That's funny, you need it freestanding to avoid permitting, I need it attached to avoid - hey waitaminute dont we live in the same city? Does one of us have the regs wrong? Confused!

I would expect permits would be required when attached to the existing house. The foundations would then probably need to be constructed to a similar depth and methods of attachment would need to be examined

http://www.portlandonline.com/bds/index.cfm?a=92685&c=45053

I'm going off this. All the way at the end of the document. Hope I am not reading it wrong.

It looks like it is allowed BUT I would call anyway as you are going to be supporting part of it with a NEW outside wall aren't you? Half way down the req'd list it says add or move wall requires permit.

No, it will anchor to the existing house exterior wall. I will give them a call

I would be amazed if any addition or change did not require a permit. Not only is it a money issue with the bldg dept, it's a liabilty for both of you.

I'm just going by the city's brochure.

Almost... I'm over in Camas, but will confess I haven't checked the regs yet. When I lived in Vancouver, (same county) decks and other "additions" that weren't attached to the house did not require a permit.

the 200 ft2 exclusion is something we have here in Eugene also.

worst case is likely they make you get a post hoc permit and pay 2x for it

Don't expand. Jettison. We tend to think the more stuff we have the happier we will be. In truth, happiness in inversely proportional to how much stuff you have. I was never happier than when all my stuff fit onto my motorcycle. Put keepsakes in a box......the rest to Goodwill.

Very good point. I move every two or three years because my wife is a Realtor.(Always finding good deals) . Purging every few years I still have too much stuff and unfinished projects .A neat one car garage is enough if you plan carefully.