Polk County · Florida
Metal buildings in Lakeland, FL.
We supply detached garages, pole barns, storage buildings and more across Lakeland. Our work reaches from established neighborhoods to acre lots on the city’s edges, and anywhere else you’re building.
Pole barn, under 1 acre
600 sq ft
Pole barn, 1 acre+
1,200 sq ft
All buildings
10% of the lot
Max height
12½ ft
From City of Lakeland Ordinance 24-035 (2024), Land Development Code Section 4.3.
What people build in Lakeland
Lakeland sizes accessory buildings by lot area, and its code names pole barns specifically.
Pole barns & garages
Detached garages, carports and pole barns can be up to 600 sq ft on lots under an acre and 1,200 sq ft on lots of an acre or more.
Storage buildings
Sheds and storage buildings are capped at 200 sq ft under an acre and 400 sq ft on an acre or more, two per lot.
Total footprint
All accessory buildings together can’t exceed 10% of the lot: about 1,000 sq ft on a 10,000 sq ft lot or 4,356 sq ft on an acre.
Power
Accessory buildings can’t have their own electric meter; power has to run from the house’s panel to a sub-panel.
We work in tubular steel, cold-formed steel, steel truss and red iron. See what a steel building costs.
Permitting metal buildings in Lakeland
Lakeland doesn’t allow an accessory building before the house is built, and keeps a 12½-foot height limit.
Size
- Under 1 acre: garages, carports and pole barns 600 sq ft; sheds 200 sq ft (two max).
- 1 acre or more: garages, carports and pole barns 1,200 sq ft; sheds 400 sq ft (two max).
- All accessory buildings: no more than 10% of the lot area.
Setbacks & height
- 5 feet from the front, side and rear in most districts; 3 feet in RA-3 and RA-4.
- Maximum height 12½ feet.
Other rules
- Shipping containers can’t be used as storage buildings.
- Portable carports and other permit-exempt structures still have to meet setbacks and height.
In Lakeland, the 12½-foot height is the tight one. That height limits eave height and roof pitch more than the floor area does. We’ll design to the limit so you get the most usable space.
Outside city limits, Polk County rules apply. See all of Florida.
Start with a conversation
Let’s talk about your Lakeland project.
Tell us what you’re planning and where you’re building. We’ll help you work out the next steps.
- Tell us what and whereSend us the size, how you’ll use the building and the address.
- We check the siteWe confirm who permits the address and which code and loads apply.
- You get a clear recommendationWe recommend the frame that fits and price it against the alternatives.
Or call
417-218-8348