. Call our office at (727) 999-1855 or use the estimator to get a planning number first.

FAQ

Can I rent out an ADU in St. Petersburg?

Yes. Under the city's published guidance, ADUs can be rented, and the main home doesn't have to be owner-occupied. In residential districts, rentals have to be at least 30 days, with only limited exceptions. If both units are rented, the city requires a business tax certificate. We confirm the current requirements for your property during the parcel review.

How big can my ADU be?

Under the city's published guidance, up to 800 square feet or 67 percent of your existing home, whichever is less. Your lot's setbacks may limit it further.

How much does an ADU cost in St. Petersburg?

Garage conversions with us start at about $95,000, and detached new-build ADUs typically start around $200,000, depending on size, foundation and flood requirements, utility runs, and finishes. The online estimator gives a planning range and the parcel review narrows it for your lot.

Do I need extra parking for an ADU?

Under the city's published guidance, yes: an additional parking space on the property is required. We confirm how that works on your specific lot during the parcel review.

Do I need a separate address or meters?

Not always. St. Pete allows a separate address and separate utility meters if you want them. We'll walk through the cost difference during design.

Do you build ADUs in Tampa and Clearwater too?

Yes. We build ADUs across Pinellas and Hillsborough Counties. See our Clearwater ADU and Tampa ADU pages.