Shed Permit in Snohomish County, Washington
By Mario Bailey Last checked 2026-07-06 · 2 official sources
Verified against official sources Confirmed on official pageIt depends
Quick answer
In unincorporated Snohomish County a one-story detached accessory structure not used for human habitation, such as a tool or storage shed or playhouse, does not require a building permit if its floor area is 200 square feet or less and its sidewalls are 9 feet or less (measured from average grade) inside the Urban Growth Area, or 400 square feet or less with sidewalls up to 11 feet outside the Urban Growth Area. Larger accessory structures require a building permit applied for through the PDS Permit Portal. These rules apply to unincorporated Snohomish County only; incorporated cities such as Everett and Lynnwood set their own requirements.
Typical threshold: one-story detached accessory structure not used for human habitation (tool/storage shed, playhouse) exempt if floor area is 200 sq ft or less and sidewalls 9 ft or less inside the Urban Growth Area (UGA), or 400 sq ft or less and sidewalls 11 ft or less outside the UGA; larger structures require a building permit.
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- Who pulls the permit, you or me, and is the permit fee included in the bid?
- Which inspections will this job need, and who meets the inspector on site?
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When a permit is usually needed
Before building a detached storage shed, playhouse, or similar accessory structure larger than the exempt size in unincorporated Snohomish County
What shed permit costs in Snohomish County
Base application fee $150 per application plus 3% technology surcharge and $6.50 Washington State building permit surcharge; the permit fee itself scales with the county's valuation-based fee table.
How Snohomish County compares in Washington
Across the Washington jurisdictions we have verified, the same threshold runs from 120 to 200, so a project that is exempt here may still need a permit one county over.
| Jurisdiction | Permit needed? | Threshold |
|---|---|---|
| Bellevue | It depends | detached storage sheds playhouses or gazebos with a floor area of 200 square feet or less do not require a building permit; structures over 200 square feet require a permit |
| Clark County | It depends | Sheds over 200 square feet require a building permit; sheds of 200 square feet or less are exempt if they meet setbacks and easements, but any size shed in a mobile home park or multi-family zone requires a permit. |
| King County | It depends | storage sheds 200 sq ft or less as accessory to a residential house do not require a building permit in unincorporated King County; sheds over 200 sq ft require a permit |
| Pierce County | It depends | One-story detached accessory structure used as an unheated tool or storage shed, playhouse, or similar use is exempt if its floor area is 200 sq ft or less and it is at least 3 feet from a property line; larger or closer structures require a building permit. |
| Seattle | It depends | one-story detached storage sheds with a roof footprint of 120 square feet or less on a slab foundation and not in an environmentally critical area do not require a permit |
| Snohomish Countythis page | It depends | one-story detached accessory structure not used for human habitation (tool/storage shed, playhouse) exempt if floor area is 200 sq ft or less and sidewalls 9 ft or less inside the Urban Growth Area (UGA), or 400 sq ft or less and sidewalls 11 ft or less outside the UGA; larger structures require a building permit |
| Tacoma | It depends | one-story detached accessory structures with a floor area of 200 square feet or less do not require a building permit; structures over 200 square feet require a permit |
Closest shed permit thresholds outside Washington
Jurisdictions we cover whose limit sits nearest Snohomish County's 200 sq ft.
- Austin, Texas, one-story detached accessory structures used as tool or storage sheds with floor area no greater than 200 sq ft and no more than 15 ft in height and no plumbing and not in a floodplain are exempt
- Clark County, Nevada, sheds over 200 sq ft require a building permit; storage sheds 200 sq ft or under may be exempt under Building Administrative Code Section 22.02.190
- Columbus, Ohio, shed under 200 sq ft does not require a permit; shed 200 sq ft or larger requires a permit and plan review
- Dallas, Texas, one-story detached utility or storage buildings under 200 sq ft without utilities on single-family or duplex premises are exempt from a permit
How to apply in Snohomish County
A residential shed permit application, once the shed is large enough to require one, is a set of construction documents that show what will be built and prove it meets the adopted residential code. In practice that means a written permit application, a scaled site plan locating the shed and its distances to the property lines, and construction documents covering the shed's foundation or anchoring system and its framing.
What most shed permit applications include:
- A written permit application identifying the proposed work and describing the property by its address or legal description, filed with the building department before construction begins (IRC R105.3).
- A scaled site plan showing the shed's size and location and its dimensioned distances to all property lines so required setbacks can be verified before the permit is issued (IRC R106.2).
