Shed Permit in Santa Rosa County, Florida
It depends
Sometimes, depending on the project
A full building permit is required whenever an accessory storage building exceeds 600 sq ft of gross floor area (including all covered area), is designed for human habitation, is not on or contiguous to a lot with an existing single-family dwelling in the unincorporated county, is not subordinate to the main dwelling, or sits within a special flood hazard area. Even an exempt shed still needs separate Plumbing, Electrical, Mechanical, or Gas permits for any such work installed in it.
By Mario Bailey, verified against official sources
Quick answer
Under county Ordinance 2010-17, an owner may request an exemption from building-permit and inspection requirements for a residential storage accessory building (shed) that is not designed for human habitation, sits on or next to a lot with an existing single-family home in the unincorporated county, has gross floor area plus covered area of 600 sq ft or less, is subordinate to the main dwelling, and is outside a special flood hazard area. Structures that fail any of those conditions, including anything over 600 sq ft, need a standard residential building permit instead. The exemption never waives setback/height compliance, a Notice of Commencement over $5,000, Florida Product Approval, flood requirements, or termite treatment rules, and any plumbing, electrical, mechanical, or gas work in the shed is still permitted and inspected.
Typical threshold: gross floor area, plus all covered area, of a residential storage accessory building, for eligibility to request the no-permit exemption under Ordinance 2010-17.
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
A full building permit is required whenever an accessory storage building exceeds 600 sq ft of gross floor area (including all covered area), is designed for human habitation, is not on or contiguous to a lot with an existing single-family dwelling in the unincorporated county, is not subordinate to the main dwelling, or sits within a special flood hazard area. Even an exempt shed still needs separate Plumbing, Electrical, Mechanical, or Gas permits for any such work installed in it.
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 Santa Rosa County
How Santa Rosa County compares in Florida
That is the most permissive shed permit threshold among the Florida jurisdictions we have verified: Charlotte County draws the line at 68.
| 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 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 |
| Santa Rosa Countythis page | It depends | gross floor area, plus all covered area, of a residential storage accessory building, for eligibility to request the no-permit exemption under Ordinance 2010-17 |
Closest shed permit thresholds outside Florida
Jurisdictions we cover whose limit sits nearest Santa Rosa County's 600 sq ft.
- Arlington County, Virginia, One story detached tool and storage sheds, playhouses and similar structures are exempt from a building permit when the building area does not exceed 256 square feet.
- Chesterfield County, Virginia, sheds 256 sq ft or less require no permit; sheds 257 sq ft or larger (up to 400 sq ft) require a building permit
- Culpeper County, Virginia, over 256 sq ft
- Fairfax County, Virginia, single-story shed 256 sq ft or larger requires a building permit; under 256 sq ft no permit required
How to apply in Santa Rosa 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. Development Services (Permitting & Building Compliance Division) sets the exact checklist for Santa Rosa County.
Where to apply in Santa Rosa County:
Development Services (Permitting & Building Compliance Division)
- 6051 Old Bagdad Highway, Suite 202, Milton, FL 32583
- Phone: 850-981-7000
- Email: srcpermits@santarosa.fl.gov
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 Santa Rosa County permit portal or by phone at 850-981-7000.
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 Santa Rosa County
- Confirm the requirement. Sometimes, depending on the project. Typical threshold: gross floor area, plus all covered area, of a residential storage accessory building, for eligibility to request the no-permit exemption under Ordinance 2010-17. Usually needed: A full building permit is required whenever an accessory storage building exceeds 600 sq ft of gross floor area (including all covered area), is designed for human habitation, is not on or contiguous to a lot with an existing single-family dwelling in the unincorporated county, is not subordinate to the main dwelling, or sits within a special flood hazard area. Even an exempt shed still needs separate Plumbing, Electrical, Mechanical, or Gas permits for any such work installed in it.
- Budget the fee. Accessory Building Exemption processing costs $35.00 (administrative fee) plus $25.00 (zoning review fee) for properties outside incorporated areas, per the Accessory Building Exemption Information sheet. A shed that does not qualify for the exemption is permitted through the standard Building Permits schedule in Resolution No. 2025-29 (adopted September 11, 2025; the resolution text itself states the fees 'shall be effective October 1, 2024', which reads as a date carried over unedited from the prior year's resolution), for example the 'New Construction Minimum' of $200.00 for single-family detached construction. 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 Santa Rosa County permit portal.
- Keep the office details handy. Development Services (Permitting & Building Compliance Division). Phone: 850-981-7000. Address: 6051 Old Bagdad Highway, Suite 202, Milton, FL 32583.
- 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 Santa Rosa County?
- Under county Ordinance 2010-17, an owner may request an exemption from building-permit and inspection requirements for a residential storage accessory building (shed) that is not designed for human habitation, sits on or next to a lot with an existing single-family home in the unincorporated county, has gross floor area plus covered area of 600 sq ft or less, is subordinate to the main dwelling, and is outside a special flood hazard area. Structures that fail any of those conditions, including anything over 600 sq ft, need a standard residential building permit instead. The exemption never waives setback/height compliance, a Notice of Commencement over $5,000, Florida Product Approval, flood requirements, or termite treatment rules, and any plumbing, electrical, mechanical, or gas work in the shed is still permitted and inspected. Gross floor area, plus all covered area, of a residential storage accessory building, for eligibility to request the no-permit exemption under Ordinance 2010-17. Always confirm with the office before starting.
- How much does a shed permit cost in Santa Rosa County?
- Accessory Building Exemption processing costs $35.00 (administrative fee) plus $25.00 (zoning review fee) for properties outside incorporated areas, per the Accessory Building Exemption Information sheet. A shed that does not qualify for the exemption is permitted through the standard Building Permits schedule in Resolution No. 2025-29 (adopted September 11, 2025; the resolution text itself states the fees 'shall be effective October 1, 2024', which reads as a date carried over unedited from the prior year's resolution), for example the 'New Construction Minimum' of $200.00 for single-family detached construction. See the official fee schedule for current amounts.
- Where do you apply for a shed permit in Santa Rosa County?
- You can apply through the Santa Rosa County permit portal or contact the Development Services (Permitting & Building Compliance Division) directly. The links are listed on this page.
- Can a homeowner pull a shed permit themselves in Santa Rosa 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 Santa Rosa County applies this before you apply.
From the Library
What else needs a permit in Santa Rosa 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 | Resolution No. |
| Electrical Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Resolution No. |
| Fence Permit | No permit needed | Not specified | Not published |
| HVAC Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Resolution No. |
| Plumbing Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Resolution No. |
| Pool Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Per the Pool Permit checklist: Residential In-Ground Pool $313.17 |
| Roof Replacement Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Resolution No. |
| Solar Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Resolution No. |
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 Santa Rosa 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 Development Services (Permitting & Building Compliance Division). Rules change; confirm before you build. How we verify.
Last checked: Report an error on this page
Permit office
Development Services (Permitting & Building Compliance Division)
850-981-7000Permit portalFlorida 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