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.
BMC 20.30.100 governs accessory buildings (including sheds) in Residential Single (RS) areas: max one story or 12 ft height, max 800 sq ft area (larger only by conditional use permit), and located in the rear yard or the rear 22 ft of an interior side yard. The 2018 Washington State Building Code (RCW 19.27) — based on the 2018 IBC/IRC adopted by WAC 51-50 and 51-51 — exempts one-story detached residential accessory structures up to 200 sq ft from a building permit, provided no electrical, plumbing, or mechanical systems are added. Sheds over 200 sq ft, or any shed with utilities, require a Bellingham Permit Center building permit.
Bellingham's accessory-structure framework is in BMC 20.30.100 (Accessory Buildings and Uses) for Residential Single (RS) areas, with comparable provisions in BMC 20.32 for Residential Multi (RM). Key BMC 20.30.100 standards for accessory buildings (sheds, detached garages, workshops, pool houses, gazebos): (A) Height — not to exceed one story OR 12 ft under either BMC 20.08.020 height definition; (B) Location — may be located in a rear yard and in the rear 22 ft of an interior side yard; (C) Size — may not exceed 800 sq ft in area, larger only by Hearing Examiner conditional use permit; (D) Use — accessory to single-family homes shall not be used for human habitation other than the resident family (no rental), nor used to conduct any business unless specifically permitted (this rules out garage-based home occupations — BMC 20.10.045 requires the home occupation be in the main residential building); (E) Sequencing — accessory buildings shall not be constructed before the main building. A detached ADU under BMC 20.10.036 is treated as a separate category with its own size (1,800 sq ft total / 1,000 sq ft habitable) and height (24 ft) allowances, exceeding the 800 sq ft / 12 ft accessory-building cap. Setbacks for accessory buildings other than ADUs follow the underlying zone — generally 5 ft side/rear in Bellingham RS districts (referenced through BMC 20.30.040 Table 20.30.040 / Table 20.10.080 for measurements). The 2018 Washington State Building Code (RCW 19.27.031 — adopting the 2018 International Building Code and 2018 International Residential Code as amended by WAC 51-50 and WAC 51-51) is administered by the Bellingham Permit Center (210 Lottie Street). IRC R105.2 exempts one-story detached accessory structures used as tool sheds, storage sheds, playhouses, and similar uses up to 200 sq ft from a building permit — provided the structure has no plumbing, no electrical (no fixed wiring), and no mechanical (no HVAC) systems. Sheds over 200 sq ft, sheds taller than one story (limited anyway by BMC 20.30.100 to one story / 12 ft), or sheds with any utility connections require a Bellingham building permit. Permit fees set by BMC 14.32.020 fee schedule. Permits cover wind anchorage to Bellingham's basic wind speed (~85-95 mph per WAC 51-50 with localized exposure conditions on bluffs and waterfront) and Seismic Design Category D2 (higher than Yakima's D1 due to Cascadia Subduction Zone proximity). Frost-protected footings required where applicable per IRC R403. Setbacks remain enforceable regardless of permit exemption — a permit-exempt 200 sq ft shed must still meet BMC 20.30.100 location rules (rear yard or rear 22 ft of interior side yard).
Building without a required Washington State Building Code permit triggers a Bellingham Permit Center stop-work order, double permit fees per WAC 51-50, and potential removal order. Zoning violations (exceeding 800 sq ft without conditional use approval, violating BMC 20.30.100 location/height/use rules, using the shed for human habitation or unauthorized business) are enforced by Bellingham Code Compliance under BMC 20.30.100 with civil infractions and daily penalties.
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