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Illustration of the finished sitting area of an in-law suite with plank flooring and daylight from tall garden windows

Two households.
One roof. One question
that decides everything.

Are you building an accessory dwelling unit or an in-law suite? A full kitchen is the line between them, and it changes what you are allowed to build. Far cheaper to settle before the cabinets are ordered than after.

Discuss Your Suite See The Line
  • Licensed, bonded & insured · CBC1265280
  • 104 municipalities across 3 counties
  • Design-build: permitting & construction in-house

Miami-Dade · Broward & Palm Beach Counties

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The ServiceSection 02 of 15

The question is legal before it is architectural.

A multi-generational remodel builds a second household into an existing home — and the first decision is whether that space is legally a suite or legally a dwelling.

More tri-county households are combining generations: adult children moving back, ageing parents relocating closer to family, sometimes both at once. The renovation question that actually matters is not how to add space. It is whether you are building an accessory dwelling unit or an in-law suite, because that distinction drives zoning eligibility, the permitting path and what the finished space may legally be used for. An ADU — its own kitchen, bathroom and sleeping area — is a separate dwelling unit and the property has to qualify for it. A suite without a full kitchen is additional space within the primary residence: it sidesteps the ADU-specific triggers, but it also cannot function as, or later be rented as, an independent unit. We design around getting that right at the start, because it is far more expensive to fix after a kitchen has been installed.

The legal lineA FULL KITCHEN

Own kitchen, bathroom and sleeping area together define a separate dwelling unit. A kitchenette does not.

State frameworkPERMISSIVE

Fla. Stat. 163.31771 defines an ADU and enables local governments to allow them. It does not compel any of them to. The operative rules are local.

Licensed GCCBC1265280

Elbaz Construction holds the certified building contractor licence and pulls the permits as contractor of record.

ScopeSection 03 of 15

What a multi-generational remodel covers.

Square footage is rarely the hard part. Privacy, separation and the legal status of the space are.

01The ADU or suite determinationEstablishing which of the two you are building, and whether the property could support the ADU route at all.

This is settled before design, not during it. A kitchen added late can turn a straightforward interior remodel permit into an application that depends on lot size and zoning district.

02Lot and zoning eligibilityConfirming lot size, zoning district and setback position against your specific address before design work begins.

Miami-Dade’s ADU ordinance sets a minimum lot size, a unit-size band and a proportion cap, and applies only in designated districts. Broward and Palm Beach municipalities each set their own rules.

03Sound separationSound-isolating wall and floor assemblies between the suite and the rest of the house.

Added insulation, resilient channel and staggered framing where feasible. This is the single thing that most determines whether two households can genuinely live different schedules under one roof.

04Separate entryA new exterior door, walkway and often a covered entry where the site layout allows it.

Not legally required for an in-law suite, but one of the most requested features, because guests, schedules and privacy all work better with independent access.

05Independent HVAC zoningA ductless mini-split or a separate zone so the suite controls its own temperature.

Two households sharing one thermostat is a reliable source of friction. Zoning it is cheap relative to the goodwill it preserves.

06Kitchenette or full kitchenThe cabinet run, sink and appliance provision — specified with the legal consequence understood.

A full kitchen costs significantly more in plumbing and electrical than a kitchenette, and it is also what changes the legal status of the space.

07Bathroom, built for who will use itZero-threshold showers, grab bar blocking, wider doorways and level thresholds where the suite is for ageing parents.

Blocking behind the wall costs almost nothing during construction and is disruptive to add later, so we install it whether or not the bars go up now.

08Flexible living and work spaceWhere the suite is for adult children returning home, the same room often has to work as a home office.

Different problem, same project. Power, data and daylight positions matter more here than mobility features do.

09Laundry and utilitiesWhether laundry is shared or separate, and whether the suite shares utilities with the main house or is separately metered.

One of the first and biggest scoping decisions, for cost and for how independently the two households can actually live.

10Structural approachAttached conversion, addition, or new detached construction where an ADU is both wanted and permitted.

A detached unit offers the most genuine independence and costs the most, because it needs its own foundation, structure and utility connections.

Illustrated SequenceSection 04 of 15

One wing, made into a suite.

