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

Woodinville has some of the most relaxed accessory structure rules in the money belt — there's no separate height limit for sheds, so the zone maximum of 35 feet applies just like it does to your house. No design match requirements either. The city also explicitly allows home business storage in accessory structures, which is unusual. Standard 5-foot interior setbacks, 200 square feet without a permit, and that's about it. Straightforward rules for a high-dollar zip code.

Building Codes & Permits in Woodinville

Shed Permit RulesCity of Woodinville
Max Shed Size (No Permit)200 sq ft (one-story)
Max Shed Height (Overall)35 ft (zone max — no separate accessory limit)
Setbacks (Side/Rear)5 ft interior
Setbacks (Front)Per zoning district — see WMC 21.32

From the Municipal Code

Special development standards that apply to specific accessory uses identified in Chapter 21.21 WMC are applied in combination with other applicable development regulations. When the special development standards impose different requirements than established elsewhere in this title, the special development standards shall prevail.

WMC 21.41 — Accessory Uses

What You Need to Know

  • No separate accessory height limit (WMC 21.32): Woodinville does not publish a lower height limit for accessory structures. The zone maximum (35 ft in most residential zones) applies to sheds just like primary buildings. This is the most generous height rule in the Zone 2 cities.
  • No design match requirement: Unlike Bothell and Marysville, Woodinville does not require accessory structures to match the primary building's appearance. Build what works for your needs.
  • Home business storage allowed (WMC 21.41): Woodinville explicitly allows home business storage in accessory structures. Most cities prohibit or don't address this — Woodinville calls it out as acceptable.
  • Setbacks (WMC 21.32): 5 ft from interior (side and rear) property lines. No reduced setbacks for small structures — 5 ft is the standard regardless of shed size.
  • Critical areas (WMC 21.51): Woodinville has wetland, stream, and steep slope regulations. Check if your property has critical area overlays before planning.
  • Outside city limits? Large portions of the Woodinville area are unincorporated King County. The city incorporated in 1993, so some neighboring properties still fall under county jurisdiction.
  • 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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