Do You Need a Permit for a Shed in Florida?

A shed seems like the simplest backyard project, but in Florida a poorly anchored shed can become wind-borne debris in a hurricane. That's why many building departments here want to see sheds permitted and tied down.

How shed rules differ

Based on county guidance for unincorporated areas:

• Pinellas: a building permit is required for a new or replacement shed larger than 100 sq. ft. Smaller sheds don't need one, but check setbacks with zoning.
• Jacksonville (Duval): sheds need a permit, and sheds of 150 sq. ft. or more also need structural drawings signed and sealed by a Florida-licensed design professional. As anywhere in Florida, a job over $5,000 also needs a recorded Notice of Commencement.
• Orange: every shed needs a permit application; sheds of 120 sq. ft. or less may be exempt from parts of the building code but are still reviewed.
• Broward: sheds need a permit with plans and a survey; prefabricated sheds need a state approval or Notice of Acceptance.
• Lee: sheds generally need a permit, and the county advises confirming a prefabricated shed is approved to meet the Florida Building Code before you buy.

Sheds: how Florida counties compare

County	What the published guidance says
Miami-Dade County	Sheds need a permit. City checklists, such as Hialeah's, typically ask for a property survey, a site plan showing size and setbacks, and product approvals for prefabricated sheds.
Broward County	Sheds need a permit with plans and a survey. Prefabricated sheds need a state approval or Notice of Acceptance. If the shed will have power, ask the Building Code Division what else is needed.
Palm Beach County	Sheds generally need a permit. Confirm with PZB before buying a prefabricated shed.
Hillsborough County	The county's exemption list says residential sheds under 150 sq. ft. don't need a building permit. Zoning setbacks still apply and sheds must be anchored for wind; confirm on the county's work-exempt page before you buy.
Orange County	Every shed needs a permit application. Sheds of 120 sq. ft. or less may be exempt from parts of the building code, but other county reviews can still apply.
Jacksonville (Duval County)	Sheds need a permit. Sheds of 150 sq. ft. or more also need structural drawings signed and sealed by a Florida-licensed design professional.
Pinellas County	A new or replacement shed larger than 100 sq. ft. needs a building permit. For smaller sheds, check setbacks with the county's zoning staff.
Lee County	Sheds generally need a permit. Before buying a prefabricated shed, confirm it's approved to meet the Florida Building Code.
Brevard County	The county lists sheds, workshops, garages and carports as accessory structures under its residential addition permit. Confirm with Planning and Development whether your shed needs a permit before you buy it.
Indian River County	Confirm with the Building Division before you buy or build a shed. Ask about setbacks, wind anchoring and whether a prefabricated shed needs a state approval or engineering.
Volusia County	Since the same 2025 change, sheds of 480 sq. ft. or less in unincorporated Volusia no longer need a building permit. Size limits and setbacks still apply, and larger sheds need a permit.
Flagler County	Sheds need a permit. The county's shed packet asks for a survey or site plan, a drainage affidavit, and the manufacturer's booklet or construction drawings.

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Anchoring and product approval

Prefabricated sheds sold for Florida use typically come with a Florida product approval or Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance that specifies how they must be anchored, whether to a concrete slab, piers or ground anchors. Keep the paperwork; your inspector will want to see it. Site-built sheds need anchoring details on the permit drawings.

Setbacks, easements and HOAs

Zoning rules control how close a shed can be to property lines and the house, and sheds usually can't sit in utility or drainage easements. A property survey shows where these are. Many HOAs limit shed size, height, color and location or don't allow them at all; see HOA approval in Florida.

Electricity, plumbing and the $7,500 exemption

Running power or water to a shed needs its own permits. Florida's 2026 small-project exemption may cover some owner projects under $7,500, but it doesn't cover electrical, plumbing, mechanical, gas or structural work, and it doesn't apply to property in a flood hazard area. For general permit background, see building permits in Florida.