Illustrative sequence · not photographs of an Elbaz project

Every image on this page is a generated illustration of an in-law suite remodel. None is a photograph, and none shows a suite completed by Elbaz Construction. The suite shown deliberately has a kitchenette and no cooking facility, because that is the legal line this page is about — it illustrates a suite, not an accessory dwelling unit.

Illustration of a dated, underused end room used for storage before conversion into an in-law suite
01Illustration: the underused end room before conversion
Illustration of the same room stripped back to bare concrete slab with one wall opened to exposed timber studs
02Illustration: stripped back to slab and studs
Illustration of a sound-isolating wall assembly with dense insulation between studs, resilient channel across the face and gypsum board being fitted
03Illustration: the sound-isolating wall assembly
Illustration of a new separate exterior door opening framed in the wall of an in-law suite, seen from inside, with a fresh step and paved path beyond it
04Illustration: a separate entrance opening being formed
Sequence NotesSection 05 of 15

What actually makes two households work.

Privacy is an assembly, not a floor plan

The core design challenge is not square footage. It is sound separation between people living genuinely different daily schedules under one roof. That means dense insulation in the shared wall, resilient channel breaking the direct path through the framing, staggered studs where the space allows, and attention to the floor assembly as well. It will rarely equal two detached houses — but it is meaningfully better than standard interior construction, and the difference is felt every single day.

The kitchen decision is the legal decision

A space with its own kitchen, bathroom and sleeping area is a separate dwelling unit, and the property then has to qualify on lot size, zoning district, setbacks and often parking. Leave out the cooking facility and it is additional space within your home, permitted much like any interior remodel. Neither answer is wrong. What is expensive is discovering the difference after the cabinets are in.

Two generations, two different briefs

A suite for ageing parents overlaps heavily with ageing-in-place work: zero-threshold showers, single-level access, grab bar blocking, wider doorways. A space for adult children returning home more often needs to double as a home office. Multi-generational projects frequently have to solve both in the same build, for two very different sets of physical and lifestyle needs.

Independence is built from small systems

A separate entrance, the suite’s own thermostat, its own laundry if the budget allows, and a decision about whether utilities are shared or separately metered. None of these is architecturally dramatic. Together they decide whether the arrangement feels like two homes or like one household with a lodger.

Illustration of a ductless mini-split indoor head being mounted in an in-law suite with its own wall thermostat below
05Illustration: the suite mini-split and thermostat going in
Sequence shownExisting space, strip-out, sound-isolating wall, HVAC, separate entrance, bathroom rough-in, finished suite
SpaceOne conceptual attached end wing of a single-storey South Florida house
Suite typeIn-law suite, not an ADU. Kitchenette with sink and under-counter refrigerator; no cooker, oven or cooktop in any frame
Accessibility shownZero-threshold shower, grab bar blocking, wider doorway with a level threshold
ImageryGenerated illustration — not photographs
Elbaz project?No. No frame on this page shows a suite completed by Elbaz Construction.
Why illustratedOur room-addition photography could not be authenticated for this use, and unverified imagery presented as ours would be a false attribution
StandardsSection 06 of 15

It is far cheaper to decide what the space legally is than to discover it after the kitchen goes in.

Six things we hold to on multi-generational work.

01Planning

Legal status settled first

ADU or suite decided before design, and lot eligibility confirmed against the address rather than assumed from the statute.

02Craftsmanship

Separation built, not decorated

Dense insulation, resilient channel and staggered framing where feasible, because sound is what makes or breaks the arrangement.

03Function

Each household controls its own air

Independent HVAC zoning as standard, not an upgrade.

04Design

Blocking installed regardless

Grab bar blocking goes in behind the tile whether or not bars are fitted now. It is nearly free during construction and disruptive afterwards.

05Quality control

Utilities decided deliberately

Shared or separately metered established early, because it changes both cost and how independently the suite can operate.

06Durability

Permitted for what it is

Interior remodel permits for a suite; the fuller ADU path where an ADU is what you are actually building.

South Florida shapes this in three ways: the tri-county rules genuinely differ, so eligibility is an address question rather than a state question; single-storey slab-on-grade housing stock makes level, step-free access unusually achievable here; and the climate makes independent cooling a necessity rather than a comfort feature.

