Shed Permit in Broward County, Florida
Permit required
Yes, a permit is required
Before constructing any shed or accessory storage structure
Issued byBroward County Building Code Division
By Mario Bailey, verified against official sources
Quick answer
A building permit is required for sheds in unincorporated Broward County. Applications must include two complete sets of building plans and a Registered Land Surveyor's Certificate. A Notice of Commencement is required for projects valued at $5000 or more. This applies to the Broward Municipal Services District (BMSD); incorporated cities have their own requirements.
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When a permit is usually needed
Before constructing any shed or accessory storage structure
What your shed permit must meet in Florida
Florida sheds are built under the Florida Building Code, Residential, 8th Edition (2023), which requires structures to be designed for the state's wind loads, but Florida Statutes carve out two specific size-based reductions in what a shed must resist or include.
- As a structure, a shed is generally subject to the Florida Building Code's baseline wind-design requirement that applies to buildings and structures statewide (FBC Section 1609.1).
- Storage sheds not designed for human habitation with a floor area of 720 square feet or less are exempt from the code's mandatory windborne-debris-impact (opening protection) standard (F.S. 553.73(10)).
- Buildings of 400 square feet or less used in conjunction with a one- or two-family residence, which covers most sheds, are exempt from the code's door height and width requirements (F.S. 553.73(10)).
Based on Florida Statutes 553.73(10); Florida Building Code, 8th Edition (2023), Section 1609.1. Read the code. Local amendments can be stricter; confirm the current requirement with your office before you build.
What a shed permit costs in Broward County
How Broward County compares in Florida
| Jurisdiction | Permit needed? | Threshold |
|---|---|---|
| Alachua County | It depends | area of a single storage shed, exemption available once per property |
| Brevard County | It depends | A permit is required for an accessory structure (shed) over 100 square feet. |
| Broward Countythis page | Permit required | Not specified |
| Charlotte County | It depends | A building permit is not required for plastic or rubber manufactured type sheds 68 square feet or less in area, though they must comply with zoning setbacks and be moved and secured if there is the threat of a tropical storm. |
| Clay County | Permit required | Not specified |
| Hernando County | It depends | Sheds with impervious roof coverings of 120 square feet or less do not require a Zoning permit, provided other county regulations (setbacks, floodplain rules, one detached accessory building per parcel, etc.) are met |
| Hillsborough County | It depends | sheds under 150 sq ft are exempt; 150 sq ft or larger require a building permit |
How to apply in Broward County
In Broward County, a residential shed permit application, once the shed is large enough to require one, is a set of construction documents that show what will be built and prove it meets the adopted residential code. In practice that means a written permit application, a scaled site plan locating the shed and its distances to the property lines, and construction documents covering the shed's foundation or anchoring system and its framing.
What most shed permit applications include:
- For Broward County, a written permit application identifying the proposed work and describing the property by its address or legal description, filed with the building department before construction begins (IRC R105.3).
- For Broward County, a scaled site plan showing the shed's size and location and its dimensioned distances to all property lines so required setbacks can be verified before the permit is issued (IRC R106.2).
- Construction documents showing the shed's foundation: freestanding accessory structures at or under the code's small-structure size and eave-height limits (600 square feet and a 10 foot eave height in the model code) are exempt from continuous footings but must still be shown supported on undisturbed soil or engineered fill and anchored to resist wind-induced uplift and overturning (IRC R403.1).
- Where the shed does sit on a continuous foundation with a wood sill plate, anchor bolt or approved strap details tying the sill plate to the foundation (IRC R403.1.6).
- Roof framing details showing the rafter-to-wall or truss-to-wall connections, since even a shed exempt from continuous footings must be anchored to resist wind-induced uplift and overturning (IRC R403.1; R802.11).
General submittal guidance from IRC R105.3 (permit application), R106.2 (site plan), R403.1 (footings and anchorage for accessory structures), and R403.1.6 (sill anchorage), 2021 IRC. Source. Broward County Building Code Division sets the exact checklist for Broward County.
