What's Required in Jacksonville
- Every shed needs a building permit; size changes only the paperwork and the fee.
- Bring a scalable certified survey showing the shed's distance to at least two property lines and every structure on the lot.
- Sheds 150 square feet or larger need sealed structural drawings from a Florida licensed design professional.
- Sheds 150 square feet or larger also need Product Approval Information Sheets.
- Shed permits with job costs of $5,000 or more need a recorded Notice of Commencement.
- Lots with a well or septic system need a Health Department stamp on the site plan.
- Sheds under 15 feet tall must be at least five feet from side and rear lot lines.
- If the shed has a slab inspection, schedule it before the concrete is placed.
Do you need a permit for a shed in Jacksonville?
Yes. Jacksonville has no size below which a shed skips the permit. The Florida Building Code's list of work exempt from permit covers only gas, mechanical and plumbing items, and the Building Inspection Division's own exempt list for homes names patio slabs, not sheds. What size changes is how much paperwork the permit takes and what it costs. A shed under 150 square feet that costs under $5,000 is issued over the counter on the day you visit and often needs no inspection. At 150 square feet or larger, you need sealed structural drawings and a plan review.
How much does a shed permit cost in Jacksonville?
Shed fees are flat lines in Ordinance Code Section 320.409, published on the city fee page. The lines below add up the Building Inspection Division (BID) fee, the Development Services fee and the construction and demolition (C&D) debris fee:
- Small shed, no final inspection (not over 150 square feet and $5,000): $45 + $15 + $25 = $85. The $45 includes plan review.
- Shed needing one inspection, such as a slab inspection: $75 + $25 + $25 = $125.
- Shed needing more than one inspection: the BID fee is $112.50 or $33.75 per required inspection, whichever is greater. The Development Services fee is at least $37.50, and the debris fee is $25. If the $90 minimum plan review fee also applies, a permit with three or fewer inspections comes to $112.50 + $37.50 + $25 + $90 = $265.
Single-family accessory structures don't pay the landscape fee. Florida also adds two surcharges to building permit fees: 1 percent and 1.5 percent, with a $2 minimum on each permit. Your JaxEPICS invoice shows the final total.
| What you are doing | City filing | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| 10x12 shed (120 sq ft) on blocks, under $5,000 | Shed permit, issued same visit | $85; inspection often not required |
| Shed under 150 sq ft on a new slab | Shed permit + slab inspection | $125 line (one inspection) |
| 12x16 shed (192 sq ft) | Shed permit + plan review | Sealed drawings + product approval sheets |
| Any shed costing $5,000 or more | Shed permit + recorded Notice of Commencement | Plan review; NOC before inspections |
| Shed under 15 ft tall in the back yard | Zoning check | At least 5 ft from side and rear lot lines |
| Shed over 15 ft tall | Zoning check | Same setbacks as the house, no taller than the house |
| Shed with wiring or plumbing | Separate trade permit | Electrical or plumbing fees on top |
Where can a shed go on your lot?
Under Zoning Code 656.403, a shed under 15 feet tall can sit in a required rear or side yard if it is at least five feet from the lot line. A shed taller than that has to meet the house's setbacks and can't be taller than the house. Accessory structures can't go in a required front yard. The Zoning Section adds that a shed must be 5 feet from the house to count as accessory. It also caps accessory structures at 900 square feet, and they count toward your lot coverage.
Can you pull the shed permit yourself?
Yes, if you own and live in the home. The city's shed page is written for permits that property owners obtain themselves. Bring the following to the Ed Ball Building, 214 N. Hogan St.:
- photo ID
- proof of ownership
- a scalable certified survey showing the shed's distance to two property lines and its height from grade to peak
The Property Owner Disclosure Statement is handed to you at your appointment. If you have a well or septic system, the Health Department must stamp the site plan first. If you hire a contractor, the contractor files the permit through JaxEPICS instead.
How to Get a Shed Permit in Jacksonville
Check zoning and setbacks
Confirm your zoning district on the city GIS map and place the shed at least five feet from side and rear lot lines if it is under 15 feet tall.
Prepare the site plan
Mark up a scalable certified survey with the shed's dimensions, its distance to two property lines and its height. Add sealed drawings if the shed is 150 square feet or larger.
Apply
Owners apply in person at 214 N. Hogan St. with photo ID. Contractors file in JaxEPICS. Other agencies such as Historic Preservation may review the permit depending on location.
Pay and get the permit
Small sheds under $5,000 are issued during the visit. Bigger sheds go to a plans examiner first. Pay the fees at the tax collector window on the 2nd floor.
Inspect if required
Schedule any slab inspection before pouring concrete. Skipped inspections can lock your address against future permits.