Do I need a permit for shed or accessory structure in Unincorporated Sarasota County?
It depends. Whether shed or accessory structure needs a permit in Unincorporated Sarasota County 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.
Local detail for Unincorporated Sarasota County: Handles building permits for unincorporated Sarasota County via Accela (ACA). Also a South County permit center at R.L. Anderson Administration Center, 4000 S Tamiami Trail, Venice, FL 34293.
Florida and local notes for Unincorporated Sarasota County
Sarasota County's own permitting office is the Sarasota County Planning and Development Services office, reachable on 941-861-5000 at https://www.scgov.net/government/planning-and-development-services/building. Its online permit portal is https://building.scgov.net/. 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. Sarasota County's Building Permit Guidelines list storage or utility sheds as needing a building permit. The only listed exception is a plastic or rubber storage container less than 7 feet tall and less than 65 square feet, which still has to meet setbacks. The same guidelines allow one freestanding open beam wood pergola smaller than 12 feet by 12 feet per parcel without a building permit. The no-permit items on the county list do not apply when the structure is in a flood zone or is part of a larger project, in which case a building permit is required. An owner acting as their own contractor must appear in person at the Building Division to sign the Owner-Builder Disclosure Statement.
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
- Sarasota County building permit application in Accela (Shed / Pergola / Gazebo permit type)Likely required
- Site plan showing the shed, property lines, and setbacksLikely required
- Owner-Builder Disclosure Statement (Form IPS45) when the owner pulls the permitSometimes 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 Sarasota County?
- It depends. Whether shed or accessory structure needs a permit in Unincorporated Sarasota County 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 Unincorporated Sarasota County?
- The local building department for Unincorporated Sarasota 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.