ADU in Pembroke Pines, FL
An ADU in Pembroke Pines starts with the permit set, not the groundbreaking. Florida’s 2023 preemption law opened the door statewide, but HOA deed restrictions recorded decades ago still govern most of this city, so the drawings and the covenant review have to move together. We lead with ADU Design & Permitting because a Pembroke Pines project that skips that step usually dies at the board meeting, not the building department. Call (971) 497-2402 for a written price before anything is drawn.
Why Pembroke Pines Homes Are Different
Pembroke Pines developed fast between the late 1970s and mid-1990s, and the housing stock shows it: single-story CBS homes on slab foundations, mostly in large planned subdivisions with rear yards that were never sized for a second structure. A detached ADU on a typical lot here is a geometry problem before it is a construction problem, which is why so many homeowners end up converting garages or attaching to the existing footprint.
The HOA layer is the sharper edge. Century Village and dozens of similar age-restricted communities cover a meaningful share of the city’s residential land, and their CC&Rs define “single-family” in language written before anyone thought about ADUs. Those private covenants can prohibit a second dwelling unit outright, even where city and state law now allow it. We pull the recorded plat and community declarations before quoting, because discovering a 1980s deed restriction after permit submission wastes weeks and kills the project.
Then there is the water. Broward County’s shallow water table and scattered FEMA flood zones push ADU slabs and utility runs to base flood elevation, which adds survey and fill costs you would not see in inland Florida. Add the post-Hurricane Andrew building code requiring impact-resistant windows, doors, and roof assemblies, and the materials line on a Pembroke Pines ADU is simply higher than it is in other states.
Our Main Pembroke Pines Services
Two service types dominate our Pembroke Pines workload: garage conversions and new detached units. Each has its own detailed page with pricing, permit realities, and local conditions.
Garage Conversion ADU in Pembroke Pines
Most Pembroke Pines garages are attached CBS structures under the same roof line as the house, which makes them the fastest path to a permitted ADU. The existing slab, walls, and roof are already there, so the work concentrates on insulation, fenestration upgrades to meet wind-borne debris standards, and separating the mechanical systems. Tight rear yards in subdivisions like Pembroke Falls and SilverLakes rarely accommodate a detached unit, so the garage becomes the sensible square footage. Read the full breakdown on our Garage Conversion ADU in Pembroke Pines page.

New Detached ADU in Pembroke Pines
A new detached ADU in Pembroke Pines works when the lot is deep enough to hold one, and that usually means the older, larger properties east of University Drive or the estate-style lots in gated communities. The slab, utilities, and structure are all new, which is why the permit set matters more here than anywhere else: setbacks, easements, and flood elevation all get locked on paper before a single block is laid. See the full cost structure and permitting sequence on our New Detached ADU in Pembroke Pines 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 Pembroke Pines

ADU Design & Permitting in Pembroke Pines is the service that determines whether your project is legal before you spend a dollar on construction. The city’s 1980s and 1990s plats carry setback easements and use restrictions that no contractor can see from the street, and the HOA declarations layer on top of that. We pull the plat, the CC&Rs, and the flood map before we draw a single line. This is the core of what ADU Design & Permitting means in Ellery’s single-contract model: the drawings, the permit set, and the construction are one contract at one written price.
Site Assessment
Signs you need it
Your lot is narrow, your rear yard is shallow, or your community has a recorded declaration older than the current ADU statute.
What it costs in Pembroke Pines
Site assessment runs $250-$1,500 depending on whether we need a full survey, a flood-zone determination, and HOA document retrieval.
How we do it
We pull the recorded plat, plat easements, HOA declarations, FEMA panel, and city zoning overlay, then write a one-page feasibility letter with the specific restrictions that apply to your address.
Permit Application
Signs you need it
You have drawings but have hit HOA conditional approval, flood-zone elevation requirements, or an unclear setback variance.
What it costs in Pembroke Pines
Permit application and expediting run $1,500-$3,500 in Pembroke Pines, exclusive of the city’s own filing and impact fees.
How we do it
We assemble the full permit set, respond to plan-review comments in writing, and carry the file through to an issued permit with a recorded photo log of every submission.
HOA & Zoning Compliance
Signs you need it
Your community has an approval committee, architectural guidelines, or a 1980s declaration that uses “single-family” language no one updated for ADUs.
What it costs in Pembroke Pines
HOA and zoning compliance review runs $750-$1,500, including the written covenant analysis we attach to your permit application.
How we do it
We read the recorded declaration, map it against Florida’s 2023 preemption law, and produce a compliance letter that states plainly what the HOA can and cannot enforce.
What ADU Design & Permitting Costs in Pembroke Pines
| Item | Typical range in Pembroke Pines |
|---|---|
| Site Assessment | $250-$1,500 |
| ADU Design & Blueprints | $1,500-$3,500 |
| Permit Application & Expediting | $1,500-$3,500 |
Does Pembroke Pines require HOA approval for an ADU?
Yes, for most communities. Florida’s 2023 preemption law stops the city from banning ADUs, but it cannot override recorded CC&Rs. We review your HOA’s declaration before filing, not after. Call (971) 497-2402 for a written covenant analysis.
How long does ADU permitting take in Pembroke Pines?
Plan on 4 to 8 weeks once the application is complete, plus HOA review time if your community has an architectural committee. We track every comment and respond the same week. Call (971) 497-2402 to start with a site assessment.
Junior ADU & Interior Conversion in Pembroke Pines

