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Do You Need a Permit for a Shed in Orlando, FL?

Q: Do I need a permit for a shed or accessory structure in Orange County, FL?

Permit required. Orange County: ALL structures need a permit — <=120 sq ft, one-story, no electric/plumbing/mechanical/gas qualifies for a streamlined $12 zoning permit; larger or with utilities = full building permit. 'No permit under 120 sq ft' claims are wrong here.

Q: Are there specific building-code requirements for a shed or accessory structure?

The 120-square-foot figure people quote comes from the model building code used in much of the country — Florida's own edition does not carry that shed exemption, which is why the county's guide says only that small structures "may be exempt from the building code" while still requiring the permit application. (Orange County)

Q: What tools or parts do I need to get right for a shed or accessory structure?

Prefab counts. A delivered kit shed or pre-built unit dropped on your lot goes through the same permitting as a stick-built one — what the county reviews is the structure on your parcel, not who assembled it. (Orange County)

Updated 2026-08-28 · Sources verified 2026-07-20

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Short answer: permit required. Orange County: ALL structures need a permit — <=120 sq ft, one-story, no electric/plumbing/mechanical/gas qualifies for a streamlined $12 zoning permit; larger or with utilities = full building permit. The full rule and its official source are below, with the code requirements and mistakes that trip up Orlando homeowners.

The permit answer

Permit required. Orange County: ALL structures need a permit — <=120 sq ft, one-story, no electric/plumbing/mechanical/gas qualifies for a streamlined $12 zoning permit; larger or with utilities = full building permit. 'No permit under 120 sq ft' claims are wrong here.
Source: https://www.orangecountyfl.net/PermitsLicenses/Permits/AccessoryStructuresLessthan120sf.aspx

Orange County and the City of Orlando run separate permit offices with separate portals — and your mailing address alone doesn't tell you which one covers your home. Check which permit office covers your address →

Key facts before you start

The answer most people have heard is wrong here. Orange County's own permit guide says it verbatim: "Yes, all structures require a permit. Structures of 120 square feet or less may be exempt from the building code but still need to apply for a building permit." The under-120-square-foot shed that needs no permit elsewhere in Florida still goes through the county in unincorporated Orange County — a one-story shed at or under 120 sq ft with no electric, plumbing, mechanical, or gas qualifies for the streamlined $12 zoning-permit route instead of a full building permit (Orange County).
The 120-square-foot figure people quote comes from the model building code used in much of the country — Florida's own edition does not carry that shed exemption, which is why the county's guide says only that small structures "may be exempt from the building code" while still requiring the permit application. And a building-code exemption is not a county-permission exemption anyway: zoning review is the half that decides whether the shed can legally sit where you want it — setbacks from property lines, easements, and lot coverage are exactly what the $12 review checks (Orange County).
Utilities change the answer completely: run electric to the shed and you have added an electrical permit for the new circuit; plumbing adds its own. A shed with any of electric, plumbing, mechanical, or gas — or a second story, or more than 120 square feet — is a full building-permit project, not the streamlined route (Orange County).
Prefab counts. A delivered kit shed or pre-built unit dropped on your lot goes through the same permitting as a stick-built one — what the county reviews is the structure on your parcel, not who assembled it. Anchoring against wind per the manufacturer's instructions is the part an inspection looks at in Central Florida, and it is the part delivery crews skip when nobody is checking (Orange County).
Your HOA is a second, private layer on top of the county: county approval does not overrule deed restrictions on shed size, placement, or appearance, and HOA approval does not substitute for the county permit. Get the HOA's written sign-off and the county permit — in that order, since the HOA's rules about placement may decide the site plan you submit. If the shed sits inside the City of Orlando rather than unincorporated Orange County, it is a different office with different rules entirely — check which permit office covers your address first.

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Frequently asked questions

Do I need a permit for a shed or accessory structure in Orange County, FL?

Permit required. Orange County: ALL structures need a permit — <=120 sq ft, one-story, no electric/plumbing/mechanical/gas qualifies for a streamlined $12 zoning permit; larger or with utilities = full building permit. 'No permit under 120 sq ft' claims are wrong here.

Are there specific building-code requirements for a shed or accessory structure?

The 120-square-foot figure people quote comes from the model building code used in much of the country — Florida's own edition does not carry that shed exemption, which is why the county's guide says only that small structures "may be exempt from the building code" while still requiring the permit application. (Orange County)

What tools or parts do I need to get right for a shed or accessory structure?

Prefab counts. A delivered kit shed or pre-built unit dropped on your lot goes through the same permitting as a stick-built one — what the county reviews is the structure on your parcel, not who assembled it. (Orange County)

Sources

https://www.orangecountyfl.net/PermitsLicenses/Permits/AccessoryStructuresLessthan120sf.aspx
https://www.orangecountyfl.net/PermitsLicenses/DoINeedaPermit.aspx

This guide is general informational content, not professional or legal advice. Codes and county rules change — confirm permit requirements with your local building department, and use a licensed professional for electrical, gas, structural, or main-line plumbing work.

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