Permit Required? Sometimes Required
Typical Fee Range $45–$250 Exempt if < 150 sq ft and < $5,000 in value with no utilities.
Fee Method Valuation-based
Apply Online Apply at City of Jacksonville Building Inspection Division →

What's Required in Jacksonville

  • Permit required for any shed exceeding 150 square feet.
  • Permit required if the shed valuation exceeds $5,000.
  • Electrical, plumbing, or mechanical work ALWAYS requires a permit regardless of size.
  • Must meet side and rear yard setbacks (typically 5 feet; check specific zoning).
  • Sheds over 150 sq ft require structural design drawings signed by a FL-licensed professional.
  • Product Approval Information Sheets are required for pre-manufactured sheds.

What Size Shed Needs a Permit in Jacksonville

Whether you need a building permit for a shed in Jacksonville usually comes down to size. In Jacksonville, the cutoff is 150 square feet: a simple one-story shed at or under that size generally doesn’t need a building permit, while anything that exceeds it does. A popular 10x12 shed (120 sq ft) comes in under the limit, so it typically doesn’t need a building permit. Larger sheds, and any shed with electrical, plumbing, or a permanent foundation, almost always need a permit regardless of footprint.

Building a Shed Without a Permit in Jacksonville

Even when a shed is small enough to skip a building permit in Jacksonville, “no permit” doesn’t mean “no rules.” A permit-exempt shed generally must stay at or under the 150-square-foot limit, sit on a non-permanent base (sheds on skids or a gravel pad are treated more leniently than those on a poured foundation), and have no electrical or plumbing run to it. Crucially, zoning setbacks still apply — your shed usually has to sit a minimum distance from property lines and other structures, and that holds even for a permit-free shed. Confirm both the size exemption and the setback distance with the City of Jacksonville Building Inspection Division before you build.

How to Get a Shed Permit in Jacksonville

1

Step 1: Verify Size

Determine if the shed is under the 150 sq ft / $5,000 exemption limit.

2

Step 2: JAXEPICS Application

If over thresholds, apply via JAXEPICS and upload a site plan.

3

Step 3: Zoning Review

The application is routed for zoning and concurrency approval ($25 fee).

4

Step 4: Fee Payment

Pay the valuation-based building fee ($45 min for small sheds).

5

Step 5: Inspection

Sheds over 150 sq ft require a final building inspection; slab inspections are required before pouring concrete.

Frequently Asked Questions

Only if it is larger than 150 sq ft, costs more than $5,000, or has utilities.
Minimum fees for small sheds start at $45; larger sheds cost more based on valuation.
Typically 5 feet, but verify with the Zoning Division as rules vary by district.
In Jacksonville, you can build a shed up to 150 square feet without a building permit; anything over that needs one. The exemption usually also requires no permanent foundation and no electrical or plumbing, and zoning setbacks from property lines still apply even without a permit.
Often not, if it’s also within Jacksonville’s 150 sq ft limit and has no utilities — many jurisdictions treat a shed on skids or a gravel pad as movable rather than a permanent building. A poured foundation or any electrical/plumbing typically triggers a permit. Confirm with the City of Jacksonville Building Inspection Division; zoning setbacks apply either way.