Shed Permit in Seminole County, Florida
Permit required
Yes, a permit is required
Before installing a shed or other accessory structure in unincorporated Seminole County
Issued byBuilding Division
By Mario Bailey, verified against official sources
Quick answer
Seminole County's Storm Damage Repair guidance lists building a barn, metal building, shed, or detached garage among the work that requires a building permit, and the Building Division publishes shed anchoring guidelines used during shed permitting. This applies to unincorporated Seminole County; the cities of Sanford, Altamonte Springs, Casselberry, Lake Mary, Longwood, Oviedo, and Winter Springs run their own building departments. Beginning July 1, 2026, owners of single-family homes may request a written exemption for sheds 200 square feet or less (purchased as a kit or pre-engineered/pre-built) valued under $7,500 under new state law (ch. 2026-63); this is a request-based exemption process requiring documentation to the Building Division, not an automatic no-permit rule.
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When a permit is usually needed
Before installing a shed or other accessory structure in unincorporated Seminole 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 Seminole County
How Seminole 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 County | Permit required | Any size |
| 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 | Any 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 |
| Seminole Countythis page | Permit required | Any size |
How to apply in Seminole County
In Seminole 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 Seminole 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 Seminole 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. Building Division sets the exact checklist for Seminole County.
Where to apply in Seminole County:
Building Division
- 1101 E. First Street, Sanford, FL 32771-1468
- Phone: 407-665-7050
- Email: bpcustomerservice@seminolecountyfl.gov
Shed Permit in Seminole County compared with nearby Florida localities
| Locality | Permit needed? | Threshold | What each Florida schedule says | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seminole County | Permit required | Any size | ...general 'Building Permit Fees for Structures Other than Buildings' category ($30.00... | |
| 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. | ...permit category, whose fee table lists a Building Code Review fee of $75.00 for the... | |
| Broward County | Permit required | Any size | sheds fall under the Structural permit schedule, the greater of a $125 minimum base fee... | |
| 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... |
Inspections and closing out your permit
In Seminole 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 Seminole 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 Seminole 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 Seminole 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 Seminole 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 Seminole County permit portal or by phone at 407-665-7050.
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 Seminole County
- Confirm the requirement. Yes, a permit is required. Usually needed: Before installing a shed or other accessory structure in unincorporated Seminole County.
- Budget the fee. The Section 20.10 fee schedule (Resolution 2024-R-139, adopted Dec. 12, 2023) has no line item naming sheds specifically; sheds fall under the schedule's general 'Building Permit Fees for Structures Other than Buildings' category ($30.00 base permit fee plus $6.00 per $1,000 value of construction). The Building Division separately publishes shed anchoring specifications for sheds under 120 sq ft. Official fee schedule.
- Apply. In Seminole 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 Seminole County permit portal.
- Keep the office details handy. Building Division. Phone: 407-665-7050. Address: 1101 E. First Street, Sanford, FL 32771-1468.
- Plan for inspections. In Seminole 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 .
Frequently asked questions
- Do you need a shed permit in Seminole County?
- Seminole County's Storm Damage Repair guidance lists building a barn, metal building, shed, or detached garage among the work that requires a building permit, and the Building Division publishes shed anchoring guidelines used during shed permitting. This applies to unincorporated Seminole County; the cities of Sanford, Altamonte Springs, Casselberry, Lake Mary, Longwood, Oviedo, and Winter Springs run their own building departments. Beginning July 1, 2026, owners of single-family homes may request a written exemption for sheds 200 square feet or less (purchased as a kit or pre-engineered/pre-built) valued under $7,500 under new state law (ch. 2026-63); this is a request-based exemption process requiring documentation to the Building Division, not an automatic no-permit rule. Always confirm with the Building Division before starting.
- How much does a shed permit cost in Seminole County?
- The Section 20.10 fee schedule (Resolution 2024-R-139, adopted Dec. 12, 2023) has no line item naming sheds specifically; sheds fall under the schedule's general 'Building Permit Fees for Structures Other than Buildings' category ($30.00 base permit fee plus $6.00 per $1,000 value of construction). The Building Division separately publishes shed anchoring specifications for sheds under 120 sq ft. See the official fee schedule for current amounts.
- Where do you apply for a shed permit in Seminole County?
- You can apply through the Seminole 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 Seminole 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 Seminole County applies this before you apply.
From the Library
What else needs a permit in Seminole 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 | Any size | ...an example under 'Building Permit Fees for Structures Other than Buildings' ($30.00... |
| Electrical Permit | Permit required | Any size | ...permit fee (single family residential new construction, includes T-pole):... |
| Fence Permit | Permit required | Any size | Fences: $40.00 base permit fee plus $5.00 per $1,000 value of construction |
| HVAC Permit | It depends | A self-contained refrigeration system with 10 pounds or less of refrigerant, actuated by a motor of 1 horsepower or less, does not require a permit; portable heating, ventilation, and cooling equipment is also exempt | Mechanical permit fee (single family residential new construction): $105.00 |
| Plumbing Permit | Permit required | Any size | Plumbing permit fee (single family residential new construction): $190.00 |
| Pool Permit | It depends | Prefabricated above-ground swimming pools accessory to a one- or two-family home that are less than 24 inches deep and hold 5,000 gallons or less are exempt from permit | Swimming pools: $400.00 |
| Roof Replacement Permit | Permit required | Roof repairs not exceeding 100 square feet do not require a permit; roof repairs exceeding 100 square feet do require one | Re-roof: $30.00 base permit fee plus $6.00 per $1,000 value of construction |
| Solar Permit | Permit required | Any size | ...'Building Permit Fees for Structures Other than Buildings' category ($30.00 base... |
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 Seminole 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 Seminole County was verified. 2 official sources: seminolecountyfl.gov, seminolecountyfl.gov; fee schedule: official document. Last checked by Mario Bailey, not confirmed with Building Division. Rules change; confirm before you build. How we verify.
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