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

Kenmore has the most restrictive dimensional limits in Zone 2 — your shed can't exceed 15 feet on any side, height maxes at 8 feet for flat roofs or 10 feet for pitched, and only one storage shed is allowed in the rear setback area per lot. The city sits at the north end of Lake Washington, so shoreline buffer zones of 50 to 150 feet can eat into your buildable area. Properties outside those buffers get straightforward rules: 200 square feet, 5-foot rear setback, no permit required.

Building Codes & Permits in Kenmore

Shed Permit RulesCity of Kenmore
Max Shed Size (No Permit)200 sq ft (max 15 ft on any side)
Max Shed Height (Flat Roof)8 ft
Max Shed Height (Pitched Roof)10 ft
Sheds Per Lot (In Rear Setback)1 max
Setbacks (Side/Rear)5 ft
Setbacks (Front)Per zoning district — see KMC 18.21

From the Municipal Code

No more than one storage shed or similar use is allowed, limited in height to eight feet for a flat roof or 10 feet for a pitched roof, with a maximum dimension of 15 feet on any side and a total area not exceeding 200 square feet.

KMC 18.30 — Accessory Structure Dimensional Limits

What You Need to Know

  • One shed per lot in rear setback (KMC 18.30): Only one storage shed or similar structure is allowed in the rear setback area per lot. This is strictly enforced.
  • 15 ft max dimension (KMC 18.30): No side of the shed can exceed 15 feet. This limits your footprint options — a 15x13 or 14x14 configuration works, but not a 10x20.
  • Height by roof type (KMC 18.30): Flat roof: 8 ft max. Pitched roof: 10 ft max. These are tight — plan your roof pitch carefully to stay under 10 ft overall.
  • Lake Washington shoreline buffers: Kenmore sits at the north end of Lake Washington. Properties near the shoreline are subject to 50–150 ft buffer zones per the Shoreline Master Program. These buffers can significantly reduce your buildable area.
  • Setbacks (KMC 18.30): 5 ft from rear property line. Sheds should not create substantial detrimental impacts to neighbors or the city.
  • Outside city limits? Parts of the Kenmore area may be unincorporated King County with different rules. Verify your parcel's jurisdiction before building.
  • Utilities: Even if the structure is exempt, any electrical or plumbing work requires a separate trade permit.

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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