West Palm Beach, FL Accessory Structures: Shed & Carport Rules (2026)
Shed permit rules in West Palm Beach, 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
- Max accessory floor area
- 1,000 sq. ft. or 75% of home
- Front setback
- 25 feet
- Side/rear setback
- 5 feet
- Max height
- 25 feet
- Echo Lakes/Westfield shed
- 1 per lot, 120 sq. ft. max, 10 ft. max height
- Governing section
- City Code § 94-304(b), (c)
Summary
Residential accessory buildings in West Palm Beach, including sheds, are capped at 1,000 square feet or 75 percent of the primary home's floor area, whichever is smaller, with a 25-foot front setback and 5-foot side and rear setbacks. A stricter 120-square-foot shed rule applies in Echo Lakes and Westfield.
1. Maximum square footage. The total floor area of all roofed accessory buildings on a property shall not exceed 75 percent of the gross floor area of the primary structure with a maximum floor area of 1,000 square feet. For the residential neighborhoods of Echo Lakes and Westfield, all roofed accessory buildings are prohibited. This prohibition does not include gazebos and screen enclosures.
2. Setbacks.
Front: 25 feet.
Side: Five feet from the lot lines.
Corner: Same as required for principal structure.
Rear: Five feet minimum or 15 feet from the centerline of the alley to a garage door facing the alley, whichever is greater.
3. Building separation. Accessory structures covered with a solid roof shall be located no closer than six feet to the principal structure. Accessory structures less than six feet from the primary structure must meet the primary structure setbacks. Accessory structures may be connected to the principal structure with a canvas covered open breezeway.
4. Height. Accessory structures shall not exceed 25 feet.
c. Utility and tool sheds in Echo Lakes and Westfield neighborhoods Manufactured utility and tool sheds, which may
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 76).
Full Breakdown
Sec. 94-304(b)(1) limits the total floor area of all roofed accessory buildings on a residential lot, sheds included, to 75 percent of the primary structure's gross floor area, capped at 1,000 square feet regardless of how large the main house is. Sec. 94-304(b)(2) sets the setbacks that apply to those structures: 25 feet from the front lot line, five feet from side lot lines, the same as the principal structure on corner lots, and five feet from the rear line or 15 feet from the alley centerline to a garage door facing the alley, whichever is greater.
Sec. 94-304(b)(4) caps accessory structure height at 25 feet, and Sec. 94-304(b)(3) requires a roofed accessory structure to sit at least six feet from the principal structure unless it meets the principal structure's own setbacks. Roofed accessory buildings, including sheds, are flatly prohibited in the Echo Lakes and Westfield neighborhoods under Sec. 94-304(b)(1), except that Sec. 94-304(c) carves out a narrower allowance there for a single manufactured utility or tool shed per property: no more than 12 feet on any side, no taller than ten feet to the top of the structure, no larger than 120 gross square feet, non-habitable, sited in the rear yard five feet off the side and rear lines or, if screened by a hedge or opaque fence at least five feet tall, in the side setback five feet behind the front of the house.
Violations & Fines
A shed or accessory building that exceeds the applicable square footage, height or setback standard violates Sec. 94-304 and is enforceable under Sec. 94-9's Chapter 94 penalty, a fine up to $500.00 or imprisonment, with each day the noncompliant structure remains counted as a separate offense. The city can also route the case to the Chapter 26 code enforcement special magistrate, where continuing violations draw fines up to $250.00 per day for a first offense and $500.00 per day for a repeat offense, plus recorded liens for unpaid fines.
Frequently Asked Questions
How big a shed can I put in my West Palm Beach backyard?
Do sheds have a setback requirement in West Palm Beach?
Are sheds banned in Echo Lakes or Westfield?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in West Palm Beach
How West Palm Beach compares: Shed Permit Requirements by City·Florida rules heatmap·Compare West Palm Beach to another location·View the Florida accessory structures overview
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Shed & Carport Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Palm Beach County handle shed & carport rules.