Shed permit in Orlando, FL
Yes — you need a permit for shed work in Orlando.
You need a building permit for a storage shed or other small backyard building. There is no square-foot size that lets you skip it. Orlando adopted the Florida Building Code 2023 as written and wrote no local exempt list, and the state list covers only gas, mechanical, and plumbing work. If your home is an Orlando historic landmark or sits in a historic preservation overlay district, the design of the shed is reviewed as well.
| Permit needed? | Yes |
|---|---|
| Where the line falls | You need a building permit for a storage shed or other sm… |
| Fee | The code names no shed amount. Orlando publishes its permit fee schedule on the city site at www.orlando.gov. |
| Review time | Not in the ordinance |
| Code section | FBC 105.2 |
| Based on | Florida Building Code 2023, as adopted by Orlando (Sec. 13.1) |
Most building codes exempt a shed up to 200 sq ft. Orlando is stricter — a permit applies at any size.
How to pull the permit
- Put together a site plan showing where the work goes, with dimensions.
- Apply through the Orlando building department.
- Pay the permit fee when the permit is issued. Work done before that isn't covered.
- Book each inspection listed on the permit as the job reaches that stage.
If you skip it
Orlando's code doesn't set a specific fine for this work. In practice the department can issue a stop-work order, and unpermitted work tends to surface during a sale, when the buyer's inspector or the title company asks for it.
Nearby cities, same job
Rules stop at the city line. If your lot is near a boundary, or you work across several towns, this is where they differ.
| City | Distance | Permit? | Where the line falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orlando | — | Yes | You need a building permit for a storage shed or other sm… |
| Kissimmee | 12 mi | Yes | You need a building permit for a storage shed or other sm… |
| Deltona | 34 mi | Yes | A storage shed is a Building-type structure, and Florida'… |
| Melbourne | 42 mi | Yes | You need a building permit for a storage shed or other sm… |
| Lakeland | 49 mi | Yes | Installing a storage shed or small backyard building need… |
| Daytona Beach | 55 mi | Yes | You need a building permit for a storage shed or other sm… |
Other work in Orlando
Questions people ask
How much does a shed permit cost in Orlando?
The code names no shed amount. Orlando publishes its permit fee schedule on the city site at www.orlando.gov.. Valuation-based fees mean the number depends on what the job is worth, so the department quotes it when you apply.
I already built it without a permit. What now?
Orlando can issue a stop-work order and require you to apply after the fact, sometimes with an extra fee. Work that was covered up may have to be opened for inspection. Full walkthrough here.
Does unpermitted work cause problems when selling the house?
Often, yes. A buyer's inspector or the title company may flag it, and lenders can balk at financing a home with open or missing permits. What to do about it.