Miami, FL Accessory Structures: Shed & Carport Rules (2026)
Shed permit rules in Miami, 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
- Governing code
- Miami 21 Zoning Code, Art. 1 & 5
- Classification
- Ancillary Building use, not accessory structure
- Setback rule
- Follows Ancillary Building setback line, not principal
- Permit fine
- $525 civil penalty, no permit (§ 2-829)
- Enclosure test
- Must stay 20%+ open or it's a garage
Summary
Miami classifies a carport as an Ancillary Building, so it must sit within the setback line for ancillary structures in your Transect Zone and needs a building permit before you build it.
Carport: A portion of a Principal residential Building or a Building accessory to a residential Use designed to be used for shelter of motor vehicles, unenclosed at the vehicular entry side and for an area at least equal to twenty percent (20%) of the area of the outer surface of walls, which might otherwise be constructed along its entire remaining perimeter. Where enclosure exceeds this amount, the shelter shall be construed to be a garage.
Certificate of Occupancy: As defined by the Florida Building Code.
Certificate of Use: An official City document verifying that a particular Use is in compliance with applicable sections of this Miami 21 Code pursuant to the requirements of Article IV, Section 2-207 of the City Code and Section 7.1.2.1 of this Code.
City: The City of Miami, Florida.
City Code: The Code of Ordinances of the City of Miami.
City Commission: The City Commission of the City of Miami.
Civic: Uses held in private or public ownership but functioning for community purposes such as religious, cultural, environmental, or educational uses. See Section 1.1.
Civic Building: A Building designed specifically for a Civic Function.
Civic Institution (CI): A zone with uses primarily dedicated to Functioning for community purposes such as, cultural, educational, environmental, governmental, public transit, public parking and religious facilities. See Section 1.1.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 23 | Ordinance 11000 (Previous Zoning Code): Supplement 22 | Miami 21 (Zoning Code): ?).
Full Breakdown
Miami 21 defines a Carport as open enough at the vehicular entry, and along at least 20% of what would otherwise be wall, that it doesn't count as an enclosed garage (Miami 21 § 1.2). The zoning code treats carports as an Ancillary Building use, alongside garages and storage, so they must be located within the Ancillary Building setback line shown in your Transect Zone's illustration rather than the Principal Building setback: a one-story carport, attached or detached, follows the Ancillary Building line, while an attached two-story carport follows the tighter Principal Building setback. Building without a permit draws a $525 civil penalty under the city's Schedule of Civil Penalties, Code § 2-829.
Violations & Fines
Building or enlarging a carport without a permit is cited under the city's Schedule of Civil Penalties (Code § 2-829): a flat $525 civil fine, separate from any Article 9/908.5-908.6 zoning correction order.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a carport need a building permit in Miami?
What setback applies to a carport in Miami?
What's the difference between a carport and a garage in Miami?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Miami
How Miami compares: Shed Permit Requirements by City·Florida rules heatmap·Compare Miami to another location·View the Florida accessory structures overview
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Shed & Carport Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Miami-Dade County handle shed & carport rules.