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Shed or Detached Accessory Structure in Spokane Valley, Washington

Spokane Valley sets its permit exemption for detached accessory structures at 200 square feet - notably higher than several other Washington cities.

Reviewed 2026-09-16 · Source

When you need this permit

  • Exempt if one story, detached, used as a tool or storage shed, playhouse or similar use, and the floor area does not exceed 200 square feet
  • Zoning setbacks and lot coverage still apply even where a building permit does not

Required documents

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Fee schedule

Building permit fee
NO PERMIT AMOUNTS ARE STATED HERE FOR SPOKANE VALLEY. Show full citationNO PERMIT AMOUNTS ARE STATED HERE FOR SPOKANE VALLEY. The chapters read for this entry set out which codes apply, how applications vest and when they expire; they do not carry a fee schedule, and no separate fee chapter was opened. TWO FEE RULES ARE IN THE TEXT AND DO MATTER: if an application expires, "a new permit application must be submitted and a new fee paid", and the new application is judged under "the Spokane Valley Municipal Code as constituted at the time of the new application" - so letting an application lapse can cost you both the fee and the code edition you were vested to.
Not stated in this guide - see notes

Review timeline

Plan review
Not published — contact the department

How long did your Shed or Detached Accessory Structure permit actually take in Spokane Valley?

Anonymous — one question, no email. Answers are combined and only shown once at least 5 people have reported.

Inspection process

    Tips

    • 200 square feet here versus 120 in Tukwila, Camas and Lynden - do not carry the threshold between cities
    • The exemption is from the BUILDING permit; it does not lift zoning requirements

    Frequently asked questions

    Spokane Valley requires a shed or detached accessory structure permit for: Exempt if one story, detached, used as a tool or storage shed, playhouse or similar use, and the floor area does not exceed 200 square feet; Zoning setbacks and lot coverage still apply even where a building permit does not. If your project isn't listed, confirm with City of Spokane Valley - Permit Center at 509-720-5000 before starting work.

    In Spokane Valley, the published Building permit fee is: Not stated in this guide - see notes. These are the jurisdiction's own published figures — see the fee schedule table and source citations on this page.

    Spokane Valley does not publish a plan-review timeline for this permit. Contact City of Spokane Valley - Permit Center at 509-720-5000 for current turnaround.

    You'll need: A complete permit application. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

    Apply through City of Spokane Valley - Permit Center at 10210 East Sprague Avenue, Spokane Valley, WA 99206. Phone: 509-720-5000. Official information: https://www.spokanevalleywa.gov/.

    Spokane Valley, Washington has adopted: SPOKANE VALLEY NAMES NO EDITION FOR THE BUILDING CODES. SVMC 24.40.020(A): "Pursuant to Chapters 19.27 and 19.27A RCW, and Chapter 51-50 WAC, the City adopts the Washington State Building Code, as presently constituted or subsequently amended, together with all amendments and additions provided in SVMC Title 24."; THE ADOPTED LIST, EACH WITHOUT A YEAR: the International Building Code (Chapter 51-50 WAC); the International Residential Code (Chapter 51-51 WAC); the International Energy Conservation Code (Chapters 51-11C and 51-11R WAC); the International Mechanical Code and International Fuel Gas Code, NFPA 58 and NFPA 54 (Chapter 51-52 WAC); the International Fire Code (Chapter 51-54A WAC); and the Uniform Plumbing Code and Uniform Plumbing Code Standards (Chapter 51-56 WAC) - each "including Washington State Amendments".; ONE ADOPTION CONTRADICTS ITSELF, AND YOU SHOULD KNOW BEFORE YOU RELY ON IT. SVMC 24.40.020(B): "The City hereby adopts the 2018 Edition of the International Property Maintenance Code, current adopted edition, as published by the International Code Council, Inc." A fixed year and a rolling reference sit in the same phrase. THIS GUIDE DOES NOT DECIDE which controls - ask the city which IPMC edition it enforces.; AND A LONG LIST OF IPMC SECTIONS IS NOT ADOPTED: "Sections 106, 111, 302.3, 302.4, 302.8, 304.2, 304.8, 304.13 through 304.19, 305.3, 305.6, 308, 309.2 through 309.5, 404.1, 506.3, 507, and 606 are not adopted." A property maintenance argument that rests on one of those sections does not rest on anything here.; RCW 19.27 - the Washington State Building Code applies statewide.. Local amendments apply — see the Spokane Valley overview page for the full list.

    Up to 200 square feet. SVMC 24.40.040 amends IBC Section 105.2 to exempt a one-story detached accessory structure used as a tool or storage shed, playhouse or similar use, provided the floor area does not exceed 200 square feet. That is a local amendment - several other Washington cities set the same exemption at 120 square feet.

    Sources & verification

    Key facts verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-09-16.

    Codes & ordinances

    Fees, timelines, and adopted codes are researched from each jurisdiction's published records — see how we verify. Requirements change and vary by project, so always confirm the current details with the Spokane Valley building department before you submit. PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency.

    Spokane Valley's permit history isn't searchable here yet

    This page covers what the permit requires. What we don't have for Spokane Valley yet is the record of permits actually issued — the history you'd search by street address. That is a gap in our coverage, not a statement about any particular property.

    Your email, and the place — never an address. We only use it to tell you when Spokane Valley lands. Privacy.

    Other permits in Spokane Valley

    Building PermitDeck PermitVerify a Contractor Licence

    Shed or Detached Accessory Structure in other cities

    Lynden, WashingtonTukwila, WashingtonYakima, Washington

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