A backyard shed can provide useful storage for tools, bicycles, lawn equipment and seasonal items. Before ordering or constructing one, Orlando homeowners need to determine whether the shed fits within the property’s setbacks, avoids recorded easements and stays within the site’s allowable impervious coverage.

A clear Orlando shed site plan for permit shows the shed’s proposed location in relation to the house, property boundaries and other site features. It also gives reviewers the information needed to evaluate placement and site coverage.

Does a Shed Require a Permit in Orlando?

The City of Orlando identifies a building permit as the required permit for a shed. Separate electrical or plumbing permits are also required when a shed includes lights, outlets, sinks or other regulated trade work.^[1]

The permit package may be different for a prefabricated shed and a custom-built shed. According to the city’s residential permitting guidance, manufacturer drawings and specifications must be submitted for a prefabricated shed. A custom, field-built shed requires signed and sealed engineered drawings.^[1]

Permit requirements can change with the shed’s size, construction method, foundation, utilities and property location. Check the current city checklist before purchasing a prefabricated building or beginning construction.

Confirm That the Property Is Inside Orlando

An Orlando mailing address does not always mean that the property is within City of Orlando limits. Some addresses are in unincorporated Orange County or another nearby municipality.

The city’s Orlando Information Locator can be used to check the jurisdiction and zoning associated with an address. The city recommends confirming that the listed jurisdiction is “City of Orlando” before relying on city development standards.^[2]

If the property is outside city limits, contact the correct county or municipal permitting authority. Orange County and the City of Orlando may use different accessory-structure standards and submission procedures.

What Should an Orlando Shed Site Plan Show?

Orlando’s residential permitting guidance states that a shed site plan should show the shed’s location, its setbacks from the rear and side property lines, and the shed’s height and size. The city also requires applicable Impervious Surface Ratio calculations.^[1]

A useful shed site plan will normally include:

• Property address and parcel information
• Lot boundaries and dimensions
• Adjacent street names
• Existing house and accessory structures
• Proposed shed footprint
• Shed width, length and height
• Distances from the shed to side and rear property lines
• Distance between the shed and other structures
• Roof overhangs and other projections
• Known utility, drainage and access easements
• Driveways, patios, walkways and other impervious surfaces
• Existing and proposed impervious-area calculations
• Existing trees where required
• North arrow and drawing scale

The proposed shed should be clearly distinguished from existing improvements. A contrasting outline, color or hatch pattern allows reviewers to understand the proposal quickly.

Checking Shed Setbacks

A setback is the required distance between a structure and a property line or other regulated feature. A backyard shed will normally need to be checked against rear and side setbacks.

The correct setback can depend on:

• The property’s zoning district
• The size and height of the shed
• Whether the shed is in a rear or side yard
• Whether the lot is on a corner
• The distance from the house and neighboring structures
• Fire-resistance requirements
• Special-plan or historic-district standards
• Recorded easements and building restrictions

Orlando’s Land Development Code treats sheds as accessory structures. The city directs applicants to the accessory-structure standards in Chapter 58 when determining whether and where a shed may be built.^[1]

Do not use a setback from a neighboring project without confirming that both properties have the same zoning and site conditions.

Measure from the Legal Property Line

A fence, hedge, retaining wall or lawn edge may not mark the legal property boundary. Setbacks should be measured using reliable boundary information, normally from a current survey or recorded plat.

Show the shortest distance between the shed and each affected boundary. If the shed has roof overhangs, identify them separately because they may extend closer to the property line than the walls.

If the exact legal boundary must be established or certified, contact a Florida-licensed land surveyor. A basic site plan cannot establish a legal boundary.

Corner Lots and Special Districts

Corner properties may have a street-side yard in addition to the normal front yard. This can reduce the area available for a shed. Properties in historic or special-plan districts may also require additional review before a permit is issued.

The City of Orlando advises shed applicants to check the property’s zoning and determine whether special-plan or historic-district approval applies.^[1]

Why Easements Matter

An easement allows another party to use a defined part of a property for a specific purpose. Common residential easements include utility, drainage, access and public-service easements.

A shed placed within an easement may interfere with:

• Water or sewer lines
• Electrical cables and equipment
• Communication lines
• Drainage swales or pipes
• Utility maintenance access
• Shared vehicle or pedestrian access

The City of Orlando’s general residential site-plan requirements include showing easements along with property lines, lot dimensions and existing or proposed buildings.^[3]

Even when a shed satisfies the normal zoning setback, construction inside an easement may still be restricted. Check the complete shed footprint, foundation, steps and roof overhangs—not only the wall position.

Where to Find Easement Information

Useful sources may include:

• A current boundary or title survey
• The recorded subdivision plat
• Deed and title documents
• Utility-provider records
• Previously approved construction plans

Aerial images and online parcel maps can help with early planning, but they should not be used as precise evidence of an easement or legal boundary.

Site Coverage and Impervious Surface Ratio

Although homeowners often call it site coverage, the City of Orlando specifically requires shed applicants to show the property’s Impervious Surface Ratio, commonly abbreviated as ISR.

Impervious surfaces are areas where water cannot readily soak into the soil. They commonly include:

• Buildings and sheds
• Concrete slabs
• Driveways
• Patios and walkways
• Pavers
• Artificial turf

The basic calculation is:

Impervious Surface Ratio = total impervious area ÷ total lot area

The allowable ratio varies by zoning district. The site plan should therefore show both existing and proposed impervious areas rather than listing only the shed size.

