Port Townsend, WA Accessory Structures: Shed & Carport Rules (2026)
Shed permit rules in Port Townsend, 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
- Setback exemption
- Below 120 sq ft coverage
- Height cap
- 10 feet
- Minimum clearance
- 5 ft from rear line
- Zones covered
- R-I through R-IV
- Building permit
- Still applies separately
Summary
Port Townsend lets accessory structures under 120 square feet and 10 feet tall skip the standard rear setback, as long as they still sit at least five feet from the rear or side property line.
1. Outbuildings. The rear setbacks provided in Table 17.16.030 shall not apply to accessory structures smaller than 120 square feet in building coverage and 10 feet in height; provided, that all such accessory structures shall be a minimum of five feet from rear lot and/or property lines.
2. ADUs. The maximum density provisions in Table 17.16.030 shall not apply to accessory dwelling units in the R-I zoning district, provided the configuration requirements for the type of units in Table 17.16.030 are met.
3. Conversion of Single-Family. The maximum density provisions in Table 17.16.030 shall not apply to conversion of a detached single-family dwelling unit into a duplex, triplex, or fourplex, provided the configuration requirements for the type of units in Table 17.16.030 are met.
4. Conversion to ADU. The setbacks and lot coverage requirements in Table 17.16.030 shall not apply to conversion of an existing structure to an ADU even if the structure violates current code requirements for ADU lot coverage or setbacks.
5. Co-living. The minimum density provisions in Table 17.16.030 shall not apply to the number of sleeping units in boarding houses, lodging houses, or other co-living. Maximum densities shall still apply, with co-living sleeping units counting as one-quarter of a residential unit for density calculations.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 3364, passed May 18, 2026).
Full Breakdown
PTMC 17.16.030(B)(1) waives the standard rear setback in Table 17.16.030 for any accessory structure -- garden shed, tool shed, playhouse -- under 120 square feet of building coverage and 10 feet in height, across the R-I through R-IV residential zones. The tradeoff: it still must sit at least five feet off the rear or side property line. Cross the 120-square-foot or 10-foot mark and the shed reverts to whatever standard setback Table 17.16.030 sets for that zone. This is a siting rule, not a building-permit waiver -- actual permit requirements for the shed itself run through the adopted IRC/IBC under PTMC 16.04.020, reviewed by Planning and Community Development.
Violations & Fines
Zoning violations under Title 17 -- including a shed that busts the 120-sq-ft/10-ft exemption without meeting full setback -- draw a $250-per-day civil penalty under PTMC 1.20.075, or up to $1,000 and 180 days in jail criminally.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a small shed still need a building permit in Port Townsend?
How close to the property line can a small Port Townsend shed sit?
Which Port Townsend zones does the shed setback exemption cover?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Port Townsend
How Port Townsend compares: Shed Permit Requirements by City·Compare Port Townsend to another location·View the Washington accessory structures overview
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