Illustration of a zero-threshold shower rough-in with a sloped base, linear drain, waterproofing membrane and timber grab-bar blocking between studs
06Illustration: zero-threshold shower rough-in with grab bar blocking
Living IndependentlySection 07 of 15

The details that decide how it lives.

Closer frames on the features that separate a suite that works from a spare room with a bed in it: accessibility, thresholds, and climate control the suite owns.

Illustration of the finished sitting area of an in-law suite with plank flooring and daylight from tall garden windows
07

Illustration: the finished sitting area

Illustration of the sleeping area of an in-law suite with a bed against the sound-isolated wall and a wide level-threshold doorway to the bathroom
08

Illustration: the sleeping area

Illustration of a finished zero-threshold walk-in shower with a linear drain, grab bar, fold-down seat and handheld shower on a slide rail
09

Illustration: the finished zero-threshold shower

Illustration of a wider doorway with a level step-free threshold and a lever handle in a finished suite
10

Illustration: a wider doorway with a level threshold

Illustration of an in-law suite with its own wall-mounted mini-split head and thermostat above the sitting area
11

Illustration: the suite’s own climate control

Illustration of an in-law suite kitchenette with a short cabinet run, sink and under-counter refrigerator and no cooking facility
12Illustration: the kitchenette, with no cooking facility
Legal statusIn-law suite — kitchenette only, no cooking facility
SeparationInsulation, resilient channel, staggered framing where feasible
IndependenceSeparate entry, own mini-split and thermostat
AccessibilityZero-threshold shower, blocking, level thresholds
Status of imageryGenerated illustration throughout — no frame here is a photograph
DecisionsSection 08 of 15

The six choices that shape the suite.

Each of these changes cost, and the first one changes the law that applies.

Kitchenette or full kitchen
The legal determinant
A full kitchen makes the space a separate dwelling unit and brings lot size, zoning and setback eligibility into play. A kitchenette keeps it additional space within the residence.Decide this before anything else.
Attached or detached
Conversion, addition or new build
Converting existing interior space is typically the least expensive. A detached unit needs its own foundation, full structure and separate utility connections — and offers the most genuine independence.Independence and cost move together.
Sound isolation
Insulation, resilient channel, staggered framing
The level of acoustic separation built into shared walls and floors. Meaningfully better than standard construction; rarely equal to two detached homes.Specify the assembly, not just “soundproofing”.
Separate entrance
New door, walkway, covered entry
Not required for a suite, but the feature most often responsible for the arrangement feeling like two homes. Cost depends on whether an opening and a path already exist.Site layout decides whether it is even possible.
HVAC zoning
Ductless mini-split or a dedicated zone
Lets each household control its own space. A mini-split needs no ductwork and suits a single added suite.Standard on our multi-generational work.
Utility metering
Shared or separately metered
Affects cost, and affects how independently the suite can operate — particularly relevant if a legally qualifying ADU might one day be rented.Decide with the long term in mind.

Provenance note: every image on this page is a generated illustration and the diagrams in section 11 are drawings we produced. No image here is a photograph, and none shows a suite completed by Elbaz Construction. The suite illustrated has a kitchenette and no cooking facility, deliberately.

ProcessSection 09 of 15

Nine stages, one contractor.

01

Household needs assessment

Who lives where, privacy expectations, mobility needs and budget across the whole plan.

02

Eligibility check

Lot size, zoning district and setbacks confirmed against the address before design.

03

ADU or suite determination

Which you are building, and which is legally available to you.

04

Design

Separate entry, sound isolation, kitchen or kitchenette, and any ageing-in-place or flex-space features.

05

Systems planning

HVAC zoning, electrical load, laundry and whether utilities are shared or separately metered.

06

Permitting

ADU ordinance compliance where an ADU is the route; standard interior remodel permits where it is a suite.

07

Construction

Strip-out, assemblies, systems, entrance and finishes.

08

Accessibility fit-out

Zero-threshold shower, blocking, level thresholds and lever hardware where specified.

09

Inspection and handover

Final inspection passed and occupancy approval appropriate to the unit type.

PlanningSection 10 of 15

Zoning, eligibility and what gets permitted.

