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Pasco County, FL Accessory Structures: Shed & Carport Rules (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Shed permit rules in Pasco County, FL, also referred to as storage shed, backyard shed, or accessory building regulations, set size limits, setbacks, and when a building permit is required.

Key Facts

Side / rear setback
5 feet from lot line
Easements
No accessory structure in an easement
No-permit threshold
Shed <= 150 sq ft (with tie-downs)
Permit + drainage trigger
>= 500 sq ft on <= 1 acre
Residential use
Accessory building not for dwelling
Code Section
LDC Sec. 530.3; FBC Sec. 105.1

Summary

In unincorporated Pasco County, accessory buildings and structures (including sheds) must be set back at least 5 feet from any rear or side lot line, may not sit in an easement, and may not be built before the principal building is started or used for residential purposes. A shed 150 square feet or less needs no building permit if it has tie-downs and meets setbacks.

City-specific rules exist: Dade City, and New Port Richey have their own shed & carport rules rules that differ from Pasco County's county-level regulations. If you live in one of those cities, check the city-specific page instead.

Construction of Accessory Buildings and Structures. No accessory building or structure, except fencing, shall be constructed upon a lot until the construction of the principal building has been actually commenced. No accessory building shall be used for residential purposes, except as provided elsewhere in this Chapter 500. Accessory buildings or structures shall not be constructed within five (5) feet of any rear or side lot line and shall not be constructed within an easement. The principal use shall be established prior to or concurrently with any accessory use.

Source: Pasco County FL Code of OrdinancesView official code

Full Breakdown

3 (Construction of Accessory Buildings and Structures) provides that no accessory building or structure, except fencing, may be constructed on a lot until construction of the principal building has actually commenced, that no accessory building may be used for residential purposes except as provided elsewhere in Chapter 500, and that accessory buildings or structures may not be built within five (5) feet of any rear or side lot line or within an easement. The principal use must be established prior to or concurrently with any accessory use.

2 limits how close accessory structures may sit to the front line: where an existing setback line is established by an existing primary building, no new accessory building may be closer than three (3) feet to the side line, five (5) feet to the rear line, or fifteen (15) feet to the front line; on through lots, accessory structures may be erected within five (5) feet of a property line adjoining a collector or arterial roadway. For permitting, Pasco County Building Construction Services exempts a shed of 150 square feet or less from a building permit so long as the shed has tie-downs installed and meets required setbacks (the same exemption applies to gazebos 150 sq ft or less).

Larger sheds, or any shed of 500 square feet or more on a lot of one acre or less, require a building permit and may require sealed engineered drainage plans; sheds in a FEMA A or V flood zone must meet flood requirements or have hydrostatic openings.

Violations & Fines

Building a shed inside the 5-foot side/rear setback, in an easement, before the principal building is started, or building a permit-required shed (over 150 sq ft) without a permit violates LDC Section 530.3 and the Florida Building Code. Pasco County Code Enforcement can issue a notice of violation, require relocation or removal, and assess Special Magistrate fines, and Building Construction Services may require an after-the-fact permit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a permit for a shed in unincorporated Pasco County?
Not if the shed is 150 square feet or less, has tie-downs installed, and meets required setbacks. Larger sheds require a building permit, and a shed of 500 sq ft or more on a lot of one acre or less may also need sealed engineered drainage plans.
How far must a shed be from the property line?
At least 5 feet from any rear or side lot line under LDC Section 530.3, and it cannot be placed in an easement. The shed also cannot be built before the principal building's construction has started.
Can I live in or sleep in my shed?
No. LDC Section 530.3 states that no accessory building may be used for residential purposes except as otherwise provided in Chapter 500 (such as a permitted accessory dwelling unit under Section 530.24).

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Pasco County

All Pasco County rules

How Pasco County compares: Shed Permit Requirements by City·Florida rules heatmap·Compare Pasco County to another location·View the Florida accessory structures overview

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