From garage conversion to fully detached accessory dwelling unit. Design, permits, construction, and certificate of occupancy — all under one licensed GC contract. Built for Florida Live Local Act by-right ADU approval in Collier County.
Representative example finishes for illustration — not a specific completed project.
Our ADU & Garage Conversion Work
How it works
ADUs involve zoning review, architectural drawings, engineering, multiple permit departments, and a final CO inspection. We manage the entire process under one contract — you don't project-manage it.
We review your lot, zoning, setbacks, utility connections, and HOA restrictions before you spend a dollar on drawings. We tell you what's buildable before anyone gets excited about floor plans.
Architectural drawings, structural engineering, and permit submission. We manage the back-and-forth with the Building Division, Zoning, and any required HOA approvals. Permit fees included in written scope.
Foundation, framing, roofing, electrical, plumbing, insulation, drywall, flooring, kitchen or kitchenette, bathroom — all trades coordinated under our GC license.
Final inspections across all trades, CO issued by the county. You receive a completed, legal dwelling unit with a certificate of occupancy — ready to rent or move family in.
What we build in Naples
Garage conversions are the fastest and most cost-effective ADU option in Naples. Detached ADUs on large lots offer more flexibility and rental income potential. We build both.
Convert your existing attached or detached garage into a legal, permitted living space. We handle the floor leveling, insulation upgrade, mini-split HVAC, electrical panel sub-feed, plumbing rough-in for a kitchenette and bathroom, and CO application. Most efficient ADU path in Naples.
A standalone dwelling unit built on your lot — separate from the main house. New foundation, full mechanical systems, its own utility connections, kitchen, bathroom, and CO. Best option for maximizing rental income or creating a fully independent living space for family.
Already have a builder but need help getting through the Collier County or City of Naples permit process? We provide architectural drawings, engineering, HOA approval coordination, permit submission, and project management through CO — without doing the construction ourselves.
Honest pricing
ADU costs are driven by structural complexity, existing condition of the space being converted, utility connection distance, and finish level. These ranges include design, permits, and CO — not just construction. We quote the total project cost in writing before you commit.
Convert an attached or detached garage into a legal ADU. Fastest path to a CO'd unit in Naples — existing structure, existing roof, existing footprint.
New detached ADU, 400–750 sq ft. New foundation, CBS or frame construction, full mechanical systems, kitchenette or full kitchen, bathroom, and independent utility connections.
750–1,200+ sq ft detached ADU with full kitchen, 1–2 bedrooms, 1–2 bathrooms, laundry hookup, and high-spec finishes. Designed for long-term rental income or a permanent family suite.
Naples / Collier County · What property owners need to know
Collier County's Land Development Code treats an ADU as a "guest house" on large Estate-zoned lots — a different legal category than the detached ADU most homeowners picture, with its own size cap and acreage minimum.
Collier County's Land Development Code (Ordinance 2004-41, as amended) permits guest houses and ADUs on Estate-zoned (E) and Residential Single-Family (RSF) lots, but a guest house specifically requires a minimum 1-acre Estate-zoned lot and cannot exceed 45% of the main home's living area. Golden Gate Estates is where most of our Collier County guest-house builds happen for exactly this reason. We confirm your lot's zoning and acreage before quoting.
The City of Naples runs its own Building Department — separate from Collier County's Growth Management Community Development Department — and Marco Island is a third, entirely separate jurisdiction. North Naples, Golden Gate, and Golden Gate Estates are unincorporated Collier County, not City of Naples. We confirm the correct reviewing authority before we ever submit.
Collier County's design wind speeds run roughly 160–180 mph on the southwest Gulf Coast, rising near the water — among the highest ratings outside the official HVHZ counties. Impact-rated windows, doors, and garage doors are code-required on every ADU or guest house we build here, not an upsell. We spec the correct product rating for your exact parcel.
Detached ADUs require electrical service (new sub-panel or meter), water connection, and sewer tap. In Collier County, impact fees for new construction can run $8,000–$18,000 on top of Collier County Utilities or City of Naples Water connection costs — and many Golden Gate Estates lots are on well and septic, which changes the utility scope entirely. We include a full fee and utility assessment in the written scope.
An unpermitted "in-law suite" or guest house can't be legally rented, has no standing at resale, and can jeopardize your homeowner's insurance. We build every Naples-area ADU toward a certificate of occupancy at close-out — the permit timeline is ours to manage, and the project isn't done until the CO is in your hands.
