Lakewood, WA Accessory Structures: Shed & Carport Rules (2026)
Shed permit rules in Lakewood, WA, 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
- Max accessory building height
- 24 feet
- Small shed setback
- 3 ft if under 120 sq ft and 10 ft tall
- Attached structure setback
- Same as main dwelling
- Pools/hot tubs
- Barred from rear/interior setbacks entirely
- Governing section
- LMC 18A.40.110(B)(9)
Summary
Lakewood, Washington caps residential accessory buildings at 24 feet in height under LMC 18A.40.110(B)(9)(a). A small shed, greenhouse or gazebo under 120 square feet and 10 feet tall needs only a 3-foot setback when placed in the rear half of the lot, but pools and hot tubs may not sit in rear or interior side setbacks at all.
9. Residential Accessory Building. a. The maximum height for residential accessory buildings shall be twenty-four (24) feet. b. Detached residential accessory structures which are less than one hundred twenty (120) square feet in size and not higher than ten (10) feet, including garden sheds or greenhouses or combination of both; children’s play equipment; arbors; and gazebos, when placed in a rear half of the lot shall have a minimum three (3) foot setback. Attached accessory structures shall meet the same setbacks as the main building. c. Pools, hot tubs, and similar accessory structures may not be located in the rear or interior yard setbacks.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 852, passed June 15, 2026).
Full Breakdown
110(B)(9) sets the dimensional standards for residential accessory buildings citywide. Subsection (a) caps the maximum height of any residential accessory building at 24 feet. Subsection (b) gives small structures a reduced setback: a detached accessory structure under 120 square feet and no higher than 10 feet, including garden sheds, greenhouses, children's play equipment, arbors and gazebos, needs only a 3-foot setback when it sits in the rear half of the lot. An attached accessory structure, by contrast, must meet the same setback as the main house rather than the reduced 3-foot standard.
Subsection (c) bars pools, hot tubs and similar accessory structures from the rear or interior yard setbacks entirely, a stricter rule than the shed allowance. Subsection (d) covers fabric or metal vehicle-cover structures such as carports made of pipe framing: they must meet the underlying zoning district's lot coverage and setback standards, and if the structure is made of metal, wood, hard plastic or other rigid material and exceeds 120 square feet, a building permit is required. A shed exceeding 120 square feet, or one taller than 10 feet, falls outside the reduced-setback allowance and must instead meet the full setback and lot coverage standards of its zoning district, along with any applicable building permit requirement. Railroad cars, shipping containers and semi-truck trailers are separately barred from any residential zoning district under subsection (e).
Violations & Fines
Placing a shed or accessory structure closer to the property line than its applicable setback, exceeding the 24-foot height cap, or building an oversized structure without a required permit is a zoning code violation. LMC 1.44.040's general civil penalty of up to $500.00 per day applies absent a more specific fine, and the City can also issue a stop-work order under Chapter 1.44 LMC requiring the structure's removal or relocation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How close to my property line can I put a shed in Lakewood?
Do I need a permit for a shed in Lakewood?
Can I put a pool near my back fence in Lakewood?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lakewood
How Lakewood compares: Shed Permit Requirements by City·Compare Lakewood to another location·View the Washington accessory structures overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Shed & Carport Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle shed & carport rules.