Bellingham is the largest city in Whatcom County and a hub for outdoor recreation, college life, and residential growth. Sheds under 200 square feet are permit-exempt under the IRC as adopted by Bellingham, but they still need to comply with all land use regulations. Accessory buildings are capped at 12 feet in height and one story — and placement is limited to the rear yard and the rear 22 feet of an interior side yard. Max footprint for an accessory building is 800 square feet without a conditional use permit. Here's what the Bellingham Municipal Code says.
| Shed Permit Rules | City of Bellingham |
|---|---|
| Max Shed Size (No Permit) | 200 sq ft (one-story, IRC as adopted) |
| Max Shed Height (Overall) | 12 ft (one story max) |
| Max Accessory Building Area | 800 sq ft (conditional use permit for larger) |
| Setbacks (Side/Rear) | Rear yard + rear 22 ft of interior side yard (BMC 20.30.100) |
| Setbacks (Front) | Not permitted forward of the primary structure |
Permit exemption follows IRC R105.2 as adopted by Bellingham (BMC 17.10.020). Exempt structures must still comply with all land use setback and placement regulations.
Fences and walls within land use setbacks have separate height restrictions that apply even without a building permit.
“Accessory buildings shall not exceed one story in height, or 12 feet under either height definition. Accessory buildings may be located in a rear yard and in the rear 22 feet of an interior side yard.”
BMC 20.30.100 — Accessory Building Height and Placement →
“An accessory building may not exceed 800 square feet in area, except through conditional use permit approval.”
BMC 20.30.100 — Accessory Building Size Limit →
Have questions about permits or zoning? We don't have all the answers, but we deal with this stuff regularly and can usually help you figure it out. Reach out with your address and we'll point you in the right direction.
Building codes and permit requirements are subject to change. Contact your local building department to verify current regulations before beginning your project.
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