Seattle, WA shed and backyard pod permit exemption

Seattle exempts a shed from a building permit when the roof area is 120 sq ft or less. The limit is measured on the roof footprint, so eaves and overhangs count. The exemption covers storage, growing plants and similar unoccupied uses. Office use is not on that list.

Seattle quick facts

Size limit: 120 sq ft or less
Measured as: Roof area. The limit applies to the footprint of the shed's roof, so eaves count.
Height: Single story.
Electrical power: The exemption conditions do not list wiring. Seattle City Light takes applications for new or changed electrical service.
Use: Exemption only for a shed 'only used for storage, growing plants, or similar generally unoccupied uses.'
Source: Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections (SDCI)
Checked: Nov 5, 2026

Official text

“The total area (or “footprint”) of the shed’s roof is 120 square feet or less.”

Source: Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections (SDCI).

Other conditions

Sits on a simple concrete slab, pier blocks or soil
Not attached to a house or other building
Not in or near an environmentally critical area (steep slope, wetland, flood-prone area)
Over 750 sq ft, or beams spanning more than 14 ft, needs a construction addition / alteration permit
Neighborhood Residential zones: usually not within 10 to 15 ft of the front property line or within 5 ft of side property lines

Pod sizes compared with the Seattle size limit

13 of 36 pod sizes are within the 120 sq ft limit by floor area. The other 23 are over the limit.

This rule counts roof area. No manufacturer here lists roof area, so the comparison uses floor area.

Autonomous MetroPod: 80 sq ft
Autonomous WorkPod: 102 sq ft
Autonomous StudioPod: 105 sq ft
Studio Home Signature 8 x 10 ft: 80 sq ft
Studio Home Signature 8 x 12 ft: 96 sq ft
Studio Home Signature 8 x 14 ft: 112 sq ft
Studio Home Signature 10 x 10 ft: 100 sq ft
Studio Home Signature 10 x 12 ft: 120 sq ft
Studio Home Portland 8 x 12 ft: 96 sq ft
Studio Home Portland 8 x 14 ft: 112 sq ft
Studio Home Portland 10 x 12 ft: 120 sq ft
Kanga Room Systems Modern Kwik Room 10 x 12 ft: 120 sq ft
Kanga Room Systems Cottage Kwik Room 10 x 12 ft: 120 sq ft

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.