Where to apply in Broward County:
Broward County Building Code Division
- 2307 W Broward Blvd Suite 300, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312
- Phone: (954) 765-4400
- Email: building@broward.org
Shed Permit in Broward County compared with nearby Florida localities
| Locality | Permit needed? | Threshold | What each Florida schedule says | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Broward County | Permit required | Not specified | No separate shed fee line | |
| Alachua County | It depends | area of a single storage shed, exemption available once per property | No shed-specific flat fee is published for sheds that don't qualify for the exemption | |
| Brevard County | It depends | A permit is required for an accessory structure (shed) over 100 square feet. | Sheds are filed under the Residential Addition permit category, whose fee table lists a... | |
| Charlotte County | It depends | A building permit is not required for plastic or rubber manufactured type sheds 68 square feet or less in area, though they must comply with zoning setbacks and be moved and secured if there is the threat of a tropical storm. | At application: flat fee $90, plus a 0.025 x building-fee surcharge and a $22 zoning... | |
| Clay County | Permit required | Not specified | FY24/25 Building Fee Schedule: 'Garages, Accessory Buildings per 100 square feet'... |
Inspections and closing out your permit
In Broward County, a permitted shed is inspected in stages as it goes up: the foundation or the anchors that hold it down before they are covered, the framing before it is enclosed, and a final inspection once the shed is finished. Each stage checks the items that would be hidden or unsafe if skipped.
- Foundation or anchor inspection in Broward County: called after any required footings, piers, or ground anchors are set and any forms or reinforcing steel are in place, but before concrete is placed, so the foundation or anchoring system can be verified before it is covered (IRC R109.1.1).
- Frame inspection in Broward County: after the shed is framed, sheathed, and braced, the inspector checks the framing, bracing, fasteners, and the roof connections that resist wind uplift, before those elements are covered (IRC R109.1.4 frame inspection; R403.1 anchorage).
- Final inspection in Broward County: made after the permitted work is complete and before the shed is used; work may not proceed past any inspection stage without the building official's approval (IRC R109.1.6 final inspection; R109.4 approval required).
- In Broward County: for a pre-fabricated or kit shed, the manufacturer's installation instructions must be on site at the time of inspection so the inspector can confirm the anchoring and assembly match the design (IRC R106.1.2).
Schedule each inspection in advance and pass the final before you use the work or close the permit. Request inspections through the Broward County permit portal or by phone at (954) 765-4400.
Inspection sequence from IRC R109.1.1 (foundation inspection), R109.1.4 (frame inspection), R109.1.6 (final inspection), and R106.1.2 (manufacturer's instructions on site), 2021 IRC. Source. An open permit left un-inspected can surface later in a title search or home sale.
Your Shed Permit checklist for Broward County
- Confirm the requirement. Yes, a permit is required. Usually needed: Before constructing any shed or accessory storage structure.
- Budget the fee. No separate shed fee line; sheds fall under the Structural permit schedule, the greater of a $125 minimum base fee or 3.0% of job value, per Section 40.29 (Ord. 2025-038, eff. 5-1-25).
- Apply. In Broward County, a residential shed permit application, once the shed is large enough to require one, is a set of construction documents that show what will be built and prove it meets the adopted residential code. In practice that means a written permit application, a scaled site plan locating the shed and its distances to the property lines, and construction documents covering the shed's foundation or anchoring system and its framing. Start at the Broward County permit portal.
- Keep the office details handy. Broward County Building Code Division. Phone: (954) 765-4400. Address: 2307 W Broward Blvd Suite 300, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312.
- Plan for inspections. In Broward County, a permitted shed is inspected in stages as it goes up: the foundation or the anchors that hold it down before they are covered, the framing before it is enclosed, and a final inspection once the shed is finished. Each stage checks the items that would be hidden or unsafe if skipped.
Compiled from the official sources on this page. Last checked .
Permitting activity in Broward County
In 2024, Broward County authorized permits for 1,655 new residential housing units (697 single-family, 958 in multi-family buildings), valued at $409M, down from 3,047 the year before. That works out to about 0.8 permits per 1,000 residents.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual data · population 2,037,472.
About Broward County
Broward County has about 863,128 housing units. The median home is valued at $380,400, against a median household income of $74,534. About 63% of homes are owner-occupied, and the typical home was built around 1980.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2023 5-year.
Frequently asked questions
- Do you need a shed permit in Broward County?
- A building permit is required for sheds in unincorporated Broward County. Applications must include two complete sets of building plans and a Registered Land Surveyor's Certificate. A Notice of Commencement is required for projects valued at $5000 or more. This applies to the Broward Municipal Services District (BMSD); incorporated cities have their own requirements. Always confirm with the Broward County Building Code Division before starting.
