Shed Permit in Hernando County, Florida
It depends
Sometimes, depending on the project
Before installing a shed with more than 120 square feet of impervious roof coverage, or if electrical, plumbing, or a concrete slab is included, in unincorporated Hernando County
By Mario Bailey, verified against official sources
Quick answer
Under Ordinance 26-38 (approved April 7, 2026), sheds with impervious roof coverings of 120 square feet or less no longer require a Zoning permit in Hernando County, and the maximum wall height for these structures was raised from 5 feet to 8 feet. The shed must still meet zoning setbacks, stay off easements and rights-of-way, comply with floodplain rules where applicable, and not be used as a dwelling; if electrical, plumbing, or concrete is installed, a Building Division permit is still required regardless of size. This describes unincorporated Hernando County; the City of Brooksville operates its own building department.
Typical threshold: 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.

Who is pulling this permit?
Apply yourself
Hire it out
Before you sign, ask the contractor:
- Who pulls the permit, you or me, and is the permit fee included in the bid?
- Which inspections will this job need, and who meets the inspector on site?
- Is your contractor license active in this locality, and under which business name?
When a permit is usually needed
Before installing a shed with more than 120 square feet of impervious roof coverage, or if electrical, plumbing, or a concrete slab is included, in unincorporated Hernando County
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 Hernando County
How Hernando County compares in Florida
Across the Florida jurisdictions we have verified, the same threshold runs from 68 to 150, so a project that is exempt here may still need a permit one county over.
| 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. |
| 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. |
| Escambia County | It depends | A portable, skid-mounted utility shed under 120 square feet does not require a permit; any utility shed with a poured slab or a post installed into the earth requires a permit regardless of size. |
| Hernando Countythis page | 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 |
| Lake County | It depends | A shed built by the property owner on the owner's own personal residence, with no electrical, HVAC, fuel gas, or plumbing, is exempt from a building permit up to a 120-square-foot footprint |
Closest shed permit thresholds outside Florida
Jurisdictions we cover whose limit sits nearest Hernando County's 120 sq ft.
- Alameda County, California, Floor area of a one-story detached tool or storage shed accessory to a house, at which the building permit exemption stops
- Aurora, Colorado, shed floor area at which a building permit is required
- Baltimore County, Maryland, accessory structure floor area
- Boston, Massachusetts, one-story detached accessory sheds used for tools or storage are exempt if floor area does not exceed 120 sq ft
How to apply in Hernando 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:
- 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).
- 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. Building Division sets the exact checklist for Hernando County.
Where to apply in Hernando County:
Building Division
- 789 Providence Boulevard, Brooksville, FL 34601
- Phone: (352) 754-4050
- Email: bldg@hernandocounty.us
Inspections and closing out your permit
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: 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: 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: 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).
- 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 Hernando County permit portal or by phone at (352) 754-4050.
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 Hernando County
- Confirm the requirement. Sometimes, depending on the project. Typical threshold: 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. Usually needed: Before installing a shed with more than 120 square feet of impervious roof coverage, or if electrical, plumbing, or a concrete slab is included, in unincorporated Hernando County.
- Budget the fee. Storage Building 200 s.f. or less (Non-Commercial, Site Built or 1 Piece/Pre-Fab) - Building: $140.00, per Resolution No. 2026-037 (effective March 3, 2026). An Accessory Structure Affidavit is separately required on parcels zoned PDPSF, R1B, R1C, AR, or R2.5, limiting most parcels to one detached accessory building under Ordinance No. 2016-17. Official fee schedule.
- Apply. 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 Hernando County permit portal.
- Keep the office details handy. Building Division. Phone: (352) 754-4050. Address: 789 Providence Boulevard, Brooksville, FL 34601.
- Plan for inspections. 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 .
Frequently asked questions
- Do you need a shed permit in Hernando County?
- Under Ordinance 26-38 (approved April 7, 2026), sheds with impervious roof coverings of 120 square feet or less no longer require a Zoning permit in Hernando County, and the maximum wall height for these structures was raised from 5 feet to 8 feet. The shed must still meet zoning setbacks, stay off easements and rights-of-way, comply with floodplain rules where applicable, and not be used as a dwelling; if electrical, plumbing, or concrete is installed, a Building Division permit is still required regardless of size. This describes unincorporated Hernando County; the City of Brooksville operates its own building department. 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. Always confirm with the office before starting.
- How much does a shed permit cost in Hernando County?
- Storage Building 200 s.f. or less (Non-Commercial, Site Built or 1 Piece/Pre-Fab) - Building: $140.00, per Resolution No. 2026-037 (effective March 3, 2026). An Accessory Structure Affidavit is separately required on parcels zoned PDPSF, R1B, R1C, AR, or R2.5, limiting most parcels to one detached accessory building under Ordinance No. 2016-17. See the official fee schedule for current amounts.
- Where do you apply for a shed permit in Hernando County?
- You can apply through the Hernando County permit portal or contact the Building Division directly. The links are listed on this page.
- Can a homeowner pull a shed permit themselves in Hernando 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 Hernando County applies this before you apply.
From the Library
What else needs a permit in Hernando 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 | Deck: $140.00, per the Building Division fee schedule (Resolution No. |
| Electrical Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Electric, Other: $165.00 |
| Fence Permit | Permit required | Fence permits are required in all commercial, industrial, and residential zoning districts; agricultural zoning districts (AG, AR, AR1, AR2, PDP(RUR)) are exempt from the Fence Ordinance | No separate flat fee for the Zoning Fence Permit itself is published on the Building... |
| HVAC Permit | It depends | A window air conditioning unit using an existing electrical outlet, and repair of existing mechanical equipment, do not require a building permit; installing a new central/ducted system or changing out equipment does | Mechanical A/C Changeout Only: $140.00 |
| Patio Permit | It depends | Sand-set pavers that are not part of a pool or spa deck do not require a building permit; other patio construction methods are not separately addressed by name | No dedicated Patio line item is published on the Building Division fee schedule |
| Plumbing Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Plumbing, Other (Res): $115.00, per Resolution No. |
| Pool Permit | It depends | Manufactured pools less than 24 inches deep are exempt from a building permit | Swimming Pool, Above Ground: $140.00 |
| Roof Replacement Permit | Permit required | Roof repairs covering less than 100 square feet of existing roof are exempt from a building permit; this exemption does not extend to a full roof replacement | Roofing, Residential: $190.00, per Resolution No. |
| Solar Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Photovoltaic System (Res): $180.00 |
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 Hernando 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
Verified by a person against the sources above on , not confirmed with Building 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 ·
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Shed Permit across Florida