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Do I need a permit for shed or accessory structure in Unincorporated Miami-Dade County?

Permit required

Yes. In Florida, shed or accessory structure generally requires a permit, and Unincorporated Miami-Dade 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 Miami-Dade County. A free check first, then a free printable Permit Prep Pack.

Local detail for Unincorporated Miami-Dade County: Permits for unincorporated Miami-Dade County are handled by the county RER Building Division. Additional RER office at Stephen P. Clark Center, 111 NW 1st Street, 11th Floor, Miami, FL 33128 (305-375-2877).

Florida and local notes for Unincorporated Miami-Dade County

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. Miami-Dade County's own building department serves the unincorporated area, while each municipality runs its own building department, and the county Board of Rules and Appeals interprets the code across all of them. The county says a building permit is required to install a shed, and its HB 803 page lists sheds as structural work that always needs a permit even under $7,500. Sec. 33-20(l) allows one utility shed per residential lot, up to 400 square feet, for storage only. Sheds over 100 square feet must meet the accessory building setbacks in Sec. 33-50. A shed of 100 square feet or less and no more than 10 feet tall needs a 5 foot rear and interior side setback, reducible to 2 feet with a notarized affidavit from the abutting neighbor, plus 10 feet from the house and 10 feet from a side street. In a flood hazard area, a shed must either be elevated to the base flood elevation with an Elevation Certificate or use the county's Flood Opening Form, which calls for at least two openings on two different walls totaling 1 square inch per square foot of shed.

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
  • Building Permit Application (yellow form), Category 02 residential, with total shed square footage and a Contact SheetLikely required
  • Notice of Acceptance or Florida product approval for a pre-manufactured shed, or signed and sealed drawings for a site-built shedLikely required
  • Current survey or site plan showing shed size, setbacks, distance to the house, and utility linesLikely required
  • Attestation for Utility Shed and Storage Structure, signed and notarized by the ownerLikely required
  • Elevation Certificate or Flood Opening Form in a Special Flood Hazard AreaSometimes required

Possible inspections

  • Foundation or slab inspection
  • Framing and anchoring inspection
  • Final inspection
  • Tie-down or foundation inspection
  • DERM floodplain compliance inspection when the flood opening option is used
  • Final building inspection

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a permit for shed or accessory structure in Unincorporated Miami-Dade County?
Yes. In Florida, shed or accessory structure generally requires a permit, and Unincorporated Miami-Dade 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 Miami-Dade County?
The local building department for Unincorporated Miami-Dade 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.