Exempt from Permit

When a Building Permit is NOT Required (Yakima County)

⚠️ Even if exempt from a building permit, other permits or approvals may still be required (land use, zoning, utilities, etc.).

Residential Accessory Structures (Sheds, etc.)

Permit-exempt ONLY if all of the following are true:

General

• On the same lot as an existing house (Group R-3)

  • Exception: portable animal shelters

• Non-habitable (no living, sleeping, or cooking)

• Used only as:

  • Tool/storage shed

  • Playhouse

  • Pump house

  • Woodshed

  • Portable animal shelter (max 360 sq ft)

Size & Quantity

• Max size: 200 sq ft per structure

• Max number: 2 total structures per lot (1 portable animal shelter)

• Height:

  • Max 10 ft wall height

  • One story only

  • No loft storage

• Eaves: Max 24 inches

Construction & Location

• Detached, at least 6 feet from all other structures

• No heat, plumbing, or mechanical systems

  • ✔ Plumbing equipment allowed only for well pump houses

• No basement or crawlspace with more than 18 inches clearance

• Not located in:

  • FEMA floodplain or floodway

  • Critical areas or shoreline areas

Prohibited Uses

• NOT used as:

  • Carport or garage

  • Vehicle storage (cars, RVs, motorhomes)

  • Tractor, farm equipment, or agricultural product storage

  • Business use

• No storage of hazardous materials beyond Fire Code limits

➡️ If any of these conditions are not met, a permit is required before construction.

Other Permit-Exempt Work

• Fences up to 7 feet high
  (May still require zoning approval)

• Retaining walls up to 4 feet, unless supporting a surcharge (4' includes bottom of footing to top of wall)

• Water tanks:

  • On grade

  • ≤ 5,000 gallons

  • Height ≤ 2× width/diameter

• Decks, sidewalks, ramps, driveways:

  • No roof cover

  • ≤ 30 inches above adjacent grade

  • Pergolas allowed (rafters only)

• Interior finish work:

  • Painting, flooring, cabinets, countertops, etc.

• Prefabricated pools under 24 inches deep

• Playground equipment for single-family homes

• Window awnings:

  • ≤ 54 inches projection

  • No additional support

• Siding repair/replacement (non-fire-resistive areas)

• Insulation retrofits with no structural changes

• Door & window replacement:

  • No structural changes (like for like)

  • Not egress bedroom windows

• Re-roofing: (exempt if shingles only)

  • Must comply with IRC R908

  • Not in wildfire hazard zones requiring fire-resistive roofing

Electrical Work

• Yakima County does not require permits for:

  • Minor electrical repairs

  • Replacing lamps

  • Plugging portable equipment into existing outlets

• ⚡ Electrical permits are handled by WA Dept. of Labor & Industries