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Shed Permit Requirements by City — Compare All Cities

Shed size thresholds, electrical/plumbing triggers, and permit fees vary by city. Use this table to compare requirements across all cities we cover, then click through to the full guide for your city.

30 cities compared Data sourced from official city records

Shed permit comparison — all cities

City State Size threshold (sq ft) Estimated fee range Review timeline Code edition Official source
Atlanta GA >200 sq ft $150–$500 10–20 business days Georgia State Minimum Standard Residential Code (IRC-based, Atlanta permit portal
Austin TX >200 sq ft $100–$350 10–15 business days 2024 International Residential Code (IRC) § R105.2 (Work Exe Austin permit portal
Boston MA >200 sq ft $250–$600 5–15 business days for standard residential plan review Massachusetts State Building Code 9th Edition (780 CMR), bas Boston permit portal
Charlotte NC >144 sq ft $25–$75 10–15 business days NC General Statute § 160D-1110(c) (accessory building permit Charlotte permit portal
Chicago IL >100 sq ft $175–$600 5–15 business days for standard residential review; potentially same-day OTC for simple qualifying projects Chicago Zoning Ordinance (Title 17) Section 17-2-0305 (acces Chicago permit portal
Cincinnati OH >200 sq ft $100–$300 7–14 business days for standard residential plan review 2019 Residential Code of Ohio (RCO) with Cincinnati local am Cincinnati permit portal
Columbus OH >200 sq ft $100–$350 7–12 business days for a straightforward residential shed 2019 Residential Code of Ohio (RCO), administered by the Cit Columbus permit portal
Dallas TX >200 sq ft $150–$500 5–15 business days Dallas City Code Chapter 52 for permit administration and wo Dallas permit portal
Denver CO >200 sq ft $150–$450 10–20 business days 2022 Denver Building and Fire Code (based on the 2021 IBC/IR Denver permit portal
Detroit MI >200 sq ft $150–$470 About 5 business days listed by Detroit for residential permit issuance after application submission Michigan Residential Code (MRC) with Michigan amendments, as Detroit permit portal
Houston TX >200 sq ft $100–$400 5–15 business days 2021 International Residential Code (IRC) as adopted by the Houston permit portal
Indianapolis IN >200 sq ft $100–$350 7–15 business days for a straightforward residential shed 2020 Indiana Residential Code (Indiana adoption of the 2018 Indianapolis permit portal
Jacksonville FL >200 sq ft $125–$400 Up to 7 business days for straightforward residential review, plus revision time if comments are issued 2023 Florida Building Code, 8th Edition (Residential), Secti Jacksonville permit portal
Kansas City MO >200 sq ft $185–$550 10–20 business days (ePLAN electronic review; straightforward shed permits with complete submittals and frost-depth footing details move faster) 2018 International Residential Code (IRC) with City of Kansa Kansas City permit portal
Los Angeles CA >120 sq ft $250–$650 10–20 business days (standard); potentially same-day OTC for simple shed projects California Residential Code (CRC) Section R105.2 (work exemp Los Angeles permit portal
Miami FL >200 sq ft $300–$850 10–20 business days for electronic plan review through iBuild Florida Building Code (FBC) 8th Edition (2023) Section 105.2 Miami permit portal
Minneapolis MN >200 sq ft $225–$550 Often none for one-story sheds under 200 sq ft; about 10–20 business days when formal permit review is required Minneapolis's published construction-work exemption for one- Minneapolis permit portal
Nashville TN See city guide $150–$500 10–15 business days Metro Nashville accessory-structure permitting guidance; Met Nashville permit portal
Orlando FL >200 sq ft $150–$450 7–15 business days for a standard residential shed Florida Building Code (FBC) 8th Edition (2023) with City of Orlando permit portal
Philadelphia PA >200 sq ft $150–$500 10–20 business days for standard residential review Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code (PA UCC), based on th Philadelphia permit portal
Phoenix AZ >200 sq ft $150–$500 10–15 business days 2018 International Residential Code (IRC) with Phoenix amend Phoenix permit portal
Portland OR >200 sq ft $200–$600 10–20 business days Oregon Residential Specialty Code (ORSC) as adopted by the C Portland permit portal
Raleigh NC >144 sq ft $100–$350 10–15 business days NC General Statute § 160D-1110(c) (accessory building permit Raleigh permit portal
Salt Lake City UT >200 sq ft $150–$450 7–15 business days for a standard residential shed 2021 Utah Residential Code (Utah adoption of the 2021 Intern Salt Lake City permit portal
San Antonio TX >200 sq ft $100–$350 10–20 business days 2021 International Residential Code (IRC) § R105.2 (Work Exe San Antonio permit portal
San Diego CA >120 sq ft $225–$650 10–25 business days (standard); potentially same-day OTC for qualifying simple shed projects with complete plans California Residential Code (CRC) Section R105.2 (work exemp San Diego permit portal
San Francisco CA >120 sq ft $350–$850 10–20 business days (standard); potentially same-day OTC for qualifying simple shed projects with complete plans California Residential Code (CRC) Section R105.2 (work exemp San Francisco permit portal
Seattle WA >120 sq ft $200–$500 3–5 business days (STFI screening); 4–12 weeks (full Construction) Seattle Residential Code §R105.2 and Seattle Building Code § Seattle permit portal
Tampa FL >200 sq ft $100–$400 Up to 10 business days for straightforward residential submittals; floodplain or historic overlay review may add time 2023 Florida Building Code (FBC), 8th Edition, Residential — Tampa permit portal
Washington DC >200 sq ft $275–$650 10–20 business days (standard plan review); HPRB/HPO historic review 4–8 weeks and must precede the DOB application DC Construction Codes DCMR Title 12, 2017 DC Building Code ( Washington permit portal

Summarized from official sources. Verify with your city before building.

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Disclaimer: Aggregated from official city sources for reference only — not legal advice. Verify with your city before you build.