Bellingham, WA Accessory Structures: Shed & Carport Rules (2026)
Shed permit rules in Bellingham, WA, also referred to as storage shed, backyard shed, or accessory building regulations, set size limits, setbacks, and when a building permit is required.
Key Facts
- Max size
- 800 sq ft (larger needs conditional use permit)
- Max height
- One story, 12 feet
- Placement
- Rear yard or rear 22 ft of side yard
- Governing code
- BMC 20.30.100 (Residential Single zone)
Summary
Bellingham caps detached accessory buildings like sheds and garages at 800 square feet and one story (12 feet), and lets them sit in rear yards or the rear 22 feet of a side yard.
1. The regulations of BMC 20.30.040 shall apply to all accessory buildings except that: a. Accessory buildings shall not exceed one story in height, or 12 feet under either height definition. b. Accessory buildings may be located in a rear yard and in the rear 22 feet of an interior side yard... 4. An accessory building may not exceed 800 square feet in area, provided: a. The hearing examiner may approve, by conditional use permit, larger buildings after proper review and consideration.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 2026-06-015, passed June 1, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Under Bellingham Municipal Code § 20.30.100, accessory buildings in the Residential Single zone follow the same standard development rules as the principal house (BMC 20.30.040) but are capped at one story or 12 feet, may sit in a rear yard or the rear 22 feet of an interior side yard, and cannot exceed 800 square feet: a limit the hearing examiner can waive only through a conditional use permit. Accessory buildings can't be built before the main house, and cannot house anyone but the resident family or run a business unless specifically allowed.
Violations & Fines
Building or expanding an accessory structure beyond 800 square feet or 12 feet in height without a conditional use permit, or placing it outside the allowed rear/side yard area, is a code violation requiring after-the-fact permitting or removal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I build a shed bigger than 800 square feet in Bellingham?
Where on my lot can I put a shed or detached garage?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bellingham
How Bellingham compares: Shed Permit Requirements by City·Compare Bellingham to another location·View the Washington accessory structures overview
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