From garage conversion to fully detached accessory dwelling unit. Design, permits, construction, and certificate of occupancy — all under one licensed GC contract. Built for Palm Beach County code.
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 Palm Beach County
Garage conversions are the fastest and most cost-effective ADU option in Palm Beach County. 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 Palm Beach County.
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 Palm Beach County 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 Palm Beach County — 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.
Palm Beach County · What property owners need to know
Palm Beach County's ADU rules live in the Unified Land Development Code's Accessory and Temporary Uses chapter — and the coastal wind code, municipal patchwork, and HOA density here each add real cost and risk a handyman isn't equipped to manage.
Accessory dwelling units in unincorporated Palm Beach County are regulated under Article 5, Chapter B (Accessory and Temporary Uses) of the Unified Land Development Code — a separate chapter from the primary zoning districts, with its own size, setback, and parking standards layered on top of whatever your base zoning allows. We read both chapters together before we ever quote a project.
Palm Beach County sits just north of Florida's High-Velocity Hurricane Zone but still falls in the Wind-Borne Debris Region, with ultimate design wind speeds reaching roughly 165–175 mph near the coast and tapering inland. Impact-rated windows, doors, and garage doors — or engineered shutters — are required by code, not a luxury upgrade. We size the correct product rating to your exact parcel, not a blanket spec.
Boca Raton allows ADUs in R-1D zones through a separate city application process; Delray Beach and West Palm Beach (ordinance updated 2022) each run their own standards; Jupiter and Wellington maintain separate ADU ordinances entirely. The unincorporated county standard — 7,500 sq ft+ lots with R-1 or larger zoning — doesn't apply once you cross into any of these cities. We confirm the correct jurisdiction and its rule before design begins.
Detached ADUs need a new electrical sub-panel or meter, a water connection, and a sewer tap — and in Palm Beach County that tap fee runs $3,000–$12,000 depending on municipality, on top of $5,000–$18,000 in impact fees for a new detached unit. We put both numbers in your written scope before you sign.
An unpermitted "in-law suite" can't be legally rented, has no standing at resale, and can jeopardize your homeowner's insurance. We build every Palm Beach County 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.
ULDC review, 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. That's the design-build advantage, built on our track record in this county since 2019.
We have been navigating ADU permitting in Palm Beach County since 2019. Here is what shapes every project in this county.
The ULDC's Accessory and Temporary Uses chapter sits on top of your base zoning, not in place of it — so the first thing we check is whether your city (Boca Raton, Delray Beach, West Palm Beach, Jupiter, Wellington) or unincorporated county governs your parcel, since each runs a different ADU standard under that same ULDC framework.
From there, the coastal wind code sets your material budget. Impact-rated openings are code-required at 165–175 mph near the water, and sewer tap fees run $3,000–$12,000 on top of $5,000–$18,000 in impact fees for a detached unit. We put both numbers in writing before you sign — not a rough estimate you discover at permit issuance.
From Jupiter to Boca Raton — Palm Beach County is our primary market and where we've built our reputation since 2019.
Verified reviews from ADU and garage conversion projects across our home market.
"Dariceli told us upfront that our HOA 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 Lake Worth. D&Co handled the drawings, the permit, all the trades, and the CO. My son 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 for $2,100/month. The total project cost was $78,000. 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 Palm Beach County.
ADU cost in Palm Beach 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 Palm Beach County Building Division or the relevant city takes 4–12 weeks depending on scope complexity and jurisdiction. Some municipalities like Boca Raton have separate planning review before building permit submission. We manage this timeline and track the permit status — you're not waiting on hold with the county.
Depends on your CC&Rs. Many HOAs in Palm Beach County restrict or prohibit ADU construction — either by requiring architectural committee approval, specifying exterior material requirements, or prohibiting external dwelling units entirely. We review your HOA documents as part of the feasibility step before any money goes to drawings. Building without HOA approval creates a covenant violation with real legal exposure.
Setback and size limits vary by jurisdiction and zoning designation. In unincorporated Palm Beach County under R-1 zoning, ADUs must typically be at least 5 feet from side and rear property lines and cannot exceed 1,200 sq ft or 40% of the main dwelling's square footage. Boca Raton, Delray Beach, West Palm Beach, and other cities each have different rules. We review your specific parcel rules before quoting — not after you've paid for drawings.
ADU projects in Palm Beach County typically include: impact fees ($5,000–$18,000 for new construction), sewer tap fees ($3,000–$12,000), permit fees ($1,500–$6,000), 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 in Palm Beach County. 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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