What size of carport that I can build without a permit?

Here’s the thing, all you want is to protect your car with a simple, single, and small-sized carport. You see no harm in building it knowing your neighbors are also doing the same. You even find out that some of them don’t have permits for their small carports. So you are wondering, does a carport size matter in its being permitless structure? 

Apparently, in some states and counties, it is true. You may not need a carport permit if it’s simple and small-sized. It would be a candidate to be exempted if its wall has a maximum of 10 feet height from the floor up to the roof’s surface. And if it only occupies a floor area that is exact or below 200 square feet. These size-related exemptions, though, are commonly and only applicable for temporary and independently built carports. Furthermore, these only conformed to building codes or freeing you to acquire a building permit. 

A building permit is a certification that a structure is safe to use for the owner and vehicle. To obtain it, an authority requires a building plan or the drawing of the carport. This drawing details the design, dimension, type of the structure—attached or detached, and size—single, double, or triple. 

In case you don’t know, there are other strong considerations that override the idea that a carport can be built without a permit. Here are some of them: 

Zoning Codes. A carport may not be required to have a building permit, but surely it needs a zoning permit. A zoning permit is given to a carport that complies with implemented zoning codes of a local government. It is important to note that each state or county has its version of zoning laws. These codes specify the design, purpose, size, and type of project that is good to erect. These also define what makes a structure safe for a residential, commercial, or industrial area. 

Meanwhile, these are other factors to get a zoning permit or other related type of permits:

Driveway. Although a carport is within someone’s property, its driveway may affect the safety of motorists and pedestrians in a street.  

Parkways/Expressways. Traffic in the parkways, highways, or expressways should be moving and unobstructed. Authorities, then, guard these places by requiring setbacks or a certain distance of a structure from public roads.

Utilities.  Public utilities such as electrical and telephone wires and gas or water pipes are placed under the ground. If wrongly built, a carport’s frame may have an impact on any of these utilities.     

Protected areas. Some locations in a state or county are considered protected areas. They can be wildlife sanctuaries, forestry, national heritages, etc. Of course, they are being preserved because they have cultural and environmental values. Thus, an agency handling these may require proof or documents that prove that a structure will not damage a protected area. 

With all of these details, it’s clear that a golden rule for the soon-to-be carport owners is to consult their local authorities. This action makes them sure that they don’t violate any laws. And it also ensures that their carports are harmless for their family and community.