Shed permit rules in Whatcom County, WA — also referred to as storage shed, backyard shed, or accessory building regulations — set size limits, setbacks, and when a building permit is required.
A one-story detached shed of 200 square feet or less needs no building permit in Whatcom County, but it must still meet zoning setbacks, separation from other buildings, and fire and natural-resource rules.
Whatcom County exempts a one-story detached, non-occupied accessory structure — a tool or storage shed, playhouse, or similar — from a building permit when its floor area does not exceed 200 square feet measured outside wall to outside wall. Structures must keep at least 10 feet between exterior walls and 6 feet between eaves of adjacent buildings, and meet all setbacks. The exemption covers the building permit only: zoning, setback, fire, and Natural Resources (critical area) requirements still apply. Anything over 200 square feet, or with electrical, needs permits.
A shed over 200 square feet without a permit, or any shed in a required setback or critical area, draws a code enforcement correction and possible removal.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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See how Whatcom County's shed rules rules stack up against other locations.
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