How Lakewood Handles Accessory Structures: A Practical Guide

Lakewood maintains 126 local ordinances across all categories, and 3 of those deal specifically with accessory structures. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Lakewood falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Shed & Carport Rules

In Lakewood, Colorado, a detached carport counts as an accessory structure: it must sit behind the front edge of the house, at least 3 feet from it, and within your zone's side and rear accessory-structure setbacks.

Key details: Setback from primary structure: 3 ft from walls, 2 ft eaves. Non-primary front setback: 20 feet, all residential zones. Side/rear setback: 5 to 10 feet by zone. Max accessory coverage: 50% of rear/side yard, 10% of lot. Small-structure exemption: 120 sq ft, 10 ft height, no permit.

Violating any Zoning Ordinance provision, including accessory-structure setbacks, is prosecuted under the Municipal Code; each day a violation continues after written notice to correct constitutes a separate violation (§ 17.1.11).

ADU Owner Occupancy

Lakewood will only issue an accessory dwelling unit permit to the property's owner-occupant or their designee, and allows just one ADU per lot under the Zoning Ordinance.

Key details: Permit holder: owner-occupant or designee. ADUs per lot: one maximum. Applies to: R zone districts, limited use.

Applying for an ADU permit as a non-occupying owner or investor, without a qualifying designee arrangement, violates the standard and the Director can deny the permit.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Lakewood actively enforces its adu owner occupancy requirements.

ADU Rules

Lakewood limits accessory dwelling units to one per lot in R zone districts, capping detached ADU height at 30 feet and floor area at 1,400 square feet, with primary-structure dimensional standards applied throughout.

Key details: ADUs per lot: one maximum. Max detached height: 30 feet. Max floor area: 1,400 sq ft. Design: must match primary dwelling. Zone status: R districts, limited use.

A detached ADU over 30 feet, over 1,400 square feet, sited in front of the primary dwelling, or a second ADU on the same lot violates the standard and can be denied zoning review.

The Bottom Line

Lakewood's accessory structures rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Lakewood is broadly strict or permissive.

This guide is based on Lakewood's current municipal code. Local rules can and do change, so check the individual ordinance pages for the latest details, penalties, and FAQs.