Junior ADU & Interior Conversion in Pembroke Pines is the fastest legal path to a second dwelling unit when your lot cannot hold a detached structure. Florida’s 2023 preemption law treats attached and interior conversions as permitted residential uses, which means a garage, a bonus room, or an underused wing of the house can become a rentable or family unit without the setback fights that come with new construction. We handle the design, the permit set, and the build as one Junior ADU & Interior Conversion contract, so the interior remodels and the paperwork are not two separate jobs.
Room-to-ADU Conversion
Signs you need it
You have a formal dining room, den, or rear bedroom you do not use, and the square footage needs to earn rent or house a family member.
What it costs in Pembroke Pines
Room-to-ADU conversion runs $80,000-$150,000 in Pembroke Pines, including the separate entrance, kitchenette, and permitting.
How we do it
We frame the separate entrance, run dedicated electrical and plumbing, install a compact kitchenette, and file the permit set with interior-conversion drawings.
Interior JADU
Signs you need it
You want a fully independent junior unit inside the existing footprint, typically a bedroom with its own exterior door and a kitchenette.
What it costs in Pembroke Pines
Interior JADUs run $50,000-$90,000 in Pembroke Pines depending on whether we add a bathroom or convert an existing one.
How we do it
We file for the JADU classification, run the egress door and kitchenette plumbing, and keep the work inside the existing building envelope.
What Junior ADU & Interior Conversion Costs in Pembroke Pines
| Item | Typical range in Pembroke Pines |
|---|---|
| Room-to-ADU Conversion | $80,000-$150,000 |
| Interior JADU | $50,000-$90,000 |
| Attached Addition ADU | $120,000-$200,000 |
Can a Pembroke Pines HOA block a junior ADU?
Yes, the HOA’s recorded declaration can restrict interior conversions even though state law permits them. We read the CC&Rs first and tell you plainly whether your community allows it. Call (971) 497-2402 for a free covenant review.
Do interior conversions need impact-resistant windows in Pembroke Pines?
Yes, any new window or door in a livable conversion must meet Broward County’s wind-borne debris standards. We include that in the materials line, not as a change order. Call (971) 497-2402 for a written scope.
ADU Site Prep & Utilities in Pembroke Pines

