Registry
Site & Exterior
Shed / detached accessory structure
Storage shed, playhouse, workshop — prefab or built.
verifiedHB 803: ambiguousreviewed 2026-08-18
Who can pull the permit
- CGCCertified General Contractor
- CBCCertified Building Contractor
- CRCCertified Residential Contractor
- OWNER-BUILDEROwner-occupied 1–2 family (FS 489.103(7))
Decision — first matching row wins
| # | When | Permit | Type | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | (county = "collier" OR county = "lee") | yes | Building — Residential Accessory Structure (any size) | The FBC exempts one-story detached accessory structures of 120 sq ft or less, but BOTH counties override it locally: Collier requires a permit for any building or structure erected on a property regardless of size (Collier 311), and Lee's own Residential Shed and Deck Guide (10/9/2025) requires a Residential Accessory Structure permit for utility sheds of any kind — no size threshold (the '200 sq ft / 14 ft' figure some sites quote is §6-117's car-cover/trellis exemption, not a shed rule). Wind anchoring and setbacks are reviewed; Lee publishes pre-approved master plans for common sheds. |
| 2 | otherwise | conditional | Outside Collier/Lee — FBC 120 sq ft exemption may apply | Elsewhere in Florida the FBC's 120 sq ft one-story accessory-structure exemption is the baseline; check the local authority. |
Inputs the rule needs
- sqftFloor area (sq ft)required
- electricElectric or plumbing to it?
Per-authority differences
- collier-unincorporatedBuilding — Accessory Structure (required for ANY shed in Collier; $100 minimum application + $110 per inspection)Setbacks (LDC §4.02.03): outside Estates/Agricultural, accessory buildings capped at 5% of lot area or 40% of the buildable envelope; IN ESTATES (E) AND AGRICULTURAL (A) DISTRICTS — i.e. Golden Gate Estates — accessory structures must meet the SAME setbacks as the principal structure, not the reduced accessory setback.
- lee-unincorporatedResidential Accessory Structure Permit via eConnect (plan review $150 no-MEP / $175 with MEP; master plan RESMSTR2024-00003 skips engineered drawings)
- bonita-springsBonita FAQ: sheds require a permit; metal buildings >240 sq ft / >12 ft restricted in residential zones (LDC 4-2225).
Documents (base)
- Owner authorization / signed permit application (owner or agent signature, notarized where the authority requires)
- Site plan / survey showing property lines, setbacks, easements, septic and the proposed work with setbacks
- Anchoring / tie-down detail or engineered plans; Florida Product Approval for prefab
- Contractor registration current with the county (license, GL insurance, workers' comp or exemption on file)
Sources
- Florida Building Code, Building §105.1 (Permits required) & §105.2 (Work exempt from permit)
- Collier County 311 — permits required for any building or structure erected on a property (sheds of any size) checked 2026-08-18
- Collier LDC §4.02.03 — accessory structure setbacks (Estates & Agricultural districts: same setbacks as the principal structure) checked 2026-08-18
- Lee County — Residential Shed and Deck Application & Permitting Guide (10/9/2025): accessory-structure permit required for any shed, no size threshold; pre-approved master plans available checked 2026-08-18
- Florida Product Approval system (FBC §1609 wind-borne debris; product approvals/NOAs)