ADU in Palm Beach Gardens, FL
ADU Design & Permitting in Palm Beach Gardens starts with a written scope and price, because the permit set is the core of every project we take on. Most Palm Beach Gardens ADU jobs begin as either a garage conversion inside an existing CBS home or a new detached unit squeezed onto a lot that was platted decades before secondary units existed. The defining challenge here is rarely the build itself. It is the collision between Florida’s newer ADU-friendly state law and the HOA covenants that still govern communities like PGA National, BallenIsles, Ibis, and Mirasol. We handle both, in one contract, at one written price. Call (971) 497-2402 to start with a site assessment.
Why Palm Beach Gardens Homes Are Different
Palm Beach Gardens was master-planned from near-scratch by developer John D. MacArthur, which is why the city has an unusually high concentration of HOA-governed golf communities. That matters for ADU work in a specific way: deed restrictions in communities like PGA National and BallenIsles have historically blocked secondary units on lots where the city zoning would otherwise allow them. State law has shifted, but the architectural review committees have not always followed. A Palm Beach Gardens ADU often has two approval tracks running at once: the city permit and the HOA submission package, each with its own timeline and its own design standards.
The housing stock compounds this. The dominant product is CBS, concrete block stucco, built in waves from the late 1970s through the 2000s. These homes were platted with setbacks and lot coverage limits that never anticipated a detached ADU, so rear and side yard constraints drive a lot of what we design. Garage conversions are a common workaround, but here again the HOA standards in golf communities often regulate exterior finishes and entry visibility. Add Palm Beach County’s high-velocity wind zone, which requires every structure, including prefab and modular units, to meet wind resistance standards for 160 to 175 mph gusts, and you have a cost structure that simply does not match what you will see quoted in other states. The western PBG corridor near the Loxahatchee preserve also sits on a seasonally elevated water table, which limits foundation options and forces careful drainage planning before the first inspection.
Our Main Palm Beach Gardens Services
Two services account for most of the calls we take from Palm Beach Gardens homeowners. Both have their own dedicated pages with full pricing and local detail.
Garage Conversion ADU in Palm Beach Gardens
A garage conversion is the most practical ADU path for many Palm Beach Gardens lots where a detached unit would violate plat setbacks or HOA coverage limits. The existing CBS shell is already wind-rated and already on a slab, which removes two of the largest cost lines from a new build. The work that remains is substantial: reclassifying the garage as conditioned living space, upgrading the electrical panel, adding egress, insulation, and a proper HVAC split, and securing HOA architectural approval if the community’s covenants apply. See the full breakdown on the Garage Conversion ADU in Palm Beach Gardens page.
New Detached ADU in Palm Beach Gardens
A new detached ADU in Palm Beach Gardens is a different animal entirely. You are working against plat-defined setbacks, lot coverage limits written in the 1980s, and a water table that can constrain foundation choices. The wind code adds real cost to framing, anchoring, and fenestration. Yet a detached unit also gives you the cleanest separation: separate address, separate utility laterals, and no shared wall with the primary residence. We specify prefab systems from brands like Cover and Dvele where they fit the lot, but the permit set is always ours. Details are on the New Detached ADU in Palm Beach Gardens page.
What happens when you call
- 1
A real person answersNo phone trees - you reach a local pro.
- 2
You get an upfront price rangeHonest numbers before anyone is dispatched.
- 3
A background-checked tech heads outLicensed & insured, dispatched right away.
- 4
You approve before work beginsNothing starts until you say go.
ADU Design & Permitting in Palm Beach Gardens
ADU Design & Permitting in Palm Beach Gardens is where most projects either succeed or stall. The city permit process runs in parallel with HOA architectural review in communities like PGA National, BallenIsles, Ibis, and Mirasol, and the two reviews do not talk to each other. A permit set that passes the city can still be rejected by an HOA committee that has its own design standards and a 30 to 90 day review gauntlet. Our job is to produce one set of drawings that satisfies both, with the documentation the city wants and the presentation the HOA committee needs. We have delivered this as a single contract since 2015, and the permit set is the product. Under Haven Standard Clause 1, you receive a written price and a written scope before any work begins. See the full breakdown on our ADU Design & Permitting hub page.