- Construction documents showing the shed's foundation: freestanding accessory structures at or under the code's small-structure size and eave-height limits (600 square feet and a 10 foot eave height in the model code) are exempt from continuous footings but must still be shown supported on undisturbed soil or engineered fill and anchored to resist wind-induced uplift and overturning (IRC R403.1).
- Where the shed does sit on a continuous foundation with a wood sill plate, anchor bolt or approved strap details tying the sill plate to the foundation (IRC R403.1.6).
- Roof framing details showing the rafter-to-wall or truss-to-wall connections, since even a shed exempt from continuous footings must be anchored to resist wind-induced uplift and overturning (IRC R403.1; R802.11).
General submittal guidance from IRC R105.3 (permit application), R106.2 (site plan), R403.1 (footings and anchorage for accessory structures), and R403.1.6 (sill anchorage), 2021 IRC. Source. Snohomish County Planning and Development Services sets the exact checklist for Snohomish County.
Where to apply in Snohomish County:
Snohomish County Planning and Development Services
- 3000 Rockefeller Avenue, M/S 604, Everett, WA 98201
- Phone: 425-388-3311
- Email: epermittech@snoco.org
Inspections and closing out your permit
A permitted shed is inspected in stages as it goes up: the foundation or the anchors that hold it down before they are covered, the framing before it is enclosed, and a final inspection once the shed is finished. Each stage checks the items that would be hidden or unsafe if skipped.
- Foundation or anchor inspection: called after any required footings, piers, or ground anchors are set and any forms or reinforcing steel are in place, but before concrete is placed, so the foundation or anchoring system can be verified before it is covered (IRC R109.1.1).
- Frame inspection: after the shed is framed, sheathed, and braced, the inspector checks the framing, bracing, fasteners, and the roof connections that resist wind uplift, before those elements are covered (IRC R109.1.4 frame inspection; R403.1 anchorage).
- Final inspection: made after the permitted work is complete and before the shed is used; work may not proceed past any inspection stage without the building official's approval (IRC R109.1.6 final inspection; R109.4 approval required).
- For a pre-fabricated or kit shed, the manufacturer's installation instructions must be on site at the time of inspection so the inspector can confirm the anchoring and assembly match the design (IRC R106.1.2).
Schedule each inspection in advance and pass the final before you use the work or close the permit. Request inspections through the Snohomish County permit portal or by phone at 425-388-3311.
Inspection sequence from IRC R109.1.1 (foundation inspection), R109.1.4 (frame inspection), R109.1.6 (final inspection), and R106.1.2 (manufacturer's instructions on site), 2021 IRC. Source. An open permit left un-inspected can surface later in a title search or home sale.
Your Shed Permit checklist for Snohomish County
- Confirm the requirement. Sometimes, depending on the project. Typical threshold: one-story detached accessory structure not used for human habitation (tool/storage shed, playhouse) exempt if floor area is 200 sq ft or less and sidewalls 9 ft or less inside the Urban Growth Area (UGA), or 400 sq ft or less and sidewalls 11 ft or less outside the UGA; larger structures require a building permit. Usually needed: Before building a detached storage shed, playhouse, or similar accessory structure larger than the exempt size in unincorporated Snohomish County.
- Budget the fee. Base application fee $150 per application plus 3% technology surcharge and $6.50 Washington State building permit surcharge; the permit fee itself scales with the county's valuation-based fee table. Official fee schedule.
- Apply. A residential shed permit application, once the shed is large enough to require one, is a set of construction documents that show what will be built and prove it meets the adopted residential code. In practice that means a written permit application, a scaled site plan locating the shed and its distances to the property lines, and construction documents covering the shed's foundation or anchoring system and its framing. Start at the Snohomish County permit portal.
- Keep the office details handy. Snohomish County Planning and Development Services. Phone: 425-388-3311. Address: 3000 Rockefeller Avenue, M/S 604, Everett, WA 98201.
- Plan for inspections. A permitted shed is inspected in stages as it goes up: the foundation or the anchors that hold it down before they are covered, the framing before it is enclosed, and a final inspection once the shed is finished. Each stage checks the items that would be hidden or unsafe if skipped.
Compiled from the official sources on this page. Last checked 2026-07-06.
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Frequently asked questions
- Do you need a shed permit in Snohomish County?
- In unincorporated Snohomish County a one-story detached accessory structure not used for human habitation, such as a tool or storage shed or playhouse, does not require a building permit if its floor area is 200 square feet or less and its sidewalls are 9 feet or less (measured from average grade) inside the Urban Growth Area, or 400 square feet or less with sidewalls up to 11 feet outside the Urban Growth Area. Larger accessory structures require a building permit applied for through the PDS Permit Portal. These rules apply to unincorporated Snohomish County only; incorporated cities such as Everett and Lynnwood set their own requirements. One-story detached accessory structure not used for human habitation (tool/storage shed, playhouse) exempt if floor area is 200 sq ft or less and sidewalls 9 ft or less inside the Urban Growth Area (UGA), or 400 sq ft or less and sidewalls 11 ft or less outside the UGA; larger structures require a building permit. Always confirm with the office before starting.
