Lakewood, OH Accessory Structures: Shed & Carport Rules (2026)
Shed permit rules in Lakewood, OH, also referred to as storage shed, backyard shed, or accessory building regulations, set size limits, setbacks, and when a building permit is required.
Key Facts
- Code Section
- LCO Sec. 1123.03(f); 1123.09(c)
- Max Area (R2)
- 80 sq ft (or rear-yard allowance, whichever greater)
- Max Height
- 10 ft above grade
- Rear-Yard Coverage
- All accessory structures <= 25% of rear yard
- Side/Rear Setback (R2 wood)
- 18 inches
- Permit Threshold
- Building permit required for sheds over 120 sq ft
Summary
In the R2 District a storage shed may not exceed 80 square feet in area (or the lot-coverage allowance, whichever is greater) and 10 feet in height, with accessory structures of all kinds limited to 25% of the rear yard.
f) A storage shed not to exceed eighty (80) square feet in area or which complies with the requirement of Section 1123.09(c), whichever is greater but shall not exceed the requirements of Section 1123.09(d), and ten (10) feet in height above grade, Section 1123.05(b) notwithstanding.
Full Breakdown
Lakewood Codified Ordinance Section 1123.03(f) permits a storage shed as an accessory use in the R2 Single- and Two-Family District, capped at 80 square feet in area (or the rear-yard coverage allowance of Section 1123.09(c), whichever is greater, but not exceeding Section 1123.09(d)) and 10 feet in height above grade. Under Section 1123.09(c), accessory structures together may cover no more than 25% of the rear yard. The city's Shed Handout adds that wood accessory structures (excluding family swimming pools) may not be located within 18 inches of a side or rear property line in R2; in R1L/R1M districts the setback is 3 feet, and in the Lagoon District sheds are limited to 40 square feet. A 'shed' is an accessory building 'wholly related but clearly incidental to and detached from the principal building.' A building permit is required for any shed larger than 120 square feet.
Violations & Fines
Sheds exceeding 80 square feet without using the rear-yard coverage allowance, or placed within the 18-inch setback, are not permitted; a shed over 120 square feet requires a building permit from the Division of Housing and Building.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lakewood
How Lakewood compares: Shed Permit Requirements by City·Compare Lakewood to another location·View the Ohio accessory structures overview
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Shed & Carport Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Cuyahoga County handle shed & carport rules.