Shed, Garage & Outbuilding Removal | Tampa Bay

Removing a shed, garage or carport looks like a small demolition and frequently turns out to be more involved. The structure itself may be light, but the slab beneath it is not, the footings go deeper than expected, and there is often power, water or a dedicated circuit run out to it that has to be disconnected properly.

Then there are the contents. Outbuildings accumulate things, and clearing them is part of the job whether the structure is coming down in a day or a week.

What the removal covers

The structure itself, whether timber, block or metal. Its slab, footings and any piers, which frequently represent more volume than the building above them. Any attached elements such as a lean-to, a carport canopy or a screen structure. Utility connections including power, water and in some cases a sewer connection, each of which has to be disconnected and, where applicable, capped or abandoned properly.

Detached structures and permits

Whether a permit is required depends on the structure and the jurisdiction. A small shed may be exempt, while a garage or anything with utilities generally is not, and demolition permits and utility disconnects may apply. Requirements differ across Hillsborough, Pasco and Polk County, so what applies is confirmed before the structure comes down.

What is underneath and around

Once the slab is up, the ground beneath it is visible, along with whatever was buried around it: irrigation lines, electrical conduit, drainage runs and occasionally an old septic tank or drywell. On a lot being prepared for something new, those need identifying and dealing with, because they are the kind of thing that stops a project once excavation begins.

When to call

A shed or outbuilding is being removed or replaced
You are clearing a lot with existing structures
A garage is being demolished as part of a renovation
A damaged or unsafe outbuilding needs removing
An outbuilding has utilities that need disconnecting
You need the area cleared to a usable, level surface

How the work is handled

Confirm permit requirements and locate any utility connections
Clear contents and arrange disconnection of services
Demolish the structure and remove all attached elements
Break out and haul the slab, footings and piers
Clear, backfill, compact and grade the area

What affects the cost

We do not quote a number before seeing the property, because the same job on two similar houses can need different work. These are the factors that move the scope:

Size and construction type of the structure
Slab, footing and pier volume underneath it
Utility disconnects and any capping or abandonment required
Contents requiring clearing before demolition
Access for equipment and the distance to load out debris
Condition of the ground revealed once the slab is removed

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a permit to remove a shed?

Small sheds are sometimes exempt, while garages and any structure with utility connections generally are not. Requirements vary by jurisdiction across Hillsborough, Pasco and Polk County, so it is confirmed for your address before work begins.

What happens to the utilities running to my shed?

They are disconnected by the appropriate trade and then capped or properly abandoned. A live circuit or water line left buried under a cleared area is a hazard and a problem for anything built there afterwards.

Is the slab removed as well?

Yes, unless you specifically want it left in place for a new structure to use. The slab and any footings or piers are broken out and hauled, and they frequently represent more debris volume than the building above them did.

Can you remove the contents as well as the building?

Yes. Clearing the contents is normally part of the job, and material is separated into the right disposal streams as it comes out. Anything hazardous or requiring special handling is identified before removal rather than after.

Related services

Demolition Service across Tampa Bay and Lakeland

Outbuildings on Tampa Bay lots frequently carry their own power, water and occasionally a sewer connection, which adds a disconnect stage before demolition can begin. We work throughout Tampa, Brandon, Riverview, Valrico, Plant City, Lutz, Land O' Lakes, Wesley Chapel, Odessa, Zephyrhills, Lakeland.

What we see most often in this region

Dedicated utility runs to outbuildings requiring disconnection
Slabs and footings adding debris volume beyond the structure itself
Buried irrigation, conduit and drainage revealed once cleared
Contents accumulating in outbuildings and requiring clearing first