ADU Site Prep & Utilities in Pembroke Pines carries the site-specific costs most estimates miss: flood elevation, shallow groundwater, and 1980s infrastructure that was never sized for a second dwelling. The work is substantially defined by Broward County’s base flood elevation standards, which can force a slab to be raised one to three feet above grade, and by the electrical and plumbing laterals that feed a 40-year-old CBS house. We scope these surveys, the fill, the connections, and the inspections as one ADU Site Prep & Utilities line item under the same written contract.
Foundation & Grading
Signs you need it
The ADU pad falls inside a FEMA flood zone, or the city asks for a base flood elevation certificate before issuing your permit.
What it costs in Pembroke Pines
Foundation and grading run $15,000-$35,000 in Pembroke Pines, with fill and compaction costs driven by the flood elevation requirement.
How we do it
We order the survey, run the flood-zone determination, haul and compact the fill, and pour the slab to the elevation on the stamped drawings.
Electrical Panel Upgrade
Signs you need it
Your existing panel is a 100-amp or 150-amp unit, and the new ADU adds a kitchen, a mini-split, and laundry circuits.
What it costs in Pembroke Pines
Panel upgrades run $2,500-$5,000 for a 200-amp replacement, including the permit and the utility coordination.
How we do it
We pull the electrical permit, swap the panel, run the subpanel feed to the ADU, and schedule the city inspection with photo documentation of the work.
Plumbing Lateral
Signs you need it
The ADU needs its own water and sewer connection, and the existing lateral is cast iron, undersized, or buried under a patio.
What it costs in Pembroke Pines
Plumbing lateral work runs $3,000-$8,000 depending on the run length and whether we trench through pavement or existing landscaping.
How we do it
We locate the city tap, trench the lateral to the ADU, run new PVC or PEX, and test the line before backfill and inspection.
What ADU Site Prep & Utilities Costs in Pembroke Pines
| Item | Typical range in Pembroke Pines |
|---|---|
| Foundation & Grading | $15,000-$35,000 |
| Electrical Panel Upgrade | $2,500-$5,000 |
| Plumbing Lateral | $3,000-$8,000 |
Does every Pembroke Pines ADU need flood elevation work?
No, only lots inside mapped FEMA flood zones. We check the flood panel before quoting so the survey and fill costs appear in your price before work begins. Call (971) 497-2402 for a site assessment.
Can I keep the existing sewer line for the ADU?
Sometimes, if the pipe size and condition pass a camera inspection. If it does not, the lateral replacement becomes a line item in the written scope. Call (971) 497-2402 for a plumbing evaluation.
Brands We Service in Pembroke Pines

We specify and coordinate prefab and modular systems from Abodu, Cover, and Dvele inside the same single contract. Panels and kit components are ordered to spec and delivered to your Pembroke Pines site, with lead times confirmed in writing before the permit application. See our brands for the full list.
Pricing for ADU in Pembroke Pines, FL
| Service | Typical range in Pembroke Pines |
|---|---|
| ADU Design & Blueprints | $1,500-$3,500 |
| Permit Application & Expediting | $1,500-$3,500 |
| Room-to-ADU Conversion | $80,000-$150,000 |
| Interior JADU | $50,000-$90,000 |
| Attached Addition ADU | $120,000-$200,000 |
| Foundation & Grading | $15,000-$35,000 |
| Electrical Panel Upgrade | $2,500-$5,000 |
| Plumbing Lateral | $3,000-$8,000 |
In Pembroke Pines, flood-zone fill, HOA compliance letters, and impact-rated windows push the materials and site costs up against the base scope. Every Ellery project carries a written price before work starts, per Haven Standard Clause 1, so the number you approve is the number you pay.
Neighborhoods We Serve in Pembroke Pines

We work across Pembroke Pines, from the HOA-governed planned communities to the older lots on the city’s east side. Response time for a site assessment is typically the same week, scheduled around your availability.
- Century Village
- Pembroke Falls
- SilverLakes
- Chapel Trail
- Grand Palms
Service Area - Cities Near Pembroke Pines
Our crews serve Pembroke Pines and the surrounding South Broward and North Miami-Dade cities. We also work in Miami Gardens, FL, Plantation, FL, Hialeah, FL, and North Miami Beach, FL. Dispatch and scheduling are coordinated from our South Florida office, with crews serving Pembroke Pines locally.
Serving Pembroke Pines, FL - Our Local Coverage Area

We’re based in the Pembroke Pines 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 Pembroke Pines
Florida’s 2023 preemption law blocks the city from prohibiting ADUs, but it does not override recorded deed restrictions. If your HOA’s CC&Rs prohibit a second dwelling unit, that covenant is enforceable. We read the declaration and tell you plainly before you spend money on drawings. Call (971) 497-2402 for a free covenant review.
Expect $100,000 to $400,000 all-in depending on conversion versus detached, flood-zone requirements, and material upgrades like impact windows. We give you a written price before work starts, not a range that drifts after the contract is signed. Call (971) 497-2402 for a written scope.
Yes. We assemble the architectural package your HOA requires, attend the review if needed, and track the approval alongside the city permit. The two processes run in parallel so one is not waiting on the other. Call (971) 497-2402 to start with a site assessment.
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 Pembroke Pines Customers Say
"Every allowance was itemised at the start, so the finish selections did not turn into a surprise at the end."
- Benedict H."Handled the whole planning process. We went to one hearing and that was it."
- Rowena C."Garage conversion finished on the drawings and close to the schedule. They were honest that the sewer connection was the unknown, and it was."
- Arjun D.