Height Limits: Lakewood vs Parma
How do height limits rules compare between Lakewood, OH and Parma, OH?
Lakewood and Parma have similar restriction levels.
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 →Parma, OH
Cuyahoga County
Parma zoning allows residential fences up to 6 feet in rear and side yards, 4 feet in front yards under the zoning code. Corner lots face additional visibility restrictions. Building permits required for fences over 4 feet. No state shared-fence statute exists in Ohio for residential property.
View full Parma rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Lakewood | Parma |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | - |
| Code Section | Chapter 1153 (Fence Placement and Types) | - |
| Rear/Side Max | - | 6 feet |
| Front Max | - | 4 feet |
| Permit Threshold | - | Over 4 feet |
| Shared Cost Law | - | None (Ohio) |
| Appeals | - | Parma Zoning Board |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
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.
Parma FAQ
How tall can my backyard fence be in Parma?
Up to 6 feet in rear and side yards. Front yard fences are limited to 4 feet.
Who enforces this in Parma?
Parma at (440) 885-8000 handles most complaints.
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