The statutory definition
Fla. Stat. 163.31771 defines an accessory dwelling unit as a secondary living space with its own kitchen, bathroom and sleeping area, within the primary structure or elsewhere on the same lot.
The state framework is permissive
The statute enables local governments to allow ADUs in residential zones; it does not require them to. There is no statewide ADU mandate in Florida today, so eligibility is decided locally.
Miami-Dade’s ordinance
The county ordinance permits ADUs on qualifying lots of 7,500 square feet or more in designated zoning districts, with unit size capped between 400 and 800 square feet and at no more than 50% of the primary dwelling.
Broward and Palm Beach
Municipality by municipality rather than a single county rule. What is permitted a few miles away may not be permitted at your address.
A suite without a full kitchen
Legally additional space within the primary residence. It avoids the ADU-specific lot-size and zoning eligibility requirements, and it is permitted much as any interior remodel or addition would be.
Setbacks and detached structures
Where a detached ADU is the approach, setback compliance for the new structure is part of qualifying, alongside lot size and district.
Parking
Additional on-site parking is often required for a true ADU. It is a common reason an otherwise eligible lot does not work.
A materially different process
Permitting a true ADU is closer in complexity to permitting a small independent home than to permitting an interior remodel.
Confirm before designing
Lot eligibility is worth establishing before any design work begins, because it determines which of the two projects you are actually able to build.

Rules differ across Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach, differ between municipalities within them, and change over time. Nothing here is legal advice or a guarantee of eligibility — we confirm what applies to your specific address before design work starts.

The LineSection 11 of 15

Where the suite becomes a dwelling.

Diagrams, not photographs. Under Florida’s statutory definition an accessory dwelling unit is a secondary living space with its own kitchen, bathroom and sleeping area. Leave out the full kitchen and it is not a separate dwelling — which changes both what you may build and what the space may later be used for.

01

Sleeping area

A bedroom on its own is simply a room in your house. No threshold is crossed.

02

Private bathroom

Still additional space within the primary residence. Common in any suite or guest room.

03

Kitchenette

A sink, an under-counter refrigerator, a short cabinet run. Not a full kitchen, and not a separate dwelling unit.

04

Full kitchen

Add a cooking facility and the space meets the definition of a separate dwelling unit. From here the property itself has to qualify.

05

The property has to qualify

Lot size, zoning district, setbacks and often parking — a materially different permitting path, closer to permitting a small independent home.

DecisionsSection 12 of 15

What moves the number, and what moves the date.

We do not publish prices for multi-generational work, because a converted suite and a new detached unit are different projects with different laws attached.

What moves the number

Attached conversion or new detached ADU
New detached construction requires full foundation, structure and utility connections, at meaningfully higher cost than converting existing space.
Lot size and zoning eligibility
Properties that do not clearly qualify may need survey and zoning consultation before design proceeds.
Kitchen scope
A full kitchen — required for legal ADU status — costs significantly more in plumbing and electrical than a kitchenette.
Separate entrance construction
Adding a new exterior door, walkway or covered entry where none exists.
Sound isolation assemblies
The level of acoustic separation built into shared walls and floors.
Utility metering
Whether the suite shares utilities with the main house or is separately metered.
Accessibility scope
Zero-threshold shower forming, wider openings and level thresholds where the suite is built for ageing parents.
Existing conditions
Slab condition, electrical panel capacity and whether the space was ever conditioned.

What moves the date

Which route you are on
ADU permitting is a materially longer path than an interior remodel permit.
Eligibility confirmation
Survey and zoning consultation where the lot does not clearly qualify.
Permit review
The jurisdiction’s own review cycle, and any corrections.
Panel and utility work
Where capacity is short or separate metering is chosen, utility coordination can govern.
Long-lead items
Mini-split equipment, the entry door assembly and cabinetry.
Living through it
Whether the household stays in the house during construction, which shapes the sequence more than most people expect.

Bring to the first call

  • Who will live in the space, and for how long.
  • Whether it may ever need to be rented separately.
  • Your lot size and whether you have a survey.
  • Mobility needs, now and in ten years.
  • Whether laundry and cooking are shared or separate.
  • Whether the site could take a separate entrance.
CompletionSection 13 of 15

What a finished suite looks like.

A sitting area, a sleeping area, a bathroom built for whoever will use it, a kitchenette, its own entrance and its own thermostat — connected to the house, but genuinely separate to live in. An illustration of the finished condition rather than a photograph of an Elbaz project.

