Height Limits: Cleveland vs Lakewood
How do height limits rules compare between Cleveland, OH and Lakewood, OH?
Cleveland and Lakewood have similar restriction levels.
Cleveland, OH
Cuyahoga County
Cleveland Chapter 358 limits residential fences to 4 feet in front yards (50% open) and 6 feet in rear/side yards. Side street yard fences set back 4+ feet from the property line may be 6 feet solid.
View full Cleveland rules →Lakewood, OH
Cuyahoga County
Lakewood caps fences at 72 inches (6 ft) behind the front building line and 36 inches (3 ft) in front of it. Rear and side yards allow a maximum of 72 inches; up to 96 inches is allowed only where a residential use abuts a non-residential lot, with the portion above 72 inches kept 25 percent open.
View full Lakewood rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Cleveland | Lakewood |
|---|---|---|
| Front Yard | 4 ft max, 50% open | - |
| Rear/Side Yard | 6 ft max | - |
| Permit | Required (4 copies of site plan) | - |
| Code Section | Chapter 358 | Chapter 1153 (Fence Placement and Types) |
| Behind building line (rear/side) | - | 72 in. (6 ft) max |
| In front of building line | - | 36 in. (3 ft) max |
| Abutting non-residential lot | - | Up to 96 in. (top 25% open) |
| Front-yard parallel fence | - | 36 in., <=55% of foundation wall, >=10 ft from ROW |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Cleveland FAQ
How tall can my fence be in Cleveland?
Cleveland Chapter 358 limits residential fences to 4 feet in front yards (50% open) and 6 feet in rear/side yards. Side street yard fences set back 4+ feet from the property line may be 6 feet solid.
What is the maximum fence height for front yards in Cleveland?
Front Yard: 4 ft max, 50% open. Rear/Side Yard: 6 ft max. Permit: Required (4 copies of site plan). Code Section: Chapter 358.
Lakewood FAQ
How tall can my backyard fence be in Lakewood?
Up to 72 inches (6 feet) above grade in the rear and side yards behind the front building line, per Chapter 1153. Up to 96 inches is allowed only where your yard abuts a non-residential lot, and the portion above 72 inches must be at least 25 percent open.
Can I put a fence in my front yard?
Generally no fence may be placed in front of the front foundation wall, but a parallel fence up to 36 inches (3 feet) is allowed if it is no longer than 55 percent of the foundation wall facing the street, sits at least 10 feet from the right-of-way, and has no gate.
Why is my front fence limited to 3 feet?
Chapter 1153 limits fences in front of the building line to 36 inches to preserve sight lines and neighborhood character; only side-line situations abutting non-residential uses allow up to 48 inches in the front area.
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