Q. Does a shed used in the backyard for storing a lawn mower, bicycles, water hoses etc. require a mezuza? Do you say a bracha?
A. Talmud (Yuma 11a) presents different opinions in regard to a beis haotzros or a storage structure if it is liable for mezuzah or exempt.
Poskim disagree as to the resulting Halacha and there are basically three opinions.
Rif, Rosh. Rabbenu Chananel and Shulchan Aruch (286: 1, 2) and many other Poskim rule that one is liable to place a mezuzah on a beis haotzros. R’ A. Eiger (66), Piskei Teshuvos (286), Aruch Hashulchan (ibid.) maintain that they mean that one should recite a brocho.
Rambam (H. Mezuzah 6: 7), Ritvo, Rashbo, Meiri (Yuma 11a) and others assert that on is exempt.
Other Poskim opine that a brocho should only be recited when some conditions are met, such as if it is used constantly, or it is next to a house or there is an entry to the storage facility from the house. (See Yibakesh Torah 96, Alei Deshe 6: 7, Kevias Mezuzah Kehilchosso p. 50 and others. See Minchas Yitzchok 10: 96: 2, in regards to a garage).
Horav Shlomo Miller’s Shlit’a opinion is that a shed requires a mezuzah without a brocho. If it also serves as an entrance or beis shaar to the house, since a door opens from there to the shed directly, a brocho can be recited.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit’a
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