Site Assessment
Signs you need it
You have a survey in hand but are still unsure whether a detached ADU will fit within the plat setbacks, lot coverage limits, and HOA buffer rules that govern most Palm Beach Gardens communities.
What it costs in Palm Beach Gardens
A site assessment in Palm Beach Gardens typically runs $600 to $1,800 depending on the lot size and whether we are mapping drainage, tree protection zones, and existing utility laterals.
How we do it
We walk the lot with the survey, document existing conditions with photos, check setback and coverage limits against the plat, flag drainage and water table concerns, and deliver a written feasibility note with a recommended path forward.
ADU Design & Blueprints
Signs you need it
You know you want an ADU but cannot answer the questions the city and the HOA will ask, like finished floor elevation, wind load path, and fixture count.
What it costs in Palm Beach Gardens
Design and blueprint work in Palm Beach Gardens typically ranges from $7,000 to $12,000 for a full permit set, including architectural drawings, structural notes, and the HOA submission package.
How we do it
We draft the full permit set, coordinate structural engineering, run the Title 24 energy calcs, and assemble the HOA submission package in parallel so both tracks move together.
HOA & Zoning Compliance
Signs you need it
Your community is one of the golf-course HOA properties in Palm Beach Gardens, and you have already been told, informally or in writing, that an ADU is not allowed.
What it costs in Palm Beach Gardens
HOA and zoning compliance work in Palm Beach Gardens typically runs $1,200 to $2,500, covering the research, the submission package, and one round of written responses to the architectural review committee.
How we do it
We review the governing documents against current state law, build the submission package with renderings and material boards, and document your appeal rights before the first permit application is filed with the city.
What ADU Design & Permitting Costs in Palm Beach Gardens
| Item | Typical range in Palm Beach Gardens |
|---|---|
| Site Assessment | $600 - $1,800 |
| ADU Design & Blueprints | $7,000 - $12,000 |
| HOA & Zoning Compliance | $1,200 - $2,500 |
How long does ADU design and permitting take in Palm Beach Gardens?
Budget 4 to 7 months from first walk to issued permit in Palm Beach Gardens. The HOA review alone can run 30 to 90 days, and city plan check in Palm Beach County often runs concurrently. Call (971) 497-2402 for a written timeline.
Will my HOA actually approve an ADU in Palm Beach Gardens?
Many still deny on first submission, but state law has shifted the ground. We build the HOA package and document your appeal rights before the city permit is filed. Call (971) 497-2402 for a feasibility review.
Junior ADU & Interior Conversion in Palm Beach Gardens
A Junior ADU & Interior Conversion in Palm Beach Gardens repurposes square footage you already own, which is often the cleanest path through the city and the HOA. Existing rooms, attics, and attached spaces already have the roof, the slab, and the exterior walls in place, so the wind code and the water table become less of a cost driver than they are on a new detached build. The tradeoff is that an interior conversion or JADU rarely adds a separate address, which matters for rental income and resale valuation. We have handled these as a single contract since 2015, and the full service detail lives on our Junior ADU & Interior Conversion hub page.
Room-to-ADU Conversion
Signs you need it
You have a bedroom, den, or bonus room with its own exterior entry or a wall where one can be added, and the HOA will not approve a detached structure.
What it costs in Palm Beach Gardens
A room-to-ADU conversion in Palm Beach Gardens typically runs $80,000 to $130,000 depending on plumbing runs, egress requirements, and the condition of the existing electrical panel.
How we do it
We verify the existing space against current code, add the kitchenette and bath where the plumbing allows, upgrade egress and smoke separation, and deliver a documented photo record of every visit.
Attached Addition ADU
Signs you need it
You want a true separate unit but the rear setback and lot coverage limits in your Palm Beach Gardens community leave no legal room for a detached structure.
