Living in an ADU while renting out main house in Tampa?

Question

I've been looking through the city/county code and can't find a definitive answer on this - I'm preapproved and seriously considering a house hack in Tampa that's a 3/1 with a detached 1/1. It must be grandfathered in (It's listed on the Hillsborough property appraiser's website but doesn't meet new rules, like the lot size requirement for ADU construction).

This is the city and county ADU code I've been looking through

http://tampa-fl.elaws.us/code/coor_ch27_artii_div5_sec27-132

https://library.municode.com/fl/hillsborough_county/codes/la...

Can I rent out the main house while I live in the 1/1? What would be the best way to find this out?

Kim Meredith Hampton · Answer

Chris, you are probably fine if you are owner occupying one of the units, I think the problem starts if you rent Both units out.

Right now Tampa has said that the ADU’s must be separate from the main house, must have permits  in place, drawings, etc…I would go down to planning and zoning and talk to someone before purchasing and getting the lay of the land. There is City of Tampa and Hillsborough County (2 different entities)

Henry T. · Answer

What's the worst that could happen? City complains and now you move back into the main house, and you have to carry your things across the yard. Make sure your lease spells out everything so your tenant cant claim you're tresspassing. Such as "shared property", landlord lives on property, yard is a common area kept clean, assigned parking spot-one vehicle, etc, I don't know.

Devin Peterson · Answer

Once you close on the property you can do whatever you want. It’s yours. But I wouldn’t go around telling lenders this is your “plan” a standard underwrite is going to look at this and expect that you occupy the main dwelling of course. Once you sign you’re free to make your own choices in theory. Connect for more questions! I’m local to you in St Pete and deal with scenarios like this all the time

Christopher Holt · Answer

That's what I'm getting from most people - it's as if you're renting out rooms of your primary residence, which should be ok.

Carlos Ptriawan · Answer

i would do it now without even thinking.

Michael Haynes · Answer

Hello Christopher Holt looking in St. Petersburg for a Deal. I just spent a week, back and forth with a Newbie BP member showing him how to Search on Zillow for a good property to Invest in. Turns out like all the rest of them, he is not Qualified for a Loan, he does not have the Money for a Down Payment, does not know how to use Google Map or which side of town to get a Safe Investment. He looks at properties from a Listing Agent that gave him an excellent, longterm Duplex with a separate House at 3259 36th Ave. North, St. Petersburg, 33713 without telling him it is a, "Cash Only For Sale" property with a Zoning problem to work out. It has two lots that need Subdividing. Or rent as is and consider it a Grandfather property to work out Zoning later on. It has been on Zillow for 240 days! That is the Definition of a Motivated Seller. In the Go Go days before Covid, that property would have been snatched up for Cash at 8AM the first day it was Listed. In the meantime that Agent gave him another 4/2 Fixer-upper on the South of Central Ave. side, right in the start of the War Zone to House Hack. The questions are endless. He does not know the Sale of your Residence rule and needs a Home to Hack and makes $100,000 a year with three Online Side Hustles. I told him to save all his money for one more year and study all he can to maybe learn, "The Art of the Deal."

Obed Calixte · Answer

@Christopher Holt what information did you get back from the city in regards to your question(s) ?

Jaron Walling · Answer

@Christopher Holt Circling back to this post... I really don't like the second half of @Michael Haynes response, "I had Duplexes and houses with ADU's for 30 years in South Tampa and this is only the start of your troubles when the Owner lives with the Tenants." What kind of advice is this?? The guy is looking for creative avenues to get in the REI game. Grant Cardone doesn't care about ADU's or SF for that matter.

It's 2023. Not 1980... laws change, strategies change, so I'd be contacting the city department and getting my facts from the source. Those website are confusing. I know because I work for The State of Indiana. I'd tailor my search and offers based on the specific regulations in Tampa.

Jaron Walling · Answer

If it doesn't meet the lot size requirements (7,000 sqft.) you'll need a variance approved by the zoning board. It's similar to pulling permits for additions that bend or break the set-back rules for construction. You're best bet is finding someone else that did the same. What was the outcome? Does Tampa promote or deny this type of construction? Investors from Cali talk about ADU's all the time but this is Florida.

Rant; we have a real problem with zoning laws in this country. A lot of cities are not fostering density. ADU's create density. You'd think the laws would be trending in that direction given the housing shortage but from I see it's the opposite. "Not in my backyard" keeps happening over and over again which how cities become sprawling. Most of the mid west markets are examples of it. In our market if you don't have a car you don't have a job.

Carlos Ptriawan · Answer

No brained and not complicated

you can do whatever you want as long as it is OO

Living in an ADU while renting out main house in Tampa?

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