This is the question we get more than any other, and the honest answer is that we cannot answer it for you. Permit requirements are set by your city and county, they change, and they turn on details specific to your property.
What we can do is tell you exactly what determines the answer, point you at the official sources, and flag the things people get wrong.
What actually determines whether you need a permit
Three factors come up almost everywhere:
Size. Most jurisdictions have a square footage threshold. Below it, an accessory structure may not require a permit. Above it, it does. This is why the sizing decision and the permit decision are the same decision.
Placement. Setbacks from property lines, easements, and whether the structure sits in a front, side, or rear yard. Placement rules can also be affected by drainage and utility easements that are not obvious from your survey.
Intended use. A storage shed and a structure you plan to run power to, work in, or use as a home office can be treated differently. If you are pre-wiring for electrical, say so when you ask.
Check the official source, not a forum
Do not rely on a neighbor, a Facebook group, or a blog post, including this one, as your final answer. Go to the building department that covers your address.
We keep the official links published on our FAQ page for every county we serve:
- Jacksonville and Duval County: the City of Jacksonville publishes a residential shed permit page through the Building Inspection Division
- Clay County: Clay County building department FAQ
- Green Cove Springs: city Building Division
- St. Augustine: city Planning and Building
- St. Johns County: county building permits
- Baker County: community development
- Nassau County: county Building Department
- Putnam County: development services building forms
- Flagler County: shed requirements document
If you are unsure which rules apply to your property, contact us and we will help point you in the right direction. We are not a substitute for your building department, but we have had this conversation with a lot of homeowners in these counties.
The HOA is a separate approval
Getting a permit and getting HOA approval are two different processes, and passing one tells you nothing about the other. Plenty of people get a permit and then find out their HOA does not allow the color.
Common HOA considerations:
- Approved colors or finishes
- Maximum length, width, or height
- Door and building style requirements
- Placement rules, front yard versus backyard
- Fence or screening requirements
Some HOAs are flexible. Others are restrictive. We can customize buildings to help meet HOA requirements, but you will need to confirm what is allowed in your specific neighborhood, and it is worth doing that early rather than after you have picked a building.
What to have ready when you call
Whether you are calling the building department or us, the conversation goes faster with:
- Your address and parcel information
- The building footprint you are considering
- Where on the lot it is going, with rough distances to property lines
- Whether you are running electrical
- Whether you are in an HOA, and its name
- Your survey, if you have one
The mistakes that cost people time
Ordering before checking. The permit answer can change which size you buy. Check first, then order.
Assuming the city rule and the county rule are the same. Inside Jacksonville city limits and unincorporated Duval are not automatically identical, and the same holds for Green Cove Springs versus unincorporated Clay County.
Forgetting the easement. A rear-yard placement that clears the setback can still land on a utility easement.
Not accounting for access. Separate from permitting, we need roughly one foot of clearance on each side of the building to place it. A 12-foot-wide gate generally allows a 10-foot-wide building. Check this at the same time you check setbacks so you only measure once.
Timeline
Permit processing time is up to your jurisdiction and we cannot promise a number for it. On our side, in-stock buildings are typically delivered within 5 to 7 days and custom-built buildings typically take 3 to 4 weeks.
If your permit is pending, tell us. It is easier to schedule delivery around an approval than to reschedule around a rejection.
Where we deliver in Duval and nearby
Free delivery and installation within 50 miles covers Jacksonville and all of Duval County, including Mandarin, the Southside, the Northside, and Arlington, plus Clay, St. Johns, Nassau, Baker, and Bradford counties.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a permit for a shed in Jacksonville?
It depends on the size, placement, and intended use of the structure. The City of Jacksonville publishes a residential shed permit page through its Building Inspection Division, and that is the authoritative source for your address. We link to it on our FAQ page.
Does a small shed need a permit?
Many jurisdictions have a square footage threshold below which an accessory structure does not require a permit, but the threshold and the rules vary by city and county. Check your local building department rather than assuming.
Do I need a permit if the shed is portable and not on a foundation?
Portability does not automatically exempt a structure. Some jurisdictions treat it differently, some do not. Ask your building department specifically about a portable or pre-built accessory structure.
Does HOA approval replace a permit?
No. They are separate. You may need both, and approval from one has no bearing on the other.
Does running electrical change the permit requirement?
It often does. Our buildings include electrical pre-wiring, and connecting that to power is typically its own permitted work. Mention electrical when you ask.
Who pulls the permit, me or you?
Permitting is handled by the property owner with their local jurisdiction. We recommend checking with your municipality before scheduling delivery, and we are happy to help point you in the right direction.
What if I am not sure which rules apply to me?
Contact us with your address and what you are planning. We will help you figure out which building department covers you and what to ask them.
Get the building question sorted first
The easiest way to make the permit conversation concrete is to know which building you actually want. Come see them at the Philips Hwy Sales Lot at 9092 Philips Hwy in Jacksonville, or browse the inventory first.
Talk to our team if you want help thinking it through.