Lee County, Florida covers a large area of Southwest Florida including Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Fort Myers Beach, Estero, Bonita Springs, and Sanibel. The county's Department of Community Development handles permits for unincorporated areas. Cities like Cape Coral and Fort Myers have their own permitting offices — verify your jurisdiction before applying.
The shed threshold is 120 sq ft. Sheds over this size require a building permit. Lee County is notable for its hurricane and wind load requirements — all permitted structures must meet Florida Building Code wind speed requirements for Lee County's wind zone (160 mph or higher in coastal areas), which affects structural requirements even for sheds.
Lee County DCD is at 1500 Monroe Street, Fort Myers, FL 33901. Phone: (239) 533-8329. Online portal: leegov.com/dcd. Permit fees: shed permits $50–$150, deck permits $75–$200. Lee County's coastal location means wind load calculations are reviewed carefully.
What Requires a Permit
Frequently Asked Questions
- Yes. All permitted structures in Lee County must comply with Florida Building Code wind load requirements. Lee County is in a high-wind zone — coastal areas require structures designed for 160+ mph wind speeds. For a simple metal or wood shed, this typically means the shed must be properly anchored to the ground with ground anchors or concrete footings and bolted-down anchoring systems. Pre-built sheds often come with documentation showing they meet Florida Product Approval requirements.
- In most residential zones in unincorporated Lee County, accessory structures must be at least 7.5 feet from side property lines and 10 feet from the rear property line. If you're in a coastal flood zone (AE, VE), additional setback and elevation requirements may apply. Check your flood zone status at msc.fema.gov and confirm setbacks with Lee County DCD before purchasing or placing a shed.