Shed permit checklist — King County, Washington
Assembled from King County’s own published permit rules. Every line below is quoted from a city document and linked to it. Nothing here is generated, estimated, or inferred from another jurisdiction.
Do you need a permit?
King County requires a permit for a shed.
King County exempts 'a storage shed with a floor area of 200 square feet or less, as an accessory to a residential house or for agricultural use.' The 200 sq ft figure is the Washington State Building Code threshold for one-story detached accessory structures. A shed over 200 sq ft, or one used as habitable space or served by plumbing, needs a permit. The exemption evaporates on parcels with critical areas — wetlands, flood zones, steep slopes, clearing limits, setback areas or impervious-coverage caps — which covers a substantial share of rural unincorporated King County. Zoning setbacks under King County Code Title 21A apply even to an exempt shed.
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Sources
- shed — permit rules ↗verified August 2026
Other permits King County publishes rules for
Listed because the city publishes a separate rule for each type — not because this project necessarily triggers one. Whether it does depends on your scope of work.
- Deck permit checklist
- Fence permit checklist
- Water heater permit checklist
- Re-roof permit checklist
- Retaining wall permit checklist
- Electrical work permit checklist
- General building work permit checklist
BuildSpec is a reference, not the authority having jurisdiction. Confirm requirements with King County before you build.