  • A conversation about who will live there before any design.
  • A clear answer on whether your lot could support an ADU at all.
  • Sound separation specified as an assembly, not a promise.
  • One contractor holding the permits and the inspections.
Illustration of the completed exterior of an attached in-law suite wing with its own painted door, covered porch canopy, wall light and paved walkway to the driveway, under a roofline continuous with the main house
13Illustration: the completed exterior and separate entry

Questions, answered.

ADU versus suite, lot eligibility, sound separation, entrances and cost drivers.

What is the difference between an accessory dwelling unit and an in-law suite?

An ADU has its own kitchen, bathroom and sleeping area, which makes it a legally separate dwelling unit subject to Florida’s ADU statute and local zoning rules. An in-law suite without a full kitchen is legally just additional space within the primary residence, not an independent unit.

Can I legally add a full kitchen to my in-law suite in Miami-Dade?

You can, but doing so makes it an accessory dwelling unit under state and county definitions, which means the property has to independently qualify. The county ordinance requires a lot of at least 7,500 square feet in a designated zoning district, with the unit capped between 400 and 800 square feet and at no more than 50% of the primary home’s size.

How big can an ADU be on my property?

Under Miami-Dade’s ordinance, between 400 and 800 square feet, and not exceeding 50% of the primary dwelling’s square footage — assuming your lot and zoning district qualify in the first place. Broward and Palm Beach municipalities set their own limits.

Is there a statewide Florida law that requires my city to allow an ADU?

No. Florida’s statute defines what an ADU is and enables local governments to allow them, but it does not compel any of them to. A bill that would have created a statewide requirement did not become law. Eligibility is decided by your county or municipality, which is why we check the address rather than the statute.

Do I need a separate entrance for a multi-generational addition?

Not legally required for an in-law suite, but it is one of the most requested features, because it gives both households real independence. Daily schedules, guests and privacy all work better with separate access, even when the space shares a roofline with the main house.

Can I rent out the suite if my parents move out later?

Only a legally qualifying ADU — with its own kitchen, meeting lot size and zoning requirements — can function as an independently rentable unit. An in-law suite without a full kitchen generally cannot be rented as a separate dwelling.

How much sound separation can you actually build?

With sound-isolating wall and floor assemblies — added insulation, resilient channel, staggered framing where feasible — and independent HVAC zoning, you get meaningfully better separation than standard interior construction provides. It is rarely equivalent to two fully detached homes unless you are building a detached ADU.

Does my lot qualify for an ADU?

In Miami-Dade it depends on lot size and whether the property sits in a zoning district where ADUs are permitted. In Broward and Palm Beach it depends on the municipality. Either way it needs confirming against your specific address before design work starts.

What is the cost difference between converting and building detached?

Converting existing interior space is typically less expensive than new detached ADU construction, which requires its own foundation, full structural build and separate utility connections. A detached unit does offer the most genuine independence between households.

Why are the images on this page illustrations?

Because our room-addition photography could not be authenticated for this use, and we will not present unverified imagery as our own work. The frames are drawn and labelled, and the suite shown deliberately has a kitchenette rather than a kitchen, because that is the legal distinction this page is about.

Why Elbaz.

Licensed general contractor

Certified building contractor, licence CBC1265280, bonded and insured.

The legal question answered first

ADU or suite established before design, and eligibility confirmed against your address rather than assumed.

Separation treated as engineering

Specified wall and floor assemblies rather than a vague promise of soundproofing.

Ageing-in-place built in

Blocking, level thresholds and zero-threshold showers designed in from the start, not retrofitted.

Local experience

Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach, including how differently the three treat accessory units.

One point of contact

Design, trades, inspections and the building department coordinated by us.

Honest about the trade-offs

A detached ADU gives the most independence and costs the most. We will say so.

Financing

Financing options available through our partners.

Proof & ReadingSection 14 of 15

What South Florida homeowners say.

Reproduced verbatim from our Google Business Profile. Nothing here has been edited, merged or rewritten.

Redid my whole bathroom and kitchen. Great service - Great quality - very quick - very professional !! Highly recommended!

Adir DavidovGoogle review

They are amazing! Very professional. Met my exact requests with so much patience and knowledge. They renovated my whole house and the whole process was such a breeze. I highly recommend them!

