What's Required in Portland
- A building permit is required for any detached accessory structure over 200 square feet or taller than 15 feet, and for any habitable or heated structure regardless of size.
- Permit fees are based on fair market value; new sheds are valued at 50 percent of the ICC Building Valuation Data figure for Utility, Type VB construction or the stated value, whichever is greater.
- Plan review is 65 percent of the building permit fee, and Oregon adds a 12 percent surcharge to building, electrical, plumbing and mechanical permit fees.
- Detached accessory structures are limited to 20 feet in height and a combined 20 percent of the site's building coverage under Zoning Code chapter 33.110.
- Walls within 3 feet of a shared property line must be fire-rated, and exempt sheds still count toward building coverage and floor-area limits.
- Contractors must hold an Oregon CCB license; a homeowner may do electrical work only if they own and occupy the home and are not selling or renting within six months.
- A site plan, architectural plans and structural plans are required with the building permit application, submitted through DevHub.
- Sites that slope more than 20 percent need a geotechnical report, and lots of 5,000 square feet or more must meet tree preservation standards.
Do you need a permit for a shed in Portland?
Usually not. Portland Permitting & Development (PP&D) does not require a building permit for a one-story, non-habitable detached shed of 200 square feet or less, measured from the interior side of the exterior walls, that is no more than 15 feet tall from the grade plane to the average height of the highest roof surface. Over either number, you need a building permit. On a parcel over 2 acres the cutoff rises to 400 square feet, provided the shed sits at least 20 feet from property lines and other structures. A heated or habitable building needs a permit at any size. An exempt shed still counts toward building coverage and floor-area limits, and setbacks apply. A zoning permit is optional for an exempt shed; the fee schedule lists it at $48 for one- and two-family dwellings.
How much does a shed permit cost in Portland?
When a permit is required, the fee is valuation-based. PP&D values a new shed at 50 percent of the ICC Building Valuation Data figure for Utility occupancy, Type VB construction, and uses the greater of that or the value you state. The ICC table is a paid publication, so the examples below use a stated valuation. A 12 by 20 foot shed (240 square feet) declared at $12,000 pays: building permit $220.85 for the first $2,000 plus 10 x $13.91 = $359.95; plan review at 65 percent = $233.97; Development Services fee $35.74 plus 10 x $3.74 = $73.14; Oregon 12 percent surcharge on the permit fee = $43.19; zoning inspection $125. Total about $835. A 400 square foot workshop declared at $30,000 pays $592.08 + $384.85 + $135.81 + $71.05 + $125 = about $1,309. The minimum building permit fee is $167. Trade permits are separate and priced per item.
| What you are doing | City filing | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| 10 x 12 shed (120 sq ft), under 15 ft, no wiring | No building permit | Exempt at 200 sq ft or less and 15 ft or less; zoning setbacks and coverage still apply; zoning permit optional ($48) |
| 12 x 20 shed (240 sq ft) | Building permit | Over 200 sq ft; about $835 at a $12,000 valuation including plan review, Development Services fee, surcharge and zoning inspection |
| 10 x 16 shed (160 sq ft) that is 16 ft tall | Building permit | Height over 15 ft triggers a permit even under 200 sq ft |
| Exempt shed with a light and an outlet | Electrical permit only | An electrical permit is required even when no building permit is; first branch circuit $174 + 12% = $194.88 |
| Detached garage of 200 sq ft or less and 15 ft or less | Zoning permit | Brochure 3 lists a zoning permit for a small detached garage to confirm location and lot coverage |
| Heated office or studio, any size | Building permit | Habitable structures need a permit regardless of size |
| 350 sq ft shed on a lot over 2 acres, 20 ft from all lines | No building permit | The 400 sq ft threshold applies on parcels over 2 acres |
Where can you put a shed on your lot?
Zoning Code chapter 33.110 caps detached accessory structures at 20 feet and normally holds them to the base-zone setbacks. In the R7, R5 and R2.5 zones a shed may sit inside the side or rear setback if it is at least 40 feet from the front lot line, has a footprint no larger than 24 by 24 feet, is no more than 15 feet high with walls no taller than 10 feet, and has no doors or windows facing the neighboring lot line. The combined coverage of all accessory structures may not exceed 20 percent of the site. Anything built within 3 feet of a shared property line must be fire-rated. Lots of 5,000 square feet or more must meet tree preservation standards, and a site sloping more than 20 percent needs a geotechnical report.
Who can build it and how do you apply?
You can build your own shed or hire a contractor licensed by the Oregon Construction Contractors Board (CCB); the application must list the CCB number. A homeowner may pull the trade permits, but electrical work is allowed only if you own and occupy the home and are not selling or renting within six months. Apply through Development Hub PDX (DevHub) with a site plan, architectural plans and structural plans; bundle the trade applications into a Residential Combination permit so every inspection runs under one permit number. Ground disturbance needs an erosion control plan or the simple-site form. Request inspections through the 503-823-7000 line; every permit needs a final inspection, and starting work early adds an investigation fee of at least $167.
How to Get a Shed Permit in Portland
Measure against the exemption
Check interior floor area (200 square feet) and height to the average roof surface (15 feet). Confirm your zone, setbacks and coverage on PortlandMaps, or call 503-823-7300 for a planner.
Draw the plans
Prepare a site plan with property lines and distances, architectural plans and structural plans. Add an erosion control plan or the simple-site form if you will disturb soil.
Apply on DevHub
Submit the building permit application and plans through Development Hub PDX. Attach electrical, plumbing or mechanical applications to buy a Residential Combination permit.
Answer checksheets and pay
Plan reviewers send checksheets for corrections. Fees (permit, plan review, Development Services fee, surcharge and zoning inspection) are due before the permit is issued.
Build and call for inspections
Request each inspection on the 503-823-7000 line with your IVR number and the three-digit code. Do not cover work before it is approved; every permit needs a final inspection.