Oldsmar is asking its residents a simple question with a lot of opinions behind it: should more homeowners be allowed to build a granny flat in the backyard?
The city held a town hall Thursday night to collect input on a possible expansion of where accessory dwelling units, often called mother-in-law suites or granny flats, can be built, Tampa Bay 28 reported.
The current rules
Right now, ADUs are allowed in a couple of areas within Oldsmar's Town Center, according to the station. They can't be used as short-term rentals, and under the current city code they can only be occupied by family members of the primary property owner.
City Manager Felicia Donnelly said the discussion stems from the comprehensive plan the city adopted in 2023.
"Under that plan, a policy directed the city to explore the expansion of the district. So that's what we're doing," Donnelly said.
What's on the table
The proposal under consideration would make 274 more parcels eligible for ADUs, Tampa Bay 28 reported.
That doesn't mean 274 new units. City officials estimate that, based on a 0.4% ADU building rate seen in St. Petersburg, Oldsmar could see about 11 new ADUs over the next 10 years if the expansion goes ahead.
Donnelly said the city wants residents to help shape the details. "We're asking for their input and those basic questions. Do you want to see it expanded? Under what circumstances do you want to see it expanded? And what are the things that residents are concerned about?" she said.
Residents split
The town hall drew people on both sides, according to the station. Some see ADUs as another housing option for families, especially those caring for aging relatives. Others worry about more development and losing Oldsmar's small-town feel.
"I just think as you get older and you wanted to have your family either come and live with you or the younger family is there and they need their parents to be taken care of, the ADU would be a great concept," resident Jeri Antozzi said.
Resident Nikki Sprague saw it differently. "It seems like Oldsmar is not completely wall-to-wall yet, so they're going to make it that way, and that just seems like this was a small town inside of a big city. Can we please leave it that way?" she said.
Jeff Henninger agreed the city should protect its character. "It's called a city, but we consider it a small town, especially compared to everything around here. We want to keep it that way," he said.
What happens next
No decisions have been made, the city said. Residents who missed the town hall can weigh in through an online survey. Oldsmar and Forward Pinellas will collect and review the feedback, then pass it along to the City Council and Planning Board as officials consider next steps.
Why it matters for contractors
On paper, Oldsmar's proposal is small. City officials themselves estimate roughly 11 new ADUs over a decade, which won't keep any builder busy for long. But the details of how the city writes the rules will decide whether those projects are worth doing.
The biggest factor is who can live in an ADU. As long as the code limits occupancy to family members and bans short-term rentals, the main customers will be homeowners building space for aging parents or grown children. That's a real market, but it's a narrower one than in cities where ADUs can be rented out. Contractors who specialize in ADUs should watch whether the occupancy limit stays in place as the proposal moves forward.
Rules on things like unit size, setbacks, parking and utility connections typically drive what an ADU costs to build, so the fine print matters. Builders, designers and remodelers who work in north Pinellas have a chance to make their voices heard now through the city's survey, before anything goes to the City Council.