ADU Builder in Tampa, FL

What does Tampa allow on your lot? We check that first.

Construction Corps is a veteran-owned design-build general contractor building ADUs in Tampa, Florida. We confirm which of Tampa's neighborhood-specific ADU rules apply to your lot, then handle design, engineering, permitting, and construction under one contract, serving Hillsborough and Pinellas counties.

Building an ADU in Tampa starts with one question: what does the city allow on your specific lot? Tampa's ADU rules depend on the neighborhood, and the answer changes what you can build and who can live in it. 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.

Tampa's ADU rules depend on where you live

Under the City of Tampa's published guidance, full ADUs are allowed in specific areas: Seminole Heights, the area around Lowry Park, the East Tampa Overlay, and the Tampa Heights Overlay. Elsewhere in the city, a second unit can generally only be built for a family member, as an Extended Family Residence, which has its own requirements. In both cases the main home must be owner-occupied.

Size limits, height, setbacks, and parking also vary by area. Historic districts add design review on top of zoning. Rules can change, so we verify the current code for your parcel at the start of every project instead of relying on last year's answer.

If you're outside city limits in unincorporated Hillsborough County, a different set of rules applies. We check that too.

Which path applies to your lot

Your situation	What's generally allowed	Notes
Seminole Heights, Lowry Park area, East Tampa or Tampa Heights overlays	A full ADU	Main home must be owner-occupied
Elsewhere inside Tampa city limits	An Extended Family Residence, occupied by a family member	Its own requirements apply
Historic district	ADU or EFR plus design review	Review adds time; we manage it
Unincorporated Hillsborough County	County rules apply instead	We verify the current code for your parcel

ADU types we build in Tampa

Detached backyard units: a stand-alone cottage with its own kitchen, bath, and entrance
Garage apartments: a new garage with living space above, common in Seminole Heights and Tampa Heights lots with alley access
Attached suites: a unit added to the home with a separate entrance, often the best fit for an Extended Family Residence
Garage conversions: converting an existing garage into a permitted unit, where zoning and flood elevation allow

Flood zones and older homes

Parts of Tampa, especially South Tampa and areas near the bay and river, sit in FEMA flood zones. A new ADU in a flood zone has to meet current flood elevation requirements, which affects the foundation and the budget. Many lots in Seminole Heights and Tampa Heights also have older homes and older utility services, so we check whether the existing electrical and sewer service can support a second unit before design starts.

What an ADU costs in Tampa

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

How the process works

Parcel review: we confirm which Tampa rules apply to your lot, including overlay district, Extended Family Residence rules, historic review, and flood zone
Design and engineering: plans drawn to fit the lot and the city's standards, with structural engineering by our in-house Florida-registered engineering firm
Permitting: we prepare and submit the permit package and manage review
Construction: our crews and licensed trade partners build the unit, with one project manager as your point of contact
Inspections and closeout: we schedule inspections and close out the permit

Timelines depend on plan review, historic review where it applies, inspections, weather, and trade scheduling.

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

Find out what your lot allows

Send us your address and what you have in mind. We'll check which Tampa rules apply 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 build an ADU anywhere in Tampa?

Not as a full ADU. Under the city's current guidance, full ADUs are limited to Seminole Heights, the Lowry Park area, the East Tampa Overlay, and the Tampa Heights Overlay. Elsewhere, a second unit is generally limited to a family member. We confirm what applies to your address.

What is an Extended Family Residence?

It's Tampa's term for a second living unit on a single-family lot that's occupied by a family member. It has its own requirements, separate from the ADU rules in the overlay areas.

Does my home have to be owner-occupied?

Under the city's published guidance, yes, the main residence must be owner-occupied.

How much does an ADU cost in Tampa?

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 upgrades, historic review, and finishes. The online estimator gives a planning range and the parcel review narrows it for your lot.

I'm in a historic district. Can I still build?

Often yes, but historic districts add design review on top of the zoning rules, which adds time to the approval path. We manage that review as part of the permitting step.

Do you build ADUs in St. Petersburg and Clearwater too?

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