Lakewood, NJ Accessory Structures: Carport Rules (2026)

Lakewood Township's Unified Development Ordinance (Chapter 18 of the Township Code, adopted by Ordinance 2017-51 and amended thereafter) controls accessory structures including carports through Article IX (Zoning Districts and Regulations) and Article VIII (Design Standards). The UDO does not single out carports by name; instead it treats them as accessory buildings subject to the same bulk and setback rules as detached garages and sheds in each residential zone. For comparison, sheds are defined as one-story accessory buildings with a maximum footprint of 200 square feet, maximum height of 12 feet, and a permitted side and rear setback of five feet, while detached garages are limited to one story, a maximum height of 16 feet, no more than three bay doors, and must satisfy accessory-building setbacks for the zone. Accessory buildings may not be located in the front-yard setback. On corner lots in residential zones, the Article IX corner-lot provision lets the property owner use the side-yard setback (rather than the more restrictive front-yard setback) along the subservient street frontage when adequate screening is provided. Before construction, the property owner must obtain Zoning approval and a Building Permit from the Lakewood Department of Inspections; permits implement the New Jersey Uniform Construction Code (N.J.A.C. 5:23) and the 2021 IRC for one- and two-family dwellings. A carport open on at least two sides is generally exempt from a Certificate of Occupancy but still requires zoning clearance and a UCC building permit because it has a roof structure and footings.