In 2023, a local builder and a resident stood before the Tallahassee City Commission with a frustration that many across the country can relate to: the city’s code for accessory dwelling units (also known as backyard cottages or ADUs) was so restrictive that it made small-scale housing nearly impossible to build.
On paper, backyard cottages were legal. In practice, they were burdened by rules that treated them like major developments. The permitting process included requirements that were out of proportion to the scale of the project, and the numbers showed it. In 2022 and 2023, the city issued only a dozen ADU permits in total.
For homeowners, creating a small rental, a place for aging parents, or a starter apartment for a young adult just wasn’t worth the hassle…