Example of the Calculation

Suppose a property has the following areas:

• Existing house footprint
• Existing driveway and walkways
• Existing patio
• Proposed shed and concrete pad

Add those qualifying areas together and divide the total by the lot area. The result can then be compared with the maximum ISR for the property’s zoning district.

Do not use this simplified example as the final calculation without checking Orlando’s definitions and current worksheet. Some surfaces or project conditions may need different treatment.

Why the Shed Foundation Matters

The proposed base can affect the permit documents, site coverage and drainage around the shed. Common options include a concrete slab, pier system, blocks or another manufacturer-approved foundation.

The site plan should identify the pad or foundation footprint when it extends beyond the shed walls. A larger concrete pad may add more impervious area than the building footprint alone.

Custom-built sheds may require foundation and structural details prepared by a qualified professional. Prefabricated sheds should follow their approved manufacturer specifications and anchoring instructions.

Wind Resistance and Anchoring

Orlando sheds must be suitable for local wind conditions. The city’s residential permitting guidance states that when a prefabricated shed does not meet the applicable City of Orlando wind speed, anchor or strap specifications and installation instructions must be submitted.^[1]

The site plan does not replace these structural details. It shows where the shed will be located, while manufacturer or engineered drawings explain how it will be constructed and secured.

Drainage and Erosion Control

A shed and its foundation create new impervious area. Rain falling on the roof must discharge somewhere, and a new slab may interrupt the yard’s existing drainage route.

Consider whether the proposed placement will:

• Direct roof runoff toward the house
• Create ponding beside the shed
• Block a drainage swale
• Send additional water toward a neighboring property
• Conflict with a drainage easement
• Remove an area currently used for infiltration

Orlando’s permitting guidance requires applicants to consider erosion and sediment control during construction. More extensive site changes or alterations to drainage patterns may require additional civil or engineering documentation.^[3]

Trees and Landscaping

A backyard may contain regulated trees or root zones that affect shed placement. Orlando’s general residential site-plan requirements include showing existing trees where applicable.^[3]

Avoid placing the shed foundation against a mature tree trunk or cutting major roots without appropriate guidance. Also consider whether the finished location leaves enough access to maintain fences, landscaping and the shed exterior.

HOA Approval May Be Separate

A homeowners’ association may regulate shed size, color, material, roof type or visibility from the street. The City of Orlando notes that properties within an HOA may need an approval letter uploaded with the permit documents.^[1]

HOA approval does not replace a city permit, and a city permit does not override private covenants. Check both sets of requirements before purchasing the shed.

Other Documents That May Be Required

Depending on the project, the permit package may include:

• Building-permit application
• Site plan or current survey
• Completed ISR worksheet
• Manufacturer drawings and specifications
• Anchoring or strapping details
• Signed and sealed plans for a custom-built shed
• Electrical or plumbing plans
• Owner-builder declaration
• Notice of Commencement when applicable
• HOA approval letter when required
• Historic or special-district approval
• Floodplain documentation

The city accepts construction plans through its digital review system. Applicants must first submit the permit application and then upload correctly named files through ProjectDox.^[4]

A Practical Shed-Planning Process

1. Confirm the jurisdiction. Check whether the property is inside the City of Orlando.
2. Gather property records. Find the current survey, recorded plat and previous approved plans.
3. Check zoning. Identify the zoning district and any special or historic overlay.
4. Locate easements. Verify utility and drainage areas before selecting the shed position.
5. Draw existing conditions. Show the house, boundaries, paving, other structures and trees.
6. Add the proposed shed. Include its dimensions, height, pad and roof footprint.
7. Dimension the setbacks. Measure the shed from the rear and side property lines.
8. Calculate site coverage. Update the property’s ISR to include the shed and pad.
9. Review drainage. Make sure the shed does not block or redirect an existing drainage route.
10. Confirm permit documents. Check whether manufacturer, engineered, HOA or floodplain documents are needed.

Common Shed Site-Plan Mistakes

• Measuring setbacks from a fence instead of the legal boundary
• Leaving easements off the drawing
• Showing the shed but not its foundation or roof overhang
• Using an ISR limit from the wrong zoning district
• Forgetting existing driveways, patios and walkways in the coverage calculation
• Placing the shed across a drainage path
• Failing to identify existing and proposed work clearly
• Assuming an HOA approval replaces the city permit
• Omitting anchoring or manufacturer specifications
• Submitting an informal sketch when signed and sealed plans are required

Start with a Clear Property Layout

A well-prepared Orlando shed site plan for permit brings the key placement issues together in one understandable drawing. It helps determine whether the shed fits within the available yard, stays clear of boundaries and easements, and complies with the property’s impervious-coverage limit.

Final requirements depend on the shed, property and zoning district. Confirm the submission package with Orlando Permitting Services and the appropriate licensed professionals before installation or construction begins.

SitePlanPros prepares site-plan drawings from customer-supplied information and available property sources. A basic site plan is not a boundary survey, structural design, engineering plan or guarantee of permit approval. Confirm final submission requirements with the authority having jurisdiction.

Official Sources

1. Residential Permitting Requirements and Shed Permits — City of Orlando.
2. Using the Orlando Information Locator to Confirm Jurisdiction and Zoning — City of Orlando.
3. Residential Site-Plan and Engineering Requirements — City of Orlando.
4. Submit Construction Project Plans — City of Orlando.
5. City of Orlando Zoning Maps — City of Orlando.