Property condition & permits
Martha Bright Farms: Buying a House With Outbuildings
Quick answer
Treat each outbuilding as its own small purchase. For every workshop, garage, shed or guest house, confirm the permit history, what it may legally be used for, how it's insured and its condition. A guest house you plan to rent out or a workshop with heavy electrical needs more checking than a small storage shed. Don't pay extra for a building until you know it can stay and be used the way you plan.
Match accessory use regulations to the actual outbuilding
Davie’s Land Development Code, Article III separates permitted uses (§12-32), general regulations (§12-33) and standards for specific uses (§12-34). These are the starting points for an accessory residential structure, agricultural storage building or guest accommodation; the applicable district and current text matter more than the listing’s label.
Give Planning & Zoning a survey, dimensions, setbacks and a description of the intended use: storage, workshop, animal shelter or living space. Ask which accessory-use standards, lot coverage limits, separations and district rules apply. Agricultural terminology, a large lot or an appraiser classification does not establish a blanket building-permit exemption or residential rental entitlement.
Check the Davie permit search separately for building, electrical and plumbing scope and inspection closure. Ask about any nonconforming status or required additional approvals without presuming a permit will be granted. A zoning inquiry, association consent and building approval answer different questions.
An outbuilding checklist
| Outbuilding | Key question | Who answers it |
|---|---|---|
| Guest house | Can it be lived in or rented? | Town of Davie Planning & Zoning |
| Workshop | Is the electrical permitted and safe? | Permit records, electrician |
| Detached garage | Permitted size and setbacks? | Permit records, survey |
| Sheds | Tied down? In an easement? | Inspector, survey |
Insurance
Ask your insurance agent how detached structures are covered and whether they need to be listed. Get the quote during your inspection period.
Condition
- Roof and anchoring
- Electrical and plumbing feeds from the main house
- Termite and moisture damage
- Drainage around the slab
If you plan to rent a guest house
Ask the Town of Davie what's allowed before you count on rental income. Rules on accessory dwellings vary by zoning district.
Related Mora Realty Davie pages
Sources
- Davie Land Development Code — Article III — Permitted uses, general regulations and specific-use standards; confirm current parcel applicability