Orange County, Florida handles permits for unincorporated areas only. The City of Orlando, Kissimmee, and other municipalities within the county use their own permitting offices. Unincorporated Orange County — which includes much of the suburban area around the city — uses the county's Building Division.
Orange County's most noteworthy rule: all fences require at least a zoning permit, even if they don't require a full building permit. This is different from most counties in other states and even from many Florida counties. The fence zoning permit confirms your fence meets height and setback requirements for your zoning district.
The shed threshold is 120 sq ft. Fences over 6 feet require a building permit. All in-ground and above-ground pools require permits and barrier inspections. Orange County Building Division is at 201 S. Rosalind Ave., Orlando, FL 32801. Phone: (407) 836-5550. Online portal: orangecountyfl.net/PermitsLicenses.
What Requires a Permit
Frequently Asked Questions
- Yes — at minimum, a zoning permit is required for all fences in unincorporated Orange County, FL. A zoning permit confirms the fence height and placement comply with your zone's rules. Fences over 6 feet in height require a full building permit in addition to the zoning permit. Apply through orangecountyfl.net/PermitsLicenses. The zoning permit fee is typically $30–$60.
- Sheds over 120 square feet require a building permit in unincorporated Orange County, FL. A 10×12 shed (120 sq ft) is at the threshold — technically exempt if it is exactly 120 sq ft, but a 10×13 or 12×12 requires a permit. All sheds must meet setback requirements: typically 7.5 feet from side property lines and 10 feet from the rear property line.