What it costs in Palm Beach Gardens
An attached addition ADU in Palm Beach Gardens typically ranges from $180,000 to $260,000 all-in, from drawings through final inspection, depending on square footage and wind-load detailing.
How we do it
We design the addition against the existing CBS wall, carry the roof line through with proper wind-rated connections, and run the new plumbing and electrical services from the existing panel where capacity allows.
What Junior ADU & Interior Conversion Costs in Palm Beach Gardens
| Item | Typical range in Palm Beach Gardens |
|---|---|
| Room-to-ADU Conversion | $80,000 - $130,000 |
| Attached Addition ADU | $180,000 - $260,000 |
Does a Junior ADU in Palm Beach Gardens need its own kitchen?
A JADU requires an efficiency kitchen with a cooking appliance and a food prep counter, but it can share the primary home’s water and sewer laterals. Call (971) 497-2402 for the exact scope on your lot.
Will an interior conversion trigger a full house re-permit in Palm Beach Gardens?
Not usually. The city reviews the conversion as a scope-limited alteration, though panel upgrades and egress changes can pull in additional review. Call (971) 497-2402 and we will confirm before you commit.
ADU Site Prep & Utilities in Palm Beach Gardens
ADU Site Prep & Utilities in Palm Beach Gardens is the part of the job that the glossier ADU conversations skip. The western PBG corridor near the Loxahatchee preserve has a seasonally elevated water table that limits foundation options, and every detached unit here has to be anchored and drained for high-velocity wind and heavy wet-season rainfall. Add the reality that many CBS homes from the 1980s and 1990s still have their original 100-amp or 150-amp panels, and the utility work frequently becomes a project within the project. We handle all of it under the same single contract and the same written price. The full service detail is on our ADU Site Prep & Utilities hub page.
Foundation & Grading
Signs you need it
Your lot sits west of Military Trail toward the preserve, or you have standing water after a hard rain, and you need a foundation that will not wick moisture into the ADU.
What it costs in Palm Beach Gardens
Foundation and grading work in Palm Beach Gardens typically runs $12,000 to $28,000 depending on slab versus stem wall, fill requirements, and how much grade correction the drainage plan demands.
How we do it
We pull the soil boring, design the foundation to the water table and wind code, set the formwork and reinforcement, and document the pour with photos before the slab cures.
Electrical Panel Upgrade
Signs you need it
Your panel is original to a 1980s or 1990s CBS home, and the ADU’s HVAC, cooktop, and water heater will push the load calculation past what the panel can legally carry.
What it costs in Palm Beach Gardens
An electrical panel upgrade in Palm Beach Gardens typically runs $2,000 to $3,500 for a 200-amp service swap, depending on the meter socket and whether the utility requires a new riser.
How we do it
We run the load calculation, pull the electrical permit, coordinate the utility shutdown, swap the panel, and land the new subpanel feeder for the ADU.
Plumbing Lateral
Signs you need it
Your detached ADU will sit far enough from the main house that tying into the existing sewer line would require a pump or a new lateral run.
What it costs in Palm Beach Gardens
A new plumbing lateral in Palm Beach Gardens typically runs $4,000 to $9,000 depending on the run length, trench depth, and whether the existing line has capacity.
How we do it
We camera the existing line, mark the run, trench to the correct depth for Palm Beach County’s water table, lay the new lateral, and air-test before backfill.
What ADU Site Prep & Utilities Costs in Palm Beach Gardens
| Item | Typical range in Palm Beach Gardens |
|---|---|
| Foundation & Grading | $12,000 - $28,000 |
| Electrical Panel Upgrade | $2,000 - $3,500 |
| Plumbing Lateral | $4,000 - $9,000 |
Does Palm Beach Gardens require a soil test for an ADU foundation?
Yes for detached units on the western corridor. The city and the structural engineer will want a boring or probe report to set the foundation design. Call (971) 497-2402 and we will coordinate it.
