Do I need a permit for shed or accessory structure in Mount Dora?
Yes. In Florida, shed or accessory structure generally requires a permit, and Mount Dora 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.
Florida and local notes for Mount Dora
Lake County's own permitting office is the Lake County Office of Building Services, reachable on 352-343-9653 at https://lakecountyfl.gov/building-services. Its online permit portal is https://mcdplus.lakecountyfl.gov/oprs_PT/. 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. Mount Dora LDC Section 3.5.25 states that storage units or structures, whether portable or permanent, may not be placed on property in the city without a building permit. Under LDC Section 3.5.4, a detached accessory building must be at least five feet from the side and rear lot lines and cannot exceed 600 square feet, no more than two accessory structures are allowed per lot, and a permitted principal structure must already exist on the parcel. On a waterfront lot, accessory structures must be at least 25 feet from the lake's normal high water control level. Mount Dora's Building Division (308 E. 5th Avenue, 352-735-7115) issues permits for addresses inside city limits, and all permits are submitted through the city's online permit portal. After creating a portal account, call the office to have it linked, and upload every document as a PDF.
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
- City of Mount Dora Building Permit Application (BFP-001), submitted through the online permit portalLikely required
- Property survey or plot plan showing the shed location and setbacksLikely required
- Residential Owner-Builder Affidavit if the owner is pulling the permitSometimes required
Possible inspections
- Foundation or slab inspection
- Framing and anchoring inspection
- Final inspection
- Foundation or tie-down inspection
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need a permit for shed or accessory structure in Mount Dora?
- Yes. In Florida, shed or accessory structure generally requires a permit, and Mount Dora is no exception. The documents and inspections sections on this page list what the building department typically asks for.
- Who issues the permit in Mount Dora?
- The local building department for Mount Dora 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.