Washington County, OR shed and backyard pod permit exemption
Washington County exempts non-habitable one-story detached accessory structures of up to 200 sq ft of floor area and 15 ft in height. The county FAQ states that a habitable structure needs a permit. The size and height limits match Portland's.
Washington County quick facts
- Size limit
- 200 sq ft or less
- Measured as
- Floor area.
- Height
- 15 ft or less, measured from the grade plane to the average height of the highest roof.
- Electrical power
- Not listed.
- Use
- “If it is habitable, it needs a permit.”
- Source
- Washington County Land Use & Transportation, Building Services
- Checked
- Nov 5, 2026
Official text
“Non-habitable one-story detached accessory structures, provided that the floor area does not exceed 200 square feet (18.58 m2) and does not exceed a height of 15 feet”
Source: Washington County Land Use & Transportation, Building Services.
Other conditions
- The page lists an exception for parcels of 2 acres or more
Pod sizes compared with the Washington County size limit
33 of 36 pod sizes are within the 200 sq ft limit by floor area. The other 3 are over the limit.
- 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 8 x 16 ft: 128 sq ft
- Studio Home Signature 10 x 10 ft: 100 sq ft
- Studio Home Signature 10 x 12 ft: 120 sq ft
- Studio Home Signature 10 x 14 ft: 140 sq ft
- Studio Home Signature 10 x 16 ft: 160 sq ft
- Studio Home Signature 10 x 20 ft: 200 sq ft
- Studio Home Signature 12 x 12 ft: 144 sq ft
- Studio Home Signature 12 x 14 ft: 168 sq ft
- Studio Home Signature 12 x 16 ft: 192 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 8 x 16 ft: 128 sq ft
- Studio Home Portland 10 x 12 ft: 120 sq ft
- Studio Home Portland 10 x 14 ft: 140 sq ft
- Studio Home Portland 10 x 16 ft: 160 sq ft
- Studio Home Portland 12 x 12 ft: 144 sq ft
- Studio Home Portland 12 x 14 ft: 168 sq ft
- Studio Home Portland 12 x 16 ft: 192 sq ft
- Studio Home Portland 14 x 14 ft: 196 sq ft
- Kanga Room Systems Modern Kwik Room 10 x 12 ft: 120 sq ft
- Kanga Room Systems Modern Kwik Room 12 x 14 ft: 168 sq ft
- Kanga Room Systems Modern Kwik Room 12 x 16 ft: 192 sq ft
- Kanga Room Systems Modern Kwik Room 14 x 14 ft: 196 sq ft
- Kanga Room Systems Cottage Kwik Room 10 x 12 ft: 120 sq ft
- Kanga Room Systems Cottage Kwik Room 12 x 14 ft: 168 sq ft
- Kanga Room Systems Cottage Kwik Room 12 x 16 ft: 192 sq ft
- Kanga Room Systems Cottage Kwik Room 14 x 14 ft: 196 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.