Shed Permit Requirements in Miami-Dade County
A shed or utility storage building needs a building permit in Miami-Dade County — the county's guidance lists sheds as structural work that always requires one. For a home, it must be a single-story, non-habitable, detached storage building, one per property, up to 400 square feet, with added flood requirements in a Special Flood Hazard Area.
Verified against official sources · Last verified: September 19, 2026
Do You Need a Permit?
Conditional — More Information NeededA building permit is required to install a shed or utility storage building in Miami-Dade County, and the county's HB 803 guidance lists sheds as structural work that always requires a permit. For residential properties the shed must be a single-story, non-habitable, detached storage building accessory to the single-family home, townhouse, or duplex, with only one utility shed per property and a maximum of 400 square feet. Properties in a Special Flood Hazard Area have additional flood requirements. A structure larger than 400 square feet is outside these utility-shed rules.
Additional verification needed for some scenarios
PermitAhead has verified Miami-Dade County's requirements for the specific scenario described above. Other shed scenarios fall outside the official checklist we've verified — use the checker to see which applies to your project, or confirm directly with the building department.
See what applies to your exact property.
Check Your PropertyPermit Type
Building Permit
Documents You May Need
- Building Permit Application (yellow form), category 02 (residential), with the total square footage of the shed
- Contact Sheet
- For a pre-manufactured shed: the current Notice of Acceptance (or Florida Building Commission product approval) and the manufacturer's drawings — showing where electrical devices are located, if the shed includes electrical
- For a site-built shed: custom drawings signed and sealed by an architect or engineer, including foundation, wall and roof structure, connections, finishes, doors and windows, electrical/plumbing (if any), and calculations
- Current land survey or site plan showing the shed's location and size, all setbacks to the property lines, the distance to the house and other structures, the water and sewer lines (or septic tank and well), and the electric service location
- If connecting electricity: conduit size and type, number of wires and insulation, number of circuits in the panel, and a riser diagram and floor plan on the site plan — otherwise a note "No Electrical or Plumbing work at this moment" on the drawings
- If in a Special Flood Hazard Area: floor elevations at or above the Base Flood Elevation (with an Elevation Certificate before the final inspection), or the Flood Opening Form with at least two openings on different walls (with a DERM floodplain inspection before the final inspection)
- Attestation for Utility Sheds and Storage Structures, signed and notarized by the property owner (residential)
- Affidavit to Allow Reduced Setbacks for Shed and Pergola, only to place a shed of 100 sq. ft. or less and no more than 10 feet high within two feet of an interior or rear property line (notarized signatures of the abutting neighbors)
- If applying as an owner-builder: proof of ownership, the owner-builder form, and passing the owner-builder examination
Inspections
- DERM Floodplain Inspector compliance inspection before the final building inspection (when flood openings are used instead of elevations)
Conditions That Can Affect This Result
This isn't a flat rule — the outcome can depend on details specific to your project. Use the checker to get a result based on your own answers, or see the verified scenarios below.
- If the shed is 100 square feet or less: a permit is required.
- If the shed is between 101 and 200 square feet: a permit is required.
- If the shed is between 201 and 400 square feet: a permit is required.
- If the property is in a FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area: you'll also need: Flood requirements (elevation at or above the Base Flood Elevation, or approved flood openings).
What to Do Next
- 1Confirm which scenario applies to your project with the building department.
- 2Once confirmed, gather the required documents for that scenario.
- 3Contact the building department for how to submit your application.
Ready to continue?
Apply for the permit
Open the official government application portal.
Questions about your permit?
Call the Building Department.
Common Questions
Does a small shed need a permit in Miami-Dade County?
Yes — the county's HB 803 guidance lists sheds as structural work that always requires a permit, and a building permit is required to install a shed or utility storage building.
What are the limits for a residential utility shed?
It must be a single-story, non-habitable, detached storage building accessory to the home, with only one utility shed per property and a maximum of 400 square feet.
Are there extra requirements in a flood zone?
Yes — properties in a Special Flood Hazard Area have additional flood requirements.
Permit Fees
Fees vary by project scope. See the Miami-Dade County Building Fee Schedule.
Review Time
Varies by project and plan-review workload
Building Department
Regulatory and Economic Resources (RER) — Building & Permits
Phone: 305-375-2877Email: RERInfo@miamidade.govAddress: 111 NW 1st Street, 11th Floor, Miami, FL 33128
Official Sources
Miami-Dade County — Sheds, Utility Storage and Aluminum Terraces
miamidade.gov · Official page · verified September 19, 2026
Miami-Dade County — Utility Shed Permit Requirements
miamidade.gov · Official PDF · verified September 19, 2026
Miami-Dade County — Attestation for Utility Sheds and Storage Structures
miamidade.gov · Official PDF · verified September 19, 2026
Miami-Dade County — Permit Exemptions
miamidade.gov · Official page · verified September 19, 2026
Source last checked: September 17, 2026
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PermitAhead provides informational guidance based on official government sources. Final permitting decisions are made by the applicable local authority.