Accessory Structures in Everett, WA

Everett maintains 131 local ordinances across all categories, and 4 of those deal specifically with accessory structures. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Everett falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Tiny Homes

Everett bans new manufactured home, mobile home, RV park, and tiny home communities citywide. A tiny house is allowed as a primary residence only inside a manufactured/mobile home community that existed before June 12, 2008, and only if it meets fire and safety standards.

Key details: New tiny home communities: Prohibited citywide. Primary-residence use: Only pre-2008 MH communities. Sanitation requirement: Internal toilet and shower. Governing section: EMC 19.13.270.

Placing or occupying a tiny house or RV as a primary residence outside a qualifying pre-2008 manufactured/mobile home community, or without required toilet and shower facilities, violates EMC 19.13.270 and can trigger removal.

Compared to other cities, Everett takes a harder line on tiny homes. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Shed & Carport Rules

Everett treats a carport as an accessory building. Its footprint is capped at the smallest of 15% of the lot, 3,000 square feet, or the house's own footprint, and it must meet the same setbacks and height limits as any other accessory structure.

Key details: Footprint cap: 15% of lot or 3,000 sq ft, whichever less. Setbacks: Per Chapter 19.06 EMC. Height limit: Per Chapter 19.22 EMC. Interior use: No bedrooms or kitchens allowed. Build order: Must follow, not precede, main house.

A carport that exceeds the size cap, skips the required front/side-street setback, or goes up before the main house is out of compliance and subject to city code enforcement correction.

ADU Impact Fees

Everett cuts its parks impact fee in half when a homeowner adds one or two accessory dwelling units to a lot that keeps its principal house, capped at two ADUs per lot under the city's fee schedule.

Key details: ADU fee reduction: 50% off parks impact fee. Max ADUs eligible: Two per lot. Base fee, 1BR/studio: $941 per unit. Base fee, 3BR+: $2,823 per unit. Fee due: At building permit issuance.

Under EMC 19.53.040.C the city will not issue the building permit until the (reduced) parks impact fee is paid, unless the project qualifies for an exemption under EMC 19.53.110.

ADU Rules

Everett requires accessory dwelling units to meet the same setbacks as the main house, and its NR-C zone allows up to two ADUs per lot exempt from density limits, though Washington's HB 1337 now sets a statewide floor cities cannot go below.

Key details: ADU setback: Same as principal building. NR-C zone ADU count: Up to two per lot. NR-C ADUs: Exempt from density limit. State floor: WA HB 1337 requires 2/lot.

Building an accessory dwelling unit without meeting the same setback as the principal dwelling under EMC 19.06.020(F), or exceeding the ADU count allowed on the lot, can result in a stop-work order or permit denial.

The Bottom Line

Everett's accessory structures rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Everett is broadly strict or permissive.

These rules come from Everett's publicly available municipal code. For complete penalty schedules, exemption details, and answers to common questions, see the individual ordinance pages throughout this guide.