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Do I need a permit for shed or accessory structure in Unincorporated Brevard County?

Permit required

Yes. In Florida, shed or accessory structure generally requires a permit, and Unincorporated Brevard County is no exception.

Florida has no statewide small-shed exemption. The widely repeated rule that a shed under 120 square feet needs no permit comes from the model International Codes, and Florida did not adopt it: section 105.2 of the Florida Building Code, Building exempts only specified gas, mechanical and plumbing work, with no category exempting detached accessory structures. Where a size threshold exists it is a local ordinance, and it genuinely differs, so ask your building department for the line that applies at your address. Any shed with electricity, plumbing or a permanent foundation needs a permit regardless of size, and zoning setbacks, flood zone rules and wind anchoring apply even when no building permit is required.

Get the checklist for your shed or accessory structure in Unincorporated Brevard County. A free check first, then a free printable Permit Prep Pack.

Local detail for Unincorporated Brevard County: Building Permits is administered by Planning and Development for unincorporated Brevard. Online permitting (Accela) is for licensed contractors only; owner-builders must apply in person by appointment. Code questions: Terry.Talbert@BrevardFL.gov.

Florida and local notes for Unincorporated Brevard County

Brevard County's own permitting office is the Brevard County Building Permits office, reachable on 321-633-2187 at https://www.brevardfl.gov/PlanningAndDevelopment/BuildingPermits/BrevardCountyBuildingPermits. Its online permit portal is https://aca-prod.accela.com/brevard/Default.aspx. It issues permits for the unincorporated county. If your city does not run its own building department, this is the office that will handle the job. Brevard County publishes its wind speed requirements as a set of maps, one per Risk Category, that you search by street address. Most houses are Risk Category 2. Screen enclosures are explicitly Risk Category 1, which is a lower design requirement than the house they attach to. Be aware the county's own map instructions still tell you to install Microsoft Silverlight, which no current browser supports, so in practice you may need to call the Building Department on 321-633-2187 to get the design wind speed for your address. Brevard County issues sheds, workshops, garages, and carports under its Residential Addition permit, which the county describes as covering accessory structures. The county permits only unincorporated addresses; check the Taxing District on the Property Appraiser record to confirm. County Code section 62-2100.5 limits the number of accessory buildings by lot size (one on a lot of 7,500 square feet or less, two up to 25,000 square feet), and each detached accessory building on a single-family lot may not exceed 600 square feet or 50 percent of the home's living area, whichever is greater. Owner/builders must apply in person at 2725 Judge Fran Jamieson Way in Viera; online filing through BASS is limited to licensed contractors.

Documents you may need

  • Permit applicationLikely required
  • Site plan showing setbacksLikely required
  • Structure dimensions or manufacturer drawingsSometimes required
  • Anchoring or tie-down detailsSometimes required
  • Permit or zoning applicationLikely required
  • Site plan showing setbacks and distance to lot linesLikely required
  • Anchoring or tie-down details for wind loadSometimes required
  • Design wind speed for the parcel and its Risk CategorySometimes required
  • Brevard County Application for Building Permit (Residential Addition), not required when a licensed contractor files online in BASSLikely required
  • Plot plan drawn to scale, typically on a boundary survey, showing distances to property lines and flood zone informationLikely required
  • Plans, Florida Product Approvals, and engineering for the structureLikely required
  • Owner Builder Application for Contractor ExemptionSometimes required
  • Recorded Notice of Commencement when the job value exceeds $5,000Sometimes required

Possible inspections

  • Foundation or slab inspection
  • Framing and anchoring inspection
  • Final inspection
  • Foundation or anchoring inspection

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a permit for shed or accessory structure in Unincorporated Brevard County?
Yes. In Florida, shed or accessory structure generally requires a permit, and Unincorporated Brevard County is no exception. The documents and inspections sections on this page list what the building department typically asks for.
Who issues the permit in Unincorporated Brevard County?
The local building department for Unincorporated Brevard County handles permitting. This page lists its contact details and online portal. Your mailing city is not always the permitting authority, so confirm the jurisdiction before you apply.
How do I find out the exact requirements for my project?
Run the free PermitRoadmap check for your specific project and answers. It returns the likely permits, documents, inspections, and next steps, each linked to its official source.

PermitRoadmap is an independent informational service and is not affiliated with any city, county, state agency, or permitting authority. Results are informational and do not replace confirming requirements with the local permitting authority.