Do I need a permit for shed or accessory structure in Boynton Beach?
It depends. Whether shed or accessory structure needs a permit in Boynton Beach 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.
Florida and local notes for Boynton Beach
Palm Beach County's own permitting office is the Palm Beach County Planning, Zoning & Building Department (Building Division), reachable on 561-233-5100 at https://discover.pbc.gov/pzb/pages/contact-us.aspx. Its online permit portal is https://pbc.gov/epzb. 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. Palm Beach County is a high-wind area. The county's own amendments set ultimate design wind speeds ranging from 140 to 180 mph 3-second gust for Exposure Category C, depending on the Risk Category assigned to the building. All of unincorporated Palm Beach County is in the wind-borne debris region. Inside a municipality the exact wind speed and debris region lines are set by local ordinance, so confirm the figure for your parcel rather than assuming. Even a small accessory structure is reviewed for wind resistance and anchoring at the design wind speed for the parcel. Under Boynton Beach's local amendment to the Florida Building Code, Section 105.2, a shed on a single family lot that is no larger than 6 feet by 6 feet and no taller than 6 feet is exempt from a building permit, but it may still be subject to a zoning permit. The same section says vinyl and other lightweight product sheds are intended to be removable and are not permanent structures, and that they may also be subject to zoning permits. Confirm with the Building Department before you buy. Exemptions under Section 105.2 do not authorize work in a special flood hazard area that violates the city's floodplain rules.
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
- Florida Product Approval or Miami-Dade NOA for impact rated productsSometimes required
- Wind load design pressures for components and claddingSometimes required
- SagesGov building permit applicationSometimes required
- Zoning review or zoning permitSometimes required
- Survey or site plan showing the shed locationSometimes required
Possible inspections
- Foundation or slab inspection
- Framing and anchoring inspection
- Final inspection
- Inspections listed on the permit, where a permit is issued
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need a permit for shed or accessory structure in Boynton Beach?
- It depends. Whether shed or accessory structure needs a permit in Boynton Beach 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 Boynton Beach?
- The local building department for Boynton Beach 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.