Kennewick, WA Accessory Structures: Shed & Carport Rules (2026)
Shed permit rules in Kennewick, 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
- Side/rear setback
- 5 feet minimum
- Separation from house
- 10 feet, or 4 feet if IBC-built
- Height cap
- 20 feet in R and HMU
- Districts covered
- All R districts and HMU
Summary
In Kennewick's R and HMU districts, detached sheds and accessory buildings must sit at least 5 feet from side and rear lot lines, 10 feet from the main house, and no taller than 20 feet.
Accessory buildings must comply with applicable setbacks. Except in C, I, PF, UMU, and OS districts, detached accessory buildings may not be over 20 feet high. In all R and HMU districts, no accessory building may be closer than ten feet from any building on the same lot unless the accessory structure is constructed in accord with the International Building Code, in which case the separation can be reduced to four feet. ... It may not be within five feet of a side or rear property line but it may abut a rear line adjacent to an alley, canal right-of-way or railroad right-of-way.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 19 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
KMC 18.27.030 governs detached accessory buildings, including sheds, in Kennewick's R and HMU zoning districts. A detached accessory building cannot stand closer than ten feet to any building on the same lot, though that separation drops to four feet if the accessory structure is built to International Building Code standards. It cannot sit within a ten-foot radius of a dwelling window's vertical centerline on the same or an adjacent lot, and cannot come within five feet of a side or rear property line, though it is permitted to abut a rear line next to an alley, canal, or railroad right-of-way. Outside the C, I, PF, UMU, and OS districts, detached accessory buildings are capped at 20 feet in height.
Violations & Fines
Building a shed closer than the required setback, exceeding 20 feet in height outside the exempt districts, or placing it within ten feet of a dwelling window violates KMC 18.27.030 and can force removal or relocation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How close to my property line can I build a shed in Kennewick?
How tall can a backyard shed be in Kennewick?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Kennewick
How Kennewick compares: Shed Permit Requirements by City·Compare Kennewick to another location·View the Washington accessory structures overview
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