MC2 Sheds

Building a Shed in Ferndale? Here's What You Need to Know

Whatcom County

Ferndale is a growing city in Whatcom County just north of Bellingham, and its accessory structure rules use a tiered setback system based on size. Small sheds under 120 square feet only need 3 feet from the property line. Sheds between 120 and 250 square feet need 5 feet. Anything larger follows your zone's standard setbacks. Accessory buildings are capped at 12 feet and one story, and they can't be placed in front of the primary structure. On corner lots, accessory structures in the street-side yard need a 12-foot setback from the right-of-way. Here's what the Ferndale Municipal Code says.

Building Codes & Permits in Ferndale

Shed Permit RulesCity of Ferndale
Max Shed Size (No Permit)120 sq ft (per WAC 51-16-080)
Max Shed Height (Overall)12 ft (one story, except garages/carports)
Setbacks — Under 120 sq ft3 ft from side/rear property lines
Setbacks — 120 to 250 sq ft5 ft from side/rear property lines
Setbacks — Over 250 sq ftZone standard setbacks apply
Corner Lot (Street Side)12 ft from right-of-way

Ferndale adopts the state building code (WAC 51-16-080) for permit exemptions. The 120 sq ft threshold is the state standard — check with Ferndale if they have adopted a local amendment for 200 sq ft.

Accessory building square footage counts toward maximum lot coverage limitations.

From the Municipal Code

“Accessory buildings shall not be more than one story nor more than 12 feet in height except for garages and carports.”

FMC 18.72.050 — Accessory Building Height →

“Accessory structures under 120 square feet of roof area shall be placed no closer than three feet to the rear and/or side property line. Accessory structures having between 120 square feet and 250 square feet may be placed no closer than five feet away from the rear and/or side property line. All other accessory structures must meet setback requirements of that zone.”

FMC 18.72.050 — Tiered Setbacks for Accessory Structures →

What You Need to Know

  • ●Tiered setbacks (FMC 18.72.050): Ferndale uses a size-based setback system. Under 120 sq ft roof area: 3 ft. Between 120-250 sq ft: 5 ft. Over 250 sq ft: full zone setbacks apply. This is more generous than most cities for small sheds.
  • ●12 ft height cap (FMC 18.72.050): Accessory buildings shall not be more than one story nor more than 12 feet in height, except for garages and carports which may have different standards.
  • ●No front placement (FMC 18.72.050): Accessory structures cannot be placed forward of the closest point of the primary structure to the street, except garages and carports.
  • ●Corner lots (FMC 18.72.050): On corner lots, accessory structures may be in the street-side yard but must be set back a minimum of 12 feet from the right-of-way.
  • ●Lot coverage (FMC 18.72.050): Accessory building square footage counts toward your maximum lot coverage. Check your zone for the specific percentage.
  • ●Outside city limits? If your property is in unincorporated Whatcom County rather than within Ferndale city limits, Whatcom County rules apply instead.
  • ●Utilities: Even if the structure is exempt, any electrical or plumbing work requires a separate trade permit.

City of Ferndale Resources

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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