Parma, OH Accessory Structures: Shed & Carport Rules (2026)
Shed permit rules in Parma, 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
- Max size, lots ≤ 7,200 sq ft
- 120 sq ft, 12-ft max wall
- Max size, larger lots
- 240 sq ft, 24-ft max wall
- Max height
- 12 feet from grade
- Rear/side setback
- 2 feet minimum
- Sheds per dwelling
- 1
- Foundation requirement
- 4-inch concrete base with 4-inch curb
Summary
Parma limits a residential shed to 120 square feet on lots up to 7,200 square feet, or 240 square feet on larger lots, at a maximum height of 12 feet, and requires a building permit plus placement in the rear yard at least two feet from the rear and side lot lines.
The maximum size shall be 120 square feet external dimensions with no wall having a length greater than twelve feet for all lots 7,200 square feet in area or less. The Building Commissioner may permit owners of lots in excess of 7,200 square feet in area to construct an outbuilding whose external dimensions exceed 120 square feet, so long as the excess size of the outbuilding is proportional to the excess area of the lot. The maximum size shall be 240 square feet in exterior dimensions with no wall having a length greater than twenty-four feet. The maximum height of an accessory or outbuilding shall be 12 feet from the grade.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-30: Local legislation current to August 3, 2026 | State legislation current to June 25, 2025).
Full Breakdown
39(a) governs tool sheds and other accessory outbuildings on residential lots under 14,400 square feet. No shed can go up without a building permit under paragraph (1), and only sheds sold commercially or built to Building Commissioner-approved plans qualify under paragraph (2). Paragraph (4) confines sheds to the rear yard, subject to Commissioner approval of style and size, and bars any projection into a front or side yard. Paragraph (5) sets the size ladder: a maximum of 120 square feet of exterior dimensions with no wall longer than twelve feet on lots of 7,200 square feet or less; the Commissioner can allow a larger shed proportional to a bigger lot, up to a hard ceiling of 240 square feet with no wall over twenty-four feet, and a maximum height of twelve feet from grade, with only one accessory building permitted per single, two-family or three-family dwelling.
Paragraph (6) requires a four-inch concrete base with a four-inch curb anchoring the structure, except for wood-floored storage sheds. Paragraph (8) sets the setback: the shed must sit at least two feet from the rear lot line and at least two feet from the abutting side line, and paragraph (7) adds an extra corner-lot setback matching the adjoining side street's setback line. Paragraph (11) requires any dog run or kennel accessory structure to sit at least ten feet from the nearest lot line. Subsection (b) requires the shed to be kept in good repair, free of health, accident or fire hazards, or removed, and subsection (d) sets the permit fee under Chapter 185's General Fee Schedule while confirming no separate grading permit is needed.
Violations & Fines
Erecting a shed without a building permit, exceeding the size or height limits, or placing it closer than two feet to the rear or side lot line violates Section 1529.39 and can trigger a Building Commissioner order to repair or remove it; under subsection (c), a deteriorated or unrepaired foundation must be fixed within thirty days of notice or the entire structure must be removed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How big can a shed be on a Parma residential lot?
Do I need a permit for a backyard shed in Parma?
How close to the property line can a shed be built in Parma?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Parma
How Parma compares: Shed Permit Requirements by City·Compare Parma to another location·View the Ohio accessory structures overview
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