Do I need a permit for shed or accessory structure in St. Augustine?
Most likely yes. Shed or accessory structure usually requires a permit in Florida. Confirm the specifics with St. Augustine.
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 St. Augustine
St. Johns County's own permitting office is the St. Johns County Building Department, reachable on (904) 827-6800 at https://www.sjcfl.us/departments/building-department/. Its online permit portal is https://webapp.sjcfl.us/WATSWebX/Permit/SearchPermit.aspx. 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. St. Augustine lists accessory buildings and structures among the work that usually requires a permit, and it has its own Shed permit type with plans, a survey, and an ISR worksheet. Under Code Sec. 28-348, accessory structures in a residential district may not sit in the required front or side yards or within 3 feet of the rear property line. A detached structure at least 10 feet from the house may sit in a required side or rear yard, but no closer than 3 feet to any lot line. St. Augustine does not require a building permit for improvements under $7,500 on a single-family home (effective July 1, 2026), but only after the city approves an exemption request filed through a land development application with the contract or cost documents. Electrical, plumbing, mechanical, gas, structural work, and property in a flood hazard area still need permits at any cost, and starting without an approved exemption doubles the permit fees.
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
- Shed permit application through the St. Augustine Permit PortalLikely required
- Building plans showing compliance with FBC 107.2Likely required
- Property survey showing shed location, setbacks, lot coverage, drainage, and trees to be retained or removedLikely required
- Impervious Surface Ratio (ISR) WorksheetLikely required
- Product Approval ListLikely required
Possible inspections
- Foundation or slab inspection
- Framing and anchoring inspection
- Final inspection
- Foundation or tie-down inspection
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need a permit for shed or accessory structure in St. Augustine?
- Most likely yes. Shed or accessory structure usually requires a permit in Florida. Confirm the specifics with St. Augustine. The documents and inspections sections on this page list what the building department typically asks for.
- Who issues the permit in St. Augustine?
- The local building department for St. Augustine 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.