Permit conditions to confirm with the building department for a backyard pod

These 10 conditions appear in the 15 permit exemptions on this site. Each one changes whether a backyard pod is exempt from a building permit. The building department for the address decides how each one applies.

Conditions in the published rules

1. How the size limit is measured. Seattle and Denver count roof area, and Portland measures inside the walls.
2. Whether a building of exactly 120 sq ft is under a limit of less than 120 sq ft. Oakland and the City of San Mateo write the limit that way.
3. Whether the exemption covers an office or music room, or only storage. Seattle and San Francisco limit it to storage-type use.
4. Whether one cable from the house to a pre-wired pod needs an electrical permit.
5. Whether a heater, portable air conditioner or mini-split changes the result. Denver's rule covers non-conditioned buildings.
6. The height limit, and whether height is measured to the peak or to the average roof height.
7. The setbacks from the side and rear property lines and from the house.
8. Whether a zoning permit is required when a building permit is not. Portland, Denver, Oakland and Raleigh mention one.
9. Whether the lot is in a flood hazard area, a fire district or an environmentally critical area.
10. The number of exempt buildings allowed on one lot. Oakland allows one, and San Mateo County requires 50 ft between two.

Studio Home's list for the building department

Studio Home publishes its own list of questions for the building department in its frequently asked questions page. The list covers zoning, engineer-stamped plans, lot coverage and setbacks.

HOA rules

HOA rules are separate from city rules. An HOA can prohibit a building that the city allows.

The building department for the address decides whether a permit is required. This site repeats published rules and compares them with published pod sizes. Zoning rules, HOA rules and setbacks can also apply.