Broward County, FL Accessory Structures: Shed & Carport Rules (2026)
Shed permit rules in Broward 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 minimum
- Height on single-family lots
- One story max
- Spacing from other buildings
- 10 feet minimum
- Total accessory floor area
- 5% of plot max
- Size vs. main house
- 50% of principal building max
Summary
In unincorporated Broward County, accessory buildings like sheds must sit at least 5 feet from side and rear property lines, stay one story on single-family lots, and cannot exceed 5% of the plot area.
(d)On a plot containing a one-family detached or two family dwelling, side and rear yards not abutting a street may be reduced to five (5) feet for accessory uses and buildings.(e)Accessory buildings may not exceed one story on any plot containing a one-family detached dwelling.(f)Accessory buildings shall not exceed half the height of any principal building on plots containing two-family or multiple-family dwellings. On any plot containing grouped dwellings of varying heights, accessory buildings shall not exceed half the height of the lowest building on the plot.(g)One (1) story enclosed accessory buildings shall be at least ten (10) feet from any other enclosed accessory building and from any principal building on the same plot. The distance between any principal and enclosed accessory buildings on the same plot, where the enclosed accessory building is higher than one (1) story, shall be half the height of the highest principal building.(h)The aggregate floor area of all accessory buildings shall not exceed five percent (5%) of the plot area.(i)No accessory building shall contain more than fifty percent (50%) of the floor area of the principal building.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 72 | Administrative Code: Supplement 28).
Full Breakdown
Broward County zoning sets accessory building standards for unincorporated areas under Sec. 39-275. Side and rear yards not abutting a street can shrink to 5 feet for accessory uses and buildings. Sheds and other accessory structures on one-family detached lots cannot rise above one story, and enclosed accessory buildings must sit at least 10 feet from the house and from other accessory buildings. Total accessory building floor area is capped at 5% of the plot, and no single accessory building can exceed 50% of the principal building floor area. These rules apply only outside the county's 31 municipalities, which set their own zoning, per Sec. 39-2.
Violations & Fines
Building without meeting the 5-foot setback, exceeding the 5% plot coverage cap, or building a second-story shed on a single-family lot violates Sec. 39-275 and can trigger code enforcement action.
Frequently Asked Questions
How close to my property line can I put a shed in Broward County?
Can I build a two-story shed on my lot?
Do these rules apply in Fort Lauderdale or Hollywood?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Broward County
How Broward County compares: Shed Permit Requirements by City·Florida rules heatmap·Compare Broward County to another location·View the Florida accessory structures overview
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