Building on your lot in Lakewood

Each rule below is marked Lakewood code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

Fences and walls

Lakewood code What Lakewood's code adds
Side and rear yard height	Up to 8 feet tall without Development Review Board review. Applies: Rear property line of lots next to the West San Gabriel River Open Space, between Shadeway Road and Carson Street; city design standards apply. § 9384 · code text said walls, fences, or hedges placed on the rear property line abutting the West San Gabriel River Open Space Area may be maintained without review by the Development Review Board to a height of eight feet (8') Walls, fences and hedges can be no more than 7 feet 6 inches tall, unless the Development Review Board approves. Applies: Residential zones: required rear yard setback, or side yard setback not next to the front yard setback. § 9384 · code text In any residential zone, any wall, fence, or hedge shall not be more than seven feet six inches (7' 6") in height, unless otherwise approved by the Development Review Board (DRB) and when located within the required rear yard setback area or that portion of any side yard setback area that is not adjacent to any portion of the required front yard setback area.
Front yard height	Walls, fences and hedges can be no more than 42 inches tall. Applies: Residential zones: required front yard setback, or side yard setback next to any part of the front yard setback. § 9384 · code text In any residential zone, a wall, fence, or hedge when located within the required front yard setback area or within any side yard setback area adjacent to any portion of the front yard setback area shall not exceed an overall height of forty-two inches (42")
Permit	A City Planning Commission permit is required. Applies: Barbed wire, other sharp pointed fencing, or electrically charged wire. § 8014 · code text No barbed wire or other sharp pointed fence or electrically charged wire shall be erected, maintained or constructed in the City unless a permit for the same has been issued by the City Planning Commission

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Lakewood code What Lakewood's code adds
Side and rear setback	At least 3 feet from the rear or side lot line. Applies: Private garages and other non-living accessory buildings. § 9322.7 · code text No private garage or other non-habitable accessory building shall be located less than three (3) feet from the rear or side lot line At least 1 foot from the side lot line. Applies: Garages and other non-living accessory buildings in the rear 50% of the lot, where the side lot line does not border a street. § 9322.7 · code text except that any structure used as a private garage or other non-habitable accessory building and located within the rear fifty percent (50%) of the lot may be located no less than one (1) foot from the side lot line, which does not abut a street. At least 4 feet from rear and side lot lines. Applies: Accessory buildings for living in, including ADUs, unless state law waives or changes this. § 9322.7 · code text Any accessory building used or designed for human habitation, including an ADU, shall be located no less than four (4) feet from any rear and/or side lot lines, unless otherwise waived or modified by state law. At least 5 feet from side and rear property lines. Applies: Canopies in the rear yard. § 9322.7 · code text Such structures shall be located no less than five (5) feet from the side and rear property lines and shall be subject to all standards applicable to accessory structures.

Swimming pools

Lakewood code No openings over 50 square inches; a rectangular opening may be larger only if no horizontal side exceeds 4 inches. Posts at least 3 by 3 inches, no more than 10 feet apart, set at least 18 inches deep.

All 13 Lakewood rules on swimming pools, with the code text and the state law underneath →

Other Lakewood rules on this

Lakewood's code also has these chapters. We have not summarized their values on this page yet; read them in the library.

Keeping pigeons at home (§ 4192.1)
Beekeeping in residential zones (§ 4282)
Parking RVs and trailers at a single-family home (§ 9373.1)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Lakewood?

In residential zones, city code limits fences to 42 inches in front yard setbacks and 7 feet 6 inches in rear yard setbacks.

How big can a shed or accessory building be in Lakewood?

Lakewood sets a 3-foot setback for a garage or non-habitable accessory building, and 4 feet for a habitable one unless state law modifies it.

General information, not legal advice.