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PermitRoadmap

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

Permit may be required

It depends. Whether shed or accessory structure needs a permit in Unincorporated Hillsborough County comes down to the details of your project.

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 Hillsborough County. A free check first, then a free printable Permit Prep Pack.

Local detail for Unincorporated Hillsborough County: Building permits for all unincorporated areas (including Sun City Center) are handled by Hillsborough County Development Services. Online applications submitted via the HillsGovHub portal (Accela).

Florida and local notes for Unincorporated Hillsborough County

Hillsborough County's own permitting office is the Hillsborough County Development Services Department, reachable on (813) 272-5600 at https://hcfl.gov/businesses/permits-and-records. Its online permit portal is https://aca-prod.accela.com/HCFL/Default.aspx. It issues permits for the unincorporated county. If your city does not run its own building department, and many smaller Florida municipalities do not, this is the office that will handle the job. Ask specifically about the size that triggers a permit and about setbacks, since those are set locally and are the two things people most often get wrong on a shed. Hillsborough County's Work Exempt from Permits page says residential sheds and greenhouses under 150 square feet need no permit. Larger accessory structures go through the county's Residential Accessory Structure checklist in HillsGovHub. Under LDC 6.11.04, an accessory structure may be no taller than 15 feet unless it meets principal building setbacks, must stay at least 3 feet from side and rear lot lines, and may cover no more than 20 percent of the required rear yard. Removing any tree 12 inches or more in trunk diameter to make room for a shed needs a county tree removal permit, requested in the same HillsGovHub application.

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
  • HillsGovHub Residential Miscellaneous Permit - Building applicationSometimes required
  • Site plan drawn to scale with setbacks, easements, and wetlands, plus the county's tree statementSometimes required
  • Plans signed and sealed by a Florida architect or engineer, or approved DCA plansSometimes required
  • Recorded certified Notice of Commencement before the first inspectionSometimes 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 Hillsborough County?
It depends. Whether shed or accessory structure needs a permit in Unincorporated Hillsborough County comes down to the details of your project. The documents and inspections sections on this page list what the building department typically asks for.
Who issues the permit in Unincorporated Hillsborough County?
The local building department for Unincorporated Hillsborough 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.