Richland, WA Accessory Structures: Shed & Carport Rules (2026)
Shed permit rules in Richland, 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
- Permit exemption size
- ≤200 sf (IRC) or ≤120 sf (IBC)
- Placement permit
- Required even for exempt sheds, no fee charged
- Smallest setback
- 1.5 ft for sheds ≤120 sf and ≤10 ft tall
- Largest standard setback
- 5 ft for sheds over 600 sf
- Maximum size
- 900 sf, or 1,200 sf hard cap
- Design match rule
- Applies over 900 sf or taller than the house
Summary
In the City of Richland, Washington, a detached tool or storage shed no larger than 200 square feet (IRC) or 120 square feet (IBC) skips the full building permit under RMC § 21.01.020(D)(1), but it still needs a no-fee location placement permit before construction. Bigger sheds trigger RMC § 23.38.020's setback tiers, which run as tight as 1.5 feet for small, low sheds.
1. One-story detached accessory structures used as tool and storage sheds, playhouses, and similar uses, provided the floor area does not exceed 200 square feet (IRC) and 120 square feet (IBC), are exempted from the requirements for a building permit. A permit for location placement of such exempt structures shall be issued by the City of Richland prior to construction or erection of these structures. The location placement permit shall be based upon a scalable site plan provided by the applicant and shall show all existing structures on the property together with the distances from all structures to property lines and to other structures, all existing easements and property lines, and all new structure or building proposals. The location placement permit shall be binding upon the applicant for location placement of the structure for all purposes and requirements of Title 23 of the Richland Municipal Code. The location placement permit shall not require payment of any permit fees.
Full Breakdown
RMC § 21.01.020(D)(1) amends the model code's Section 105.2/R105.2 work-exempt-from-permit list so that one-story detached accessory structures used as tool or storage sheds, playhouses and similar uses, up to 200 square feet under the International Residential Code or 120 square feet under the International Building Code, do not need a building permit. That exemption is not unconditional: the city still requires a location placement permit before the shed is built or erected, based on a scalable site plan showing every existing structure, its distance to property lines and to other structures, and existing easements.
The placement permit carries no permit fee itself, though related fees, easement encroachment or right-of-way construction permits, still apply if triggered. Once a shed clears the size threshold, RMC § 23.38.020 in the zoning title takes over the standards. A detached accessory building 120 square feet or less and 10 feet or less in height needs only a 1.5-foot setback from side and rear property lines; one over 10 feet tall or between 120 and 600 square feet needs 3 feet; anything over 600 square feet needs 5 feet.
No detached accessory building can exceed 900 square feet, or 50 percent of the main building's gross floor area, whichever is greater, up to a hard 1,200-square-foot cap, and rear-yard accessory buildings together cannot cover more than 25 percent of the rear yard. Sheds over 900 square feet, or taller than the main house, also have to match it: a roof pitch of at least 4:12 (or the house's own pitch if lower), siding materials common to residential construction rather than corrugated metal, and a maximum height of 16 feet. A denied design-standard finding can be appealed to the hearings examiner under RMC § 23.70.070.
Violations & Fines
Skipping the location placement permit is a Title 21 violation under RMC § 21.01.050: a civil infraction under RMC Title 10 with a fine starting at $250, or a criminal misdemeanor under RMC § 9.02.020(C) where correction is not at issue, with each continuing day a separate offense. A shed built without the required setback is instead a Title 23 zoning violation under RMC § 23.70.270, also a civil infraction that escalates to a misdemeanor on a third similar offense at the same site.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit for a small backyard shed in Richland?
How close to my property line can a shed sit?
Is there a maximum size for a Richland shed?
What if I skip the placement permit for an exempt shed?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Richland
How Richland compares: Shed Permit Requirements by City·Compare Richland to another location·View the Washington accessory structures overview
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