Zoning confirmation, wind-rated product specs, permit submittal, trade coordination, and the CO — all under one contract with one point of contact, instead of a separate architect, engineer, plumber, electrician, and framer you sourced yourself, now available across Naples and all of Collier County.
We bring the same feasibility-first ADU process we built in South Florida to Naples. Here is what shapes every project here.
In Collier County, the first question isn't cost — it's whether your lot even qualifies. A true guest house needs a 1-acre-plus Estate-zoned parcel under the LDC, which is why most of our Collier County builds happen in Golden Gate Estates rather than closer to the coast. We confirm zoning and lot size before any design work starts.
From there, wind code and utilities drive the number. Design speeds run 160–180 mph near the Gulf, requiring impact-rated product on nearly every build, and many Golden Gate Estates lots are still on well and septic rather than municipal service. We check both before quoting — impact fees ($8,000–$18,000) and utility scope included in writing, not estimated after the fact.
From Port Royal to Golden Gate — Naples and Collier County is our Southwest Florida market, backed by 10+ years of licensed GC experience in Florida.
Verified reviews from ADU and garage conversion projects across Naples and Collier County.
"Dariceli told us upfront that our HOA in Pelican Bay would need to approve before any drawings were started. We got approval first, then permitted, then built. CO in hand 7 months after we first called. The process was exactly what she described."
"Garage conversion in Golden Gate. D&Co handled the drawings, the permit, all the trades, and the CO. My mother moved in within 4 months. The biggest thing was knowing the full cost upfront — no surprises on impact fees or utility hookups."
"I rent the unit out seasonally near Marco Island. The total project cost was $81,000. I had two other contractors tell me they 'couldn't guarantee a CO.' D&Co was the only one who built it into the contract. That mattered more than the price."
Common questions
The process, the cost, what needs a permit, and what makes an ADU legal to rent in Naples.
ADU cost in Naples and Collier County ranges from $40,000 for a basic garage conversion to $180,000+ for a custom detached unit with 2 bedrooms and premium finishes. Our pricing includes design, permits, construction, and CO — not just construction labor. The most common detached ADU project (400–650 sq ft) runs $65,000–$110,000 all-in.
Only if it has a certificate of occupancy as a dwelling unit. An unpermitted conversion — even a beautifully finished one — cannot be legally rented. It also creates liability when you sell (must be disclosed) and may void your homeowner's insurance. We build every ADU through to CO so the unit is legal, insurable, and rentable from day one.
Design and drawings typically take 4–8 weeks. Permit review by Collier County Growth Management Community Development or the City of Naples takes 4–12 weeks depending on scope complexity and jurisdiction. We manage this timeline and track the permit status — you're not waiting on hold with the county.
Depends on your CC&Rs or condo docs. Many HOAs and communities in Naples — especially in Pelican Bay, Park Shore, and gated Golden Gate Estates enclaves — restrict or prohibit ADU construction — either by requiring architectural committee approval, specifying exterior material requirements, or prohibiting external dwelling units entirely. Florida's Live Local Act limits what local zoning can prohibit, but HOA covenants are a separate legal layer. We review your governing documents as part of the feasibility step before any money goes to drawings.
Setback and size limits vary by jurisdiction and zoning designation. The City of Naples, Marco Island, and unincorporated Collier County each have different rules on lot size, setbacks, and maximum ADU square footage relative to the main dwelling. We review your specific parcel rules before quoting — not after you've paid for drawings.
ADU projects in Collier County typically include: impact fees ($8,000–$18,000 for new construction), utility connection fees ($3,000–$12,000), permit fees ($1,200–$3,500), and architectural drawings and engineering ($6,000–$18,000). All of these are included in our written total project cost — no surprises at permit issuance. Contractors who quote "just construction" without addressing these fees are giving you an incomplete picture.
Yes. D&Co holds Florida Certified General Contractor license CGC1531095, which authorizes all phases of residential and commercial construction including ADU design-build projects. Dariceli Kunhardt has 10+ years in construction, development, and project management. All work is fully permitted and inspected under our GC license. Verify at the Florida DBPR website.
Ready to explore?
Tell us your lot, your goals, and your timeline. We'll review zoning and give you an honest picture of what's buildable before you commit to anything.
Prefer email? office@dandcohomes.com
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