Lee MoraliGoogle review

We hired them to renovate our investment property and they provided exceptional quality service for an affordable price!

Shir PartushGoogle review

Amazing experience with the entire company! They did a great job in my house for some work that needed to be completed, and I am extremely happy with the result. Super professional & great service. I highly recommend Elbaz Construction.

Mia ZafraniGoogle review

After I've been Looking for a good company to renovate my house , I found those guys! These people are super professional super honest super Fast !! Don't hesitate to Rent their service! They are number one!!

carmit cohenGoogle review

I highly recommend them for home improvement. They renovated my master bathroom and a few upgrades for other guest bathrooms. They are very professional, courteous and transparent. They are great at communicating and finding ways to streamline the work. Sean has impeccable project management and customer relationship management skills. Very pleased with the work!

Omri BGoogle review

Further reading.

CategoryADU & Garage ConversionsWhere a genuinely separate dwelling unit is the goal.ServiceADU Permitting & ZoningLot eligibility, districts and the approval path.ServiceMother-In-Law Suite ConstructionSuites built within or attached to the primary residence.ServiceFull Bathroom RemodelZero-threshold showers and accessible bathroom work.ServiceSmall & Galley Kitchen RemodelCompact kitchen and kitchenette planning.CategoryResidential RemodelingThe full residential scope.

Project files

A private suite and a primary bath.

A converted garage finished as a self-contained suite, and a primary bathroom with a double vanity. They are separate jobs and show the layout and finishes, not who uses them.

2Projects shown
30Photos
PROJECT 01

Garage converted into a private suite

A converted garage finished as a self-contained suite: an entry with a glass-lite door, an open room with a white shaker kitchen and stacked laundry, a bedroom with a closet, and a navy-tile bath and a powder room. Vinyl plank flooring and a mini-split run through it. The photos show the layout, not who lives there.

Scope of work

  • Entry door with a glass lite
  • Kitchen with white shaker cabinets and stacked washer-dryer
  • Bedroom with a bifold walk-in closet door
  • Ensuite navy hex-tile bath with glass shower
  • Powder room with wallpaper and pedestal sink
  • Mini-split cooling and wood-look vinyl plank flooring

Materials & finishes

White shaker cabinetsGreen glass tileNavy hex tileVinyl plank flooringBrass fixturesBlue toile wallpaperMini-split

What to look for in the photos

Trace the route: entry door, kitchen and laundry, bedroom, bath. Everything a person needs in daily life is inside one private footprint.

Elbaz Construction project photo · 14 photos

PROJECT 02

Primary bath with freestanding tub and double vanity

A primary bathroom under a vaulted ceiling with a quartz double vanity on light oak, a freestanding tub with a floor-mount faucet and a glass walk-in shower. Gray zellige-style tile and black fixtures run through the room. A suite with its own bathroom is a core part of a shared house.

Scope of work

  • Vaulted ceiling over the bath
  • Light oak double vanity with quartz top
  • Black-framed mirrors and sconces
  • Freestanding tub with black floor-mount faucet
  • Glass walk-in shower with a niche
  • Gray zellige-style wall tile

Materials & finishes

Gray zellige-style tileLight oak vanityQuartz topBlack fixturesFrameless glassWood tray and ladder

What to look for in the photos

Look at the two basins. A double vanity lets two people use the room at once, which matters in a house that shares bathrooms across generations.

Elbaz Construction project photo · 13 photos

By the numbers

What a private suite is made of.

Typical shares and a typical sequence. A suite is a small dwelling inside a house, and its cost drivers are the utilities.

Where a typical suite budget goes

100%OF BUDGET
  • Kitchen or kitchenette16%
  • Bathroom18%
  • Electrical, plumbing, sub-panel20%
  • Cooling and ventilation10%
  • Framing, sound insulation, drywall14%
  • Entry, doors, floors, paint14%
  • Permits, zoning review, inspections8%

Typical shares only; a full kitchen and a second bathroom move them most.

A typical suite sequence, in weeks

Zoning and eligibility check
Design and selections
Permit set and review
Permits
Demolition, framing, sound
Rough-ins and inspections
Kitchen, bath and floors
Finish
Final inspection and handover
Week 0Week 14.5Week 29

The zoning check comes first; your decisions gate the marked phases.