Can I keep my existing electrical panel for a garage conversion ADU?
Sometimes, if the load calculation clears. Many 1980s and 1990s Palm Beach Gardens panels do not clear once an ADU HVAC is added. Call (971) 497-2402 for a written answer after we review the panel.
Brands We Service in Palm Beach Gardens
We specify and coordinate prefab and modular systems from Cover, Dvele, and Mighty Buildings in Palm Beach Gardens, along with structural components from James Hardie. Parts and panels are ordered during the permit phase so they arrive before the site crew is scheduled. See our brands for details on what we coordinate.
Pricing for ADU in Palm Beach Gardens, FL
| Service | Typical range in Palm Beach Gardens |
|---|---|
| Site Assessment | $600 - $1,800 |
| ADU Design & Blueprints | $7,000 - $12,000 |
| HOA & Zoning Compliance | $1,200 - $2,500 |
| Room-to-ADU Conversion | $80,000 - $130,000 |
| Attached Addition ADU | $180,000 - $260,000 |
| Foundation & Grading | $12,000 - $28,000 |
| Electrical Panel Upgrade | $2,000 - $3,500 |
| Plumbing Lateral | $4,000 - $9,000 |
The two Palm Beach Gardens cost drivers we see most are HOA design review friction and wind-code detailing on framing and fenestration. Neither is negotiable, and both are priced in writing before any work starts, per Haven Standard Clause 1.
Neighborhoods We Serve in Palm Beach Gardens
We work across the full span of Palm Beach Gardens, from the golf-community corridor around PGA National and BallenIsles to the western reaches near Mirasol and the Loxahatchee preserve edge.
- PGA National
- BallenIsles
- Mirasol
- Ibis
- Sandhill and west PBG corridor
Response time across the Palm Beach Gardens service area is typically within one business day for a site walk, and we schedule around HOA access rules.
Service Area - Cities Near Palm Beach Gardens
We also serve homeowners in Jupiter, FL, West Palm Beach, FL, Wellington, FL, and Lake Worth, FL. Dispatch and scheduling are coordinated from our Miami office, and crews serve Palm Beach Gardens locally.
Serving Palm Beach Gardens, FL - Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Palm Beach Gardens area and know this community well. Use the map below to see our service coverage - if you’re nearby, we can almost certainly help.
FAQs About ADU in Palm Beach Gardens
Florida’s Live Local Act and later legislation created new homeowner rights, but HOAs in Palm Beach Gardens still run their own architectural review with separate design standards and timelines. State law gives you appeal rights; it does not remove the HOA process. We build the submission package and document the appeal path before the city permit is filed. Call (971) 497-2402 for a written assessment of your governing documents.
Budget 10 to 16 months for a detached ADU and 6 to 10 months for a garage or interior conversion in Palm Beach Gardens. The HOA review is often the longest single variable, running 30 to 90 days before the city even sees the plans. Call (971) 497-2402 for a timeline specific to your community.
We pull every permit for the project, including the HOA architectural submission, the building permit, and any electrical, plumbing, or mechanical sub-permits. The permit set is part of the single contract and the single written price. Call (971) 497-2402 to start with a site assessment.
Call (971) 497-2402 to schedule your free estimate. We answer the phone with a live person, and your written price is delivered before any work begins.
What happens when you call
- 1A real person answersNo phone trees - talk to a local adu pro.
- 2You get an upfront price rangeHonest numbers before anyone is dispatched. No surprises.
- 3We come out and measureLicensed & insured, at a time that suits you - the visit and the quote are both free.
- 4You get the price in writingLine-itemed, yours to keep, and nothing starts until you say go.
What Palm Beach Gardens Customers Say
"The permit set and the build were one contract with one number. Our neighbours used two firms and spent a year watching them blame each other."
- Helena V."The rental income has covered the payment since the second month. They were realistic about the numbers rather than optimistic."
- Odette N."They walked us through setbacks and utility capacity before we paid anything, and told us one of our two options was not going to get approved."
- Mireille T.