Clark County · Washington
Metal buildings in Vancouver, WA.
We supply detached garages, shops, storage buildings and more across Vancouver. Our work reaches from the established neighborhoods near downtown to the larger lots on the city’s east side, and anywhere else you’re building.
Accessory rules
Same as the house
Location
Behind the house front
Sheds in setbacks
120 sq ft, 8 ft tall
ADUs per lot
Up to 2
From Vancouver Municipal Code 20.902.020 and 20.810.040, and the city’s ADU guidance.
What people build in Vancouver
Clark County’s largest city, where a detached shop can follow the same rules as a house.
Shops & garages
A detached garage or shop can follow the same lot coverage, setback and height rules as a house in the zone, as long as it sits behind the front of the house.
Small sheds
Sheds, playhouses and greenhouses up to 120 sq ft can sit inside the side and rear setbacks if no part is over 8 feet tall.
ADUs
Up to two ADUs per lot with a house, each up to 1,000 sq ft. A detached ADU follows the house’s setbacks and height, not the accessory rules.
New lots
An accessory building can’t go up before the house on the same lot is finished.
We work in tubular steel, cold-formed steel, steel truss and red iron. See what a steel building costs.
Permitting metal buildings in Vancouver
Vancouver gives detached accessory buildings two paths: build to the zone’s standards for a house, or build small inside the setbacks.
Full-size buildings
- Lot coverage, setbacks and height follow the zone’s rules for the main building.
- The building has to sit behind the front elevation of the house.
Inside the setbacks
- Up to 120 sq ft and 8 feet to the peak, covering no more than half of the required rear or side setback area.
- At least 6 feet from any other building wall, with eaves at least 4 feet apart.
ADUs
- Detached ADUs need 10 feet from all other structures, or extra building code measures like sprinklers or 1-hour fire-rated construction.
- Every ADU needs a residential building permit, including one inside an existing home.
In Vancouver, a shop can follow the house rules. The code lets a detached building meet the zone’s standards for a house instead of a separate accessory size limit, which leaves room for a real shop on a larger lot. We’ll check your zone’s coverage and setbacks before we size it.
Outside city limits, Clark County rules apply. See all of Washington.
Start with a conversation
Let’s talk about your Vancouver project.
Tell us what you’re planning and where you’re building. We’ll help you work out the next steps.
- Tell us what and whereSend us the size, how you’ll use the building and the address.
- We check the siteWe confirm who permits the address and which code and loads apply.
- You get a clear recommendationWe recommend the frame that fits and price it against the alternatives.
Or call
417-218-8348