01The short answer
Probably, unless the shed is small. The Florida Building Code requires a permit to construct, alter, repair, move or demolish a building or structure. Each jurisdiction then exempts small sheds, and the cut-off varies a lot: under 150 square feet in unincorporated Hillsborough, 120 square feet in Tampa, and in Polk County and Lakeland only very small storage closets are exempt.
None of the four says in plain words whether moving a shed that was exempt to begin with needs a permit. If yours is near a threshold, call the building department before the move. It is a free phone call and it is the owner's permit, not the mover's.
02The size limits, jurisdiction by jurisdiction
| Where | Exempt from a permit |
|---|---|
| Polk County | Only reach-in storage closets: 5 ft tall or less, 50 sq ft or less, 250 cubic ft or less, no electric or plumbing |
| Hillsborough County | Residential sheds and greenhouses under 150 sq ft |
| City of Tampa | Sheds up to 120 sq ft, and setbacks still have to be met |
| City of Lakeland | Only sheds under 250 cubic ft and no more than 5 ft tall |
A typical 10 by 12 shed is 120 square feet. That is exempt in Tampa, exempt in unincorporated Hillsborough, and needs a permit in Polk County and Lakeland.
03Setbacks and the site plan
Setbacks, how far the shed has to sit from the property line, depend on the zoning district, so there is no single number. Hillsborough County asks for a site plan showing setbacks, and plans sealed by an engineer or architect, for sheds of 150 square feet and over. Tampa's exemption for small sheds still says setbacks must be maintained.
The practical rule: know where the new spot is relative to the fence line before the day, because moving a shed twice costs twice.
04Tie-downs and wind
- Lakeland asks for the manufacturer's engineered drawings with a pre-made shed permit, including the anchoring system used.
- Tampa's plan review asks for the wind speed and pressure design criteria.
- Florida Statute 553.73 exempts storage sheds of 720 square feet or less that are not designed for living in from the windborne debris impact standards.
- Florida Statute 489.103 lets anyone sell, deliver, assemble or tie down a prefabricated shed of up to 250 square feet without a contractor licence, or an approved storage building up to 400 square feet.
If your shed is anchored where it stands now, tell us, and have a plan for anchoring it at the new spot.
05The HOA
Hillsborough County's own permit page says it plainly: if you have an HOA or COA, check their rules. An association can restrict where a shed sits, how big it is and what it looks like, whatever the county allows.
06Before the move
Once the paperwork is sorted, two things decide how the move itself goes: the lowest clearance on the whole route, because a shed on a trailer is tall, and the ground where it lands. Both are on the shed moving page, with what to send for a price.
07Questions people ask
Do I need a permit to move a shed in Florida?
The building code requires a permit to move a structure, and small sheds are exempt in some places. Hillsborough exempts sheds under 150 sq ft and Tampa up to 120 sq ft. Polk County and Lakeland exempt only very small storage closets.
Do I need a permit for a 10 by 12 shed?
At 120 square feet it is exempt in Tampa and in unincorporated Hillsborough, and needs a permit in Polk County and Lakeland.
Does a shed have to be tied down in Florida?
Lakeland asks for the manufacturer's anchoring details with a shed permit, and Tampa asks for the wind design criteria. Check with your building department for your spot.
Does the mover pull the permit?
No. The permit is the property owner's or the contractor of record's. We move the shed; the paperwork is yours.