RV and Boat Storage Buildings in Spokane, WA

Clear-height requirements

The single most important measurement on an RV or boat storage project is clear height at the door, and it varies enough by vehicle that a generic number isn't useful. Many Class A motorhomes need roughly 13 to 14 feet of clear door height once roof-mounted air conditioning, antennas, and vents are accounted for. Travel trailers and boats on trailers often need less, but the safest approach is measuring the actual tallest point of what's being stored, not just the advertised vehicle height, before a door size gets finalized.

Enclosed bays versus open carports

An open carport, essentially a post-frame roof structure without walls, blocks sun, rain, and snow load from settling directly on whatever's parked underneath, at a lower cost than a fully enclosed building. It doesn't protect against wind-driven rain, dust, or theft the way an enclosed bay does. An enclosed bay adds walls, a door that closes and locks, and full weather protection, which matters more for a boat's interior upholstery and electronics or a higher-value RV. That added protection costs more per square foot, since it means more material and typically more foundation work at the wall lines.

Can you live in an RV or boat storage building?

No, not as designed or permitted. A storage building goes through the permit process as a non-residential accessory structure, without the insulation, egress windows, plumbing, or residential fire separation that living space requires under building code. If the actual goal is year-round or even occasional living space, that's a barndominium project on a different permit path entirely, not a storage building with a cot in the corner. See the barndominium page if that's closer to what you're planning.

Permits for carports and storage buildings

Most detached carports and storage buildings need a permit, though the specific requirement depends on size and whether the structure attaches to an existing building. Spokane County and the City of Spokane require a building permit for the majority of these projects, with the BP-14 non-engineered pathway available for qualifying sizes. Kootenai County's small detached-structure exemption is narrow, generally covering only sheds and similar buildings well under the footprint of a full RV storage bay, so don't assume a carport sized for a motorhome qualifies. Confirm the specific rule for your parcel before ordering materials or scheduling a build.

Site prep matters more for this building type than people expect. A gravel or paved apron wide enough to actually maneuver an RV or boat trailer into position, without a tight turn against a post or door frame, is worth planning before the foundation goes in rather than working around afterward.