Drawn out

Three diagrams for two households.

How the zones divide, the details for easier living and the types of space a suite can take.

SHARED LIVINGSUITEown bath + entryFAMILY BEDROOMS

Shared, private, family

A suite plan splits the house into shared living, a private suite and family bedrooms. The boundaries decide where doors and walls go.

36 in DOORZERO-STEP ENTRYLEVER HANDLESRAISED OUTLETS

Details for every age

Wider doors, a step-free entry and lever handles help grandparents and toddlers alike. They are easiest to build in during framing.

DETACHEDATTACHEDGARAGE2-STORYFOUR WAYS TO ADD AN ADU

Four kinds of added space

Detached, attached, garage and two-story units each carry different foundation, utility and approval work.

Scope planner

Size up the suite.

Four questions give a rough sense of the weeks on site and the trades involved.

What does the suite include?
How does the suite get its entrance?
How much sound separation?
How accessible should it be?

Finishes

Shower details, up close.

Three views of the navy-tile and gray-tile showers from the two projects above.

Stone-tile floor, linear drain
Niche, mosaic, brass handheld
Gray hex shower floor

More questions

Panels, meters and parking.

The practical questions that come up once the suite is drawn.

Ask us directly
Can the suite share the main electrical service?

Usually, through a sub-panel fed from the main panel. We run a load calculation to confirm the service can carry the added kitchen, cooling and laundry. If it cannot, the service is upgraded. A sub-panel needs a permit and an inspection, and it lets the suite's circuits be switched off separately.

Can the suite have its own electric meter?

Maybe, but think first. A separate meter usually signals a separate dwelling, and the utility and the city may review it as one. That can change zoning, taxes and what you are allowed to rent. If a separate meter is not needed, a sub-panel is often the simpler path. Ask us before applying.

How do we cool the suite without sharing noise?

A ductless mini-split gives the suite its own thermostat and its own indoor unit, so ducts do not carry sound between households. The outdoor condenser should be placed away from bedroom windows and set on a pad. Condensate drains to a permitted location, not the neighbor's yard.

Should the suite have its own washer and dryer?

It makes daily life easier, and compact stacked units fit into a closet or kitchen run. They need a drain, a water supply with a shut-off, a dedicated outlet, and a dryer vent to the outside. A condensing dryer avoids the vent but still needs a drain. We plan this before cabinets are drawn.

Does the suite need its own water heater?

Not always. A small electric tank or a tankless unit gives the suite hot water without the delay of a long run from the main house. It needs power, a drain pan or line and sometimes venting. The right size depends on the number of fixtures, and we check this during design.

What smoke and carbon monoxide alarms does the suite need?

The Florida Building Code requires smoke alarms in each sleeping room and on each level, interconnected so they sound together. If the suite has a gas appliance or an attached garage, carbon monoxide alarms are also required. We install and test all of them, and the inspector checks them at final.

If the garage is converted, do I need to replace the parking?

Often, yes. Many cities require a set number of off-street spaces per dwelling, and converting a garage can remove them. Some cities allow the driveway to count, and some waive the requirement. We check your municipality's rule early, because it can decide whether the conversion is allowed at all.

Will the suite raise my property taxes or insurance?

It may. A completed suite can add to the assessed value, though Florida homestead rules cap the yearly increase on the existing value. Insurers also want to know about added living area. We cannot give tax or insurance advice, so ask the county property appraiser and your insurance agent before you commit.

Service Areas

Proudly serving homeowners across Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach

(754) 236-0675

104 municipalities across three counties — and we hold the licence to build in all of them. Not sure about your address? Ask us.

Next StepSection 15 of 15

Start with who is moving in.

Who will live in the space, whether it may ever need to be rented, and how big your lot is. Those three answers decide whether you are planning a suite or an accessory dwelling unit — and everything else follows from that.

Request A Consultation

What happens next

01   You send the details
The form below, or a call to 754-236-0675.
02   We check eligibility
Lot size and zoning district against your address.
03   We walk the house
Existing conditions, the shared wall, and whether a separate entrance is possible.
04   You get a written scope
Suite or ADU, with the assemblies and systems itemised, before anything starts.

Licensed, bonded and insured — certified building contractor CBC1265280. Serving Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach.

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