- How much does a shed permit cost in Snohomish County?
- Base application fee $150 per application plus 3% technology surcharge and $6.50 Washington State building permit surcharge; the permit fee itself scales with the county's valuation-based fee table. See the official fee schedule for current amounts.
- Where do you apply for a shed permit in Snohomish County?
- You can apply through the Snohomish County permit portal or contact the Snohomish County Planning and Development Services directly. The links are listed on this page.
From the Library
What else needs a permit in Snohomish County
Every other permit type we have verified for this jurisdiction, with the rule that applies here.
| Project | Permit needed? | Threshold | Typical fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deck Permit | It depends | uncovered decks, deck steps, and uncovered porches for residential buildings exempt if 30 inches or less above adjacent grade at any point, not over a basement or story below, and not part of a required accessible route; covered or taller decks require a permit | Base application fee $150 per application plus 3% technology surcharge and $6.50 Washin... |
| Electrical Permit | Permit required | Not specified | No county fee; |
| Fence Permit | It depends | fences 8 feet or less in height exempt, provided they have no masonry or concrete elements above 6 feet (wire strands atop an 8-foot fence are excluded from the height measurement); taller fences, or fences with masonry/concrete above 6 feet, require a permit | Base application fee $150 per application plus 3% technology surcharge and $6.50 Washin... |
| HVAC Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Filed as a Mech/Plbg residential trade permit priced from the PDS valuation table start... |
| Patio Permit | It depends | open at-grade patios are treated as exempt sidewalks and driveways under SCC 30.50.103(1)(e) with no size limit; freestanding patio covers (roofed, not attached to another structure) are exempt only if 200 sq ft or less inside the UGA or 400 sq ft or less outside the UGA; larger or attached patio covers require a permit | Priced from the PDS valuation table starting at a $45 permit fee plus $29.25 plan check... |
| Plumbing Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Filed as a Mech/Plbg residential trade permit priced from the PDS valuation table start... |
| Pool Permit | It depends | prefabricated swimming pools regulated under the IRC (one- and two-family dwellings) exempt if less than 24 inches deep, with no gallon-volume cap; in-ground pools or pools 24 inches deep or more require a building permit | Priced from the PDS valuation table starting at a $45 permit fee plus $29.25 plan check... |
| Roof Replacement Permit | It depends | re-roof overlay or tear-off-and-replace of a residential roof exempt if limited to 2 total layers of roofing material, uses the same type of roofing material as the existing roof, and the roof sheathing is not removed or replaced; adding a layer beyond 2, changing material type, or replacing sheathing requires a permit | A like-for-like reroof limited to 2 layers with no sheathing removal needs no permit; |
| Solar Permit | It depends | ground-mounted residential solar PV systems never need a building or mechanical permit; roof-mounted residential PV on a detached single-family house is exempt from a building/mechanical permit only if total dead load is 3.5 lbs per sq ft or less (up to 4.5 lbs per sq ft for frameless panels on a 3:12 or steeper slope, or 5 lbs per sq ft for frameless panels on a 5:12 or steeper slope), panels are mounted 18 inches or less above the roof surface, and an electrical permit has already been issued; a separate electrical permit through WA L&I is always required regardless | Ground-mounted and qualifying roof-mounted residential solar PV need no county building... |
Shed Permit in other Washington localities
Official sources
- https://snohomish.county.codes/SCC/30.50.103
- https://snohomishcountywa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/8072/74---Exemptions-Common-Permit-Exemptions-PDF
- https://calhouncounty.sc.gov/sites/calhouncounty/files/Documents/Calhoun%20County/Departments/Building%20and%20Planning/2018IRC/2018%20IRC%20Building%20Guide_Accessory%20Structure.pdf
- https://www.botetourtva.gov/DocumentCenter/View/739/Accessory-Structure-Guide-pdf
Verified by a person against the sources above on 2026-07-06, not confirmed with Snohomish County Planning and Development Services. Rules change; confirm before you build. How we verify.
Last checked: 2026-07-06Report an error on this page
Compare Shed Permit requirements across Washington localities
Washington rule changes
- Bellevue, WA sets a flat $290 re-roof permit fee (Ordinance 6879)
Ord. 6879 · 2026-07-25