The build itself: foundation, framing, kitchen, bath, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, and finishes for the new unit. Attached suites that share a wall typically land at the lower end.
ADUs & In-Law Suites · Manatee, Hillsborough & Pinellas, FL
ADUs & In-Law Suites in Manatee, Hillsborough & Pinellas
An accessory dwelling unit gives you a second living space on your property: a place for aging parents, an adult child, a guest space, or long-term rental income. Hildebrand builds detached ADUs, attached in-law suites, and garage-apartment units. Building a full living unit is structural work, which is exactly what a Florida Certified Building Contractor is licensed for, so we check what your specific lot and zoning allow before anything is designed.
Florida Certified Building Contractor · License CBC1257253 · Licensed since 2009
A second living unit, built by one licensed contractor
An accessory dwelling unit gives you a second living space on your property: a place for aging parents, an adult child, a guest space, or long-term rental income. Hildebrand builds detached ADUs, attached suites, and garage-apartment units across Manatee, Hillsborough, and Pinellas counties. Building a full living unit is structural work, which is exactly what a Florida Certified Building Contractor (CBC1257253) is licensed for.
The first step is always the same: we confirm what your specific lot and zoning allow before anything is designed, since ADU rules vary by city and county. In Manatee County, accessory dwelling units are permitted in certain zoning districts with size limits tied to your primary home, and a detached unit can carry its own setback requirements. Once we know your lot qualifies, we coordinate the engineering, produce permit-ready plans, pull the permits, and build the full unit with kitchen, bath, and a separate entrance to Florida code. Most ADUs run roughly $150,000 to $300,000 depending on size and finishes, plus site work and utility connections. An attached suite that shares a wall with the house generally costs less than a freestanding build of the same size.
What is included
- Licensed Certified Building Contractor (CBC1257253): cleared for the structural work a full living unit requires
- Detached ADUs, attached in-law suites, and garage-apartment units
- We confirm what your lot and zoning allow before any design, since ADU rules vary by city and county
- Engineering coordinated, permit-ready plans produced, every permit pulled
- An attached suite that shares a wall with the house generally costs less than a freestanding build
Honest ADU cost ranges
An ADU is a full second living unit, so it is priced like new construction, not a remodel. These are typical Florida ranges to help you plan. Every project is quoted in writing after a free in-home consultation, so the number you agree to is the number you pay.
On top of construction: permitting, engineering, site work, and connecting water, sewer or septic, and power to the new unit. This varies with your lot and how far the connections run.
A useful planning figure for a traditional build, higher for premium finishes. A garage-conversion ADU is the most affordable path in, since the walls and roof already exist.
Where your project lands depends on the size of the unit, whether it is attached or freestanding, your finishes, and how much site and utility work the lot needs. We walk all of that with you in person and put a firm price in writing, with no change-order surprises.
Recent construction and renovation work
A look at finished and in-progress work from local homes. We are adding more living-space projects as they wrap, so the gallery keeps growing.
Want to see work like yours? Browse the full gallery or book a free consultation.
From lot check to final walk-through in five steps
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01
Free Consultation and Lot Check
We come out, talk through what you want the unit to do, and check what your lot and zoning actually allow. No trip fee, no pressure. If the lot does not qualify, we tell you up front.
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02
Design and Written Estimate
We coordinate the engineering and produce a plan that fits your lot rules, then put scope, materials, timeline, and price in writing before any work begins. No surprises later.
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03
Permits and Schedule
We pull every required permit, line up the trades, and lock in a start date. You know exactly when we start and how long it takes.
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04
Build Under One Contractor
Our crew builds the full unit, kitchen, bath, utilities, and a separate entrance, all under one licensed contractor. You get a weekly update so you always know where the project stands.
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05
Final Walk-Through and Warranty
We walk the finished unit with you, fix anything on the punch list, and hand over your written workmanship warranty and manufacturer documentation.
Wondering if your lot qualifies for an ADU?
Call or text Josh and the team. We answer during business hours and follow up the next business day if we miss you.
Rated 5.0 on Google by Manatee, Hillsborough & Pinellas homeowners
★★★★★
My experience with Hildebrand Construction & Remodeling was excellent from start to finish. The team was professional, dependable, and highly skilled. They clearly explained the remodeling process, completed the project on time, and delivered high-quality workmanship. The job site was kept clean, communication was smooth throughout, and the final results exceeded my expectations.
★★★★★
Quality. Flexibility. Communication. Those three things really stood out to me. Josh and his team did a fantastic job working around our busy schedule while keeping the project moving forward. The team was very professional.
ADU and in-law suite questions, answered
Is an ADU even allowed on my lot?
That is the first thing we check, before any design. ADU rules vary by city and county, and Florida has been expanding where ADUs are allowed, so we confirm exactly what your lot permits. In Manatee County, accessory dwelling units are allowed in specific zoning districts, with size limits tied to your primary home and their own setback rules for a detached unit. If your lot does not qualify, we tell you up front rather than after you have paid for plans.
What does an ADU cost to build?
Most ADUs run roughly $150,000 to $300,000 for the construction, plus about $15,000 to $40,000 for permits, site work, and utility connections, which works out to roughly $150 to $300 per square foot for a traditional build. An attached suite that shares a wall with the house, or a garage-conversion ADU, costs less than a freestanding build of the same size. We put a firm price in writing after a free in-home consultation.
What is the difference between an ADU and an in-law suite?
They overlap. An in-law suite is living space for a family member, and it may share an entrance with the main house. A true accessory dwelling unit is a separate, self-contained unit with its own kitchen, bath, and entrance, and it can be rented. We build both, and during the lot check we help you decide which one fits your goals and what your zoning allows.
Can I convert my garage into an ADU instead?
Often, yes, and it is usually the most affordable route since the walls and roof already exist. A converted garage with its own kitchen and a separate entrance becomes an ADU and follows ADU rules. See our garage conversions page, and we will confirm during the lot check whether your garage can become a full unit or a finished room.
Do you handle the permits and engineering?
Yes. As a licensed Florida Certified Building Contractor we coordinate the structural engineering, produce permit-ready plans, pull every required permit, and meet every Florida Building Code inspection. Because an ADU is a full living unit, that structural work is exactly what our CBC license covers. You do not have to coordinate any of that with the county yourself.
Are you licensed and insured in Florida?
Yes. Hildebrand Construction & Remodeling is a Florida Certified Building Contractor, license CBC1257253, and fully insured. We have been Florida-licensed since 2009, and Josh has 22 years of hands-on construction experience. You can verify our license at myfloridalicense.com.
Other work we handle across Manatee, Hillsborough & Pinellas
Home Additions
Room additions and second-story additions, engineered, permitted, and built to Florida code.
Add under-air space →Garage Conversions
A converted garage with a kitchen and a separate entrance becomes an ADU, and it is the most affordable route in.
The cheapest path to a unit →Whole-Home Renovations
Multi-room and full-house renovations managed under one licensed contractor from demo through final inspection.
Weekly updates →Free In-Home Consultation. Honest Written Estimate.
No pressure, no obligation. We come out, check what your lot allows, and put the scope and price in writing. Verify our license yourself at myfloridalicense.com.