Skip to content
PermitRoadmap

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

Permit required

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

Local detail for Unincorporated Palm Beach County: County PZB Building Division serves unincorporated Palm Beach County and provides building/permit services to several small municipalities by interlocal agreement.

Florida and local notes for Unincorporated Palm Beach County

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. The county lists sheds as a Type 2(A) permit, and its Sec. 105.2 list of work exempt from permit does not include sheds. Under ULDC Art. 5.B.1.A.1, in residential districts and on AR lots under one acre, an accessory structure 10 feet tall or less must be at least 5 feet from side and rear property lines, and a taller one must meet the district's principal setbacks. Accessory structures may not sit in an easement or required landscape buffer. The county's July 2026 notice says the HB 803 under-$7,500 permit exemptions do not apply anywhere in Palm Beach County, because the whole county is designated a flood hazard area under the Florida Building Code.

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
  • Palm Beach County Building Division permit application through the ePZB portal (Type 2(A) shed permit)Likely required
  • Two copies of a survey with the shed drawn to scale and distances to property linesLikely required
  • State Product Approval or approved drawings for a prefabricated shed, or engineered drawings with wind design informationLikely required
  • HOA approval letter and easement release forms if the shed is in a common area or easementSometimes required

Possible inspections

  • Foundation or slab inspection
  • Framing and anchoring inspection
  • Final inspection
  • Tie-down or foundation inspection

Frequently asked questions

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