The City of Oldsmar is weighing whether to let homeowners build accessory dwelling units, or ADUs, beyond the small slice of town where they’re currently allowed, a move that could open the door to backyard cottages on 274 additional parcels. Right now, those units are only permitted in a couple of areas within Oldsmar’s Town Center, and officials have made no decision on whether that will change.
Oldsmar’s Town Center generally spans the area between Tampa Road, Bayview Boulevard and St. Petersburg Drive and serves as the city’s downtown and Community Redevelopment Area, according to the City of Oldsmar. The push to look beyond that footprint traces back to the city’s 2023 comprehensive plan, which directed Oldsmar to explore expanding its ADU district, as reported by Tampa Bay 28. Under current city code, Oldsmar’s existing ADUs can only be occupied by family members of the primary property owner and cannot be used as short-term rentals.
What Expansion Could Look Like
If the city moves forward, the proposal on the table would make 274 additional parcels eligible for ADUs, per the same Tampa Bay 28 report. Oldsmar officials estimate that expansion would ultimately yield only around 11 new ADUs over the next 10 years, a projection based on a 0.4% ADU building rate observed in neighboring St. Petersburg.
City Manager Felicia Donnelly said community feedback is an important part of the process, according to the station’s report. Oldsmar invited residents to a Thursday-night town hall to discuss the potential expansion, and the city is also collecting input through an online survey before any formal decision is made.
Residents Split Between Family Needs And Small-Town Feel
At the town hall, some residents framed ADUs as a practical housing option, particularly for families caring for aging relatives. Jeri Antozzi said ADUs could help families live close together and care for parents, per the same account relayed by the station…