Do I need a permit for shed or accessory structure in Greenacres?
Most likely yes. Shed or accessory structure usually requires a permit in Florida. Confirm the specifics with Greenacres.
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 Greenacres
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. Greenacres allows no more than two detached accessory buildings on a residential lot, and final approval is not granted until zoning compliance is confirmed, per the city's Accessory Structure Checklist. Per the city FAQ, in most residential districts a shed must be in the rear yard, at least 5 feet from property lines and 5 feet from the house, no taller than 15 feet, and no larger than 200 square feet (up to 600 square feet in the AR, RL-1, and RE districts if there is no attached garage). It counts toward lot coverage. The recorded Notice of Commencement must be emailed to inspections@greenacresfl.gov before the first inspection is scheduled. The city's two posted copies of the checklist give different value thresholds, so confirm the figure with the Building Division at 561-642-2052.
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
- Greenacres Permit Application submitted through MGO ConnectLikely required
- Accessory Structure Checklist and Accessory Structure WorksheetLikely required
- Survey showing location, size, and setbacks of the structureLikely required
- NOA or product approvals and tie down informationLikely required
- Recorded and certified Notice of Commencement above the city's value thresholdSometimes required
Possible inspections
- Foundation or slab inspection
- Framing and anchoring inspection
- Final inspection
- Inspections listed on the permit
- Zoning compliance confirmation before final approval
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need a permit for shed or accessory structure in Greenacres?
- Most likely yes. Shed or accessory structure usually requires a permit in Florida. Confirm the specifics with Greenacres. The documents and inspections sections on this page list what the building department typically asks for.
- Who issues the permit in Greenacres?
- The local building department for Greenacres 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.