- How much does a shed permit cost in Broward County?
- No separate shed fee line; sheds fall under the Structural permit schedule, the greater of a $125 minimum base fee or 3.0% of job value, per Section 40.29 (Ord. 2025-038, eff. 5-1-25). Contact the office for current amounts.
- Where do you apply for a shed permit in Broward County?
- You can apply through the Broward County permit portal or contact the Broward County Building Code Division directly. The links are listed on this page.
- Can a homeowner pull a shed permit themselves in Broward County?
- Under Florida law (F.S. 489.103(7)(a)-(c)): Florida lets you pull your own permit as an owner-builder under section 489.103(7), Florida Statutes, which exempts property owners from the contractor licensing law when they act as their own contractor and provide direct, onsite supervision of all work not performed by licensed contractors. The exemption covers building or improving a one-family or two-family residence or a farm outbuilding for your own occupancy or use, and commercial buildings only up to a $75,000 cost, and the property may not be built or improved for sale or lease. If you sell or lease the property within 1 year after completing the work, the law presumes it was built for sale or lease, which violates the exemption. To qualify, you must personally appear and sign the building permit application and sign a state-prescribed disclosure statement acknowledging that you are the party legally and financially responsible for the construction, that you must provide direct, onsite supervision, and that unlicensed people you use must be your own employees, bringing federal tax withholding and workers' compensation obligations. You may not hire an unlicensed person to act as your contractor and may not delegate supervision to anyone who is not licensed for the work being done; if these requirements are violated, the local permitting agency shall withhold final approval, revoke the permit, or pursue unlicensed-activity remedies. A separate narrow branch of the exemption also lets an owner take over and complete a permit on a one-family or two-family residence when the original contractor substantially completed the project. Confirm how Broward County applies this before you apply.
From the Library
What else needs a permit in Broward County
Every other permit type we have verified for this jurisdiction, with the rule that applies here.
| Project | Permit needed? | Threshold | Typical fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deck Permit | Permit required | Not specified | No separate deck fee line |
| Electrical Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Electrical permit is the greater of a $125 minimum base fee or 3.0% of job value, per... |
| Fence Permit | Permit required | Not specified | No separate fence fee line |
| HVAC Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Mechanical (air conditioning and ventilation) permit is the greater of a $125 minimum... |
| Patio Permit | Permit required | Not specified | No separate patio fee line |
| Plumbing Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Plumbing permit is the greater of a $125 minimum base fee or 3.0% of job value, per... |
| Pool Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Pool work needs separate Structural, Plumbing, Mechanical and Electrical permit... |
| Roof Replacement Permit | It depends | under F.S. 553.79(1)(g) (HB 803, ch. 2026-63, effective 2026-07-01), work valued at less than $7,500 on a single-family dwelling qualifies for exemption upon a written exemption request with documentation of the nature and value of the work; the exemption excludes electrical, plumbing, structural, mechanical, and gas work and any property in a flood hazard area; the statute does not name roofing, so a non-structural reroof under that value can qualify; confirm with Broward County Building Code Division. | Structural permit with a roofing-specific minimum: the greater of a $250 minimum base... |
| Solar Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Not published |
Shed Permit in other Florida localities
Everything above, sourced
Code references
National and state model-code sections the general guidance on this page is drawn from. They are not Broward County documents; the office above sets the local rules.
- IRC R105.3 (permit application), R106.2 (site plan), R403.1 (footings and anchorage for accessory structures), and R403.1.6 (sill anchorage), 2021 IRC
- IRC R109.1.1 (foundation inspection), R109.1.4 (frame inspection), R109.1.6 (final inspection), and R106.1.2 (manufacturer's instructions on site), 2021 IRC
- Florida Statutes 553.73(10); Florida Building Code, 8th Edition (2023), Section 1609.1
How this shed permit page for Broward County was verified. 2 official sources: broward.org, broward.org. Last checked by Mario Bailey, not confirmed with Broward County Building Code Division. Rules change; confirm before you build. How we verify.
Last checked: Report an error on this page
Florida rule changes
- Broward County, FL updates building permit fee schedule (Ordinance 2025-038)
Ord. 2025-038 ·
- Florida waives permits for small single-family jobs under $7,500 (HB 803)
ch. 2026-63 (HB 803), F.S. 553.79 ·