Fort Lauderdale, FL Accessory Structures: Shed Rules (2026)

Two layers of law govern sheds in Fort Lauderdale. First, the Florida Building Code exempts the smallest sheds from a building permit: 'Permits shall not be required for one-story detached accessory structures used as tool and storage sheds, playhouses and similar uses, provided the floor area is not greater than 120 square feet.' This permit exemption does not waive zoning, flood-zone, wind-load, or anchoring requirements, and a permit is still required for any shed with electrical, plumbing, or HVAC, on a permanent foundation, or larger than the exemption threshold. Because Broward County is in the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone (HVHZ), the City advises that sheds requiring a permit must have signed and sealed shop drawings from a Florida-licensed engineer or a Miami-Dade County Notice of Acceptance. Second, Fort Lauderdale's ULDR Section 47-19.2 controls placement: no accessory use or structure may be located within a required yard specified by the zoning district unless the ULDR expressly permits it, the aggregate gross floor area of all accessory structures may not exceed 49% of the principal building's gross floor area, and within a residential district an accessory structure may not be taller than the principal building and in no case taller than 24 feet (35 feet on lots over one acre). On corner lots, no accessory structure may sit within 15 feet of any side-street property line.