Do I need a permit for shed or accessory structure in Pembroke Pines?
Yes. In Florida, shed or accessory structure generally requires a permit, and Pembroke Pines 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.
Local detail for Pembroke Pines: Building services provided by CGA Solutions (Calvin, Giordano & Associates). Office hours not verified on official source.
Florida and local notes for Pembroke Pines
Even a modest shed is reviewed for HVHZ wind resistance and anchoring here, so a structure sold as exempt elsewhere in Florida may still need approval. Your city issues the permit, not the county. Broward's 31 municipal building departments each run their own permitting and inspections, while the county Board of Rules and Appeals sets code interpretation and the countywide amendments they all work from. The Broward County Amendments to the Florida Building Code, published by the Board of Rules and Appeals under the county charter, apply on top of the state code everywhere in the county. Individual cities can add their own amendments as well, so confirm both. Pembroke Pines permits sheds through its Accessory Structures Permit Checklist, with Building, Zoning, and Engineering plan review, plus Electrical review when the shed gets power. The owner signs the city's Affidavit for Electrical Wiring for Sheds stating whether the shed will have wiring. A shed with wiring needs an electrical permit application and drawing, and wiring added later needs its own electrical permit. Land Development Code Table 155.620 limits a shed to 100 square feet (200 square feet in the A or R-E districts), with setbacks of 5 feet from side and rear lot lines and 15 feet from a street side, and generally allows one shed per residential lot.
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
- Product approval or Notice of Acceptance documentation for HVHZ rated materialsSometimes required
- Broward County Uniform Building Permit Application (City of Pembroke Pines)Likely required
- Homeowners Association Affidavit of Awareness (required even if the property is not in an association)Likely required
- Property survey showing setbacks and the shed locationLikely required
- Signed and sealed drawings by a licensed design professional and/or product approvalsLikely required
- Affidavit for Electrical Wiring for ShedsLikely required
- Affidavit of Landscape Compliance for Improvements (Residential Lots) and Utility Easement Hold Harmless AgreementLikely required
- South Broward Drainage District permit release where the lot is in that districtSometimes required
Possible inspections
- Foundation or slab inspection
- Framing and anchoring inspection
- Final inspection
- Building inspections listed on the permit card
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need a permit for shed or accessory structure in Pembroke Pines?
- Yes. In Florida, shed or accessory structure generally requires a permit, and Pembroke Pines is no exception. The documents and inspections sections on this page list what the building department typically asks for.
- Who issues the permit in Pembroke Pines?
- The local building department for Pembroke Pines 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.