Tacoma, WA Accessory Structures: Shed & Carport Rules (2026)
Shed permit rules in Tacoma, 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
- Max footprint
- 1,000 sq ft (or 15% of lot)
- Footprint cap vs. house
- no more than 85% of house
- Location
- must sit behind front wall line
- Garage doors
- 20-ft setback from street
- Interior use
- no habitable space allowed
Summary
Tacoma caps accessory buildings like sheds at 1,000 square feet, or 15% of lot area, and requires they sit behind the main house and out of side-yard setbacks.
Accessory buildings permitted per Section 13.06.020, such as garages, sheds... are subject to the following location and development standards: The total square footage of all accessory building footprints shall be no more than 85 percent of the square footage of the main building footprint and no more than 15 percent of the square footage of the lot, not to exceed 1,000 square feet... Detached accessory buildings shall be located behind the front wall line of the main building on a lot, and shall not be located in the required side yard setback area of the main building.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4946110; v22 updated 2026-07-28).
Full Breakdown
TMC § 13.06.020H caps every accessory building's footprint, sheds, garages, and similar structures, at no more than 85% of the main house's footprint and 15% of the lot, with an absolute ceiling of 1,000 square feet (lots over 10,000 square feet use a flat 10% lot-coverage cap instead). Detached sheds must sit behind the main building's front wall line and stay out of the required side-yard setback. Garage doors facing a front or corner street need a 20-foot setback. Sheds can't include habitable space or unauthorized plumbing.
Violations & Fines
Sheds exceeding the size cap or built into a required setback are zoning violations subject to code enforcement, correction orders, or removal under Title 13's Land Use Permits and Procedures chapter.
Frequently Asked Questions
How big can my shed be in Tacoma?
Can I build a shed right up to my property line?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Tacoma
How Tacoma compares: Shed Permit Requirements by City·Compare Tacoma to another location·View the Washington accessory structures overview
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Shed & Carport Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle shed & carport rules.