From garage conversion to fully detached accessory dwelling unit. Design, permits, construction, and certificate of occupancy — all under one licensed GC contract. Built for Broward 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 Broward County
Garage conversions are the fastest and most cost-effective ADU option in Broward 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 Broward 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 Broward 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 Broward 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.
Broward County · What property owners need to know
Broward County amended its zoning code in 2023 to permit ADUs — but only in specific districts, with real size caps and an owner-occupancy rule. Getting it wrong at the zoning stage is the most expensive mistake on an ADU project.
Pembroke Pines adopted Ordinance No. 2022, codified in LDC Sections 155.620–155.621, permitting ADUs between 300 and 1,000 sq ft that must architecturally match the main home. The property must be connected to city sewer — septic systems don't qualify — and only one ADU is allowed per lot. Notably, ADUs are not permitted in PUD communities like Walnut Creek or Grand Palms. We confirm your property's eligibility before any design work begins.
Broward sits inside Florida's High-Velocity Hurricane Zone, with ultimate design wind speeds running as high as 170 mph depending on exposure and distance from the coast. Every window, door, garage door, and roofing product needs a Miami-Dade or Broward County Notice of Acceptance (NOA) on file — a standard non-rated product isn't legal to install. We spec NOA-rated materials from the first drawing, not as a change order after a failed inspection.
Unlike many Broward cities, Pembroke Pines does not require the owner to live in the main house or the ADU — a real advantage for investment property owners. The city's Planning & Economic Development Department runs review separately from unincorporated Broward County, and PUD communities carry their own HOA restrictions on top of the city ordinance. We review both the city code and your HOA's CC&Rs before you spend a dollar on design.
Detached ADUs need a new electrical sub-panel or meter, a water connection, and a sewer tap — and in Broward County that tap fee alone runs $3,000–$12,000 depending on which city's utility provider serves your address. We put the actual number in your written scope before you sign, not a rough estimate you discover at permit issuance.
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 Broward 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.
Zoning confirmation, architectural drawings, 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 for a zoning-restricted project like this, now available across Broward County.
We bring the same feasibility-first ADU process we built across Broward County to Pembroke Pines's new ordinance. Here is what shapes every project in this city.
Pembroke Pines's biggest trap isn't the building code — it's whether your property qualifies at all. Because the new ordinance requires a city sewer connection and bars ADUs entirely in PUD communities like Walnut Creek and Grand Palms, the first question on every Pembroke Pines inquiry is whether the property is even eligible, not what it will cost. We run that check in week one, before a single drawing is started.
Once eligibility clears, the HVHZ wind code and the architectural-match requirement are what shape the design — the ADU has to echo the main home's roof pitch and exterior materials, not just meet a size cap. We price the real number against your specific property before you sign anything.
From Chapel Trail to Towngate — Pembroke Pines is part of our Broward County market, backed by 10+ years of licensed GC experience in South Florida.
Verified reviews from ADU and garage conversion projects across South Florida.
"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 Broward County.
ADU cost in Pembroke Pines 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 the Planning & Economic Development Department takes 4–12 weeks depending on scope complexity, including verification of sewer connection and PUD status. 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 condo associations in Broward 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 governing documents as part of the feasibility step before any money goes to drawings. Building without approval creates a covenant violation with real legal exposure.
Under Ordinance No. 2022 (LDC §§155.620–155.621, effective June 18, 2024), Pembroke Pines allows ADUs between 300 and 1,000 sq ft that architecturally match the main home's design. The property must be connected to city sewer, and ADUs are not allowed in PUD communities such as Walnut Creek or Grand Palms. We confirm your property's eligibility before any design work begins.
ADU projects in Pembroke Pines typically include: impact fees ($5,000–$18,000 for new construction), sewer tap fees ($3,000–$12,000 — required, since septic properties don't qualify), 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. 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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