It is simple to conclude that for as long as a carport is within your property, it’s up to you to decide on how far or close it is to the boundary. Well, that is not always the case, and hopefully, not the case in building your carport.
What is in a property boundary, setbacks?
Every state has varied urban plans and zoning. So it’s a fact that every local government has rules in building structures such as a carport. And a part of their rules is to examine if a structure is positioned within the permitted setbacks or the distance from the prohibited areas. These so-called prohibited areas refer to pathways, alleys, streets, or roads that should belong to the entire community to use. In some cases also, a government imposes different rules on setbacks if a structure will be near a national park, wildlife sanctuary, or other protected areas. Make sure to check with your local government regarding the permits needed to build your carport.
And one more thing, there is also a possibility that your carport is within the scope of an easement and right-of-way. Perhaps you buy a house from an owner who had a right-of-way agreement with his or her neighbors. This arrangement can be transferable so better check if there’s any in your neighborhood organization.
Estimate: how close is close?
Given you know already the recommended actions—and the emphasis on consulting your local authorities, here are the suggestions on how to estimate the closeness of your carport to any boundary:
Be aware of your legal boundary. In case you don’t know yet the exact boundaries of your property, this is the right time to learn it. The facts about the rear, side, and front of your property lines or legal boundaries help to determine the right position of your carport from any direction.
This is also the first step to inspect if your property is covered by an easement with your neighbors and if it is surrounded by alleys or pathways. Just to give you an idea, some authorities’ minimum requirement for the distance between vehicle storage and an alley’s boundary is at least 26 feet.
Ask where your preferred spot is. Within your property line, where exactly do you intend to build your carport? This is a simple, but important question to answer since the distances vary if you put the carport in front, side, or rear of your property.
Apart from these, being attached or freestanding of your storage also matters in the measurement.
The probability. If you plan to stand your carport in the front or side, typically the recommended distance starts from 25 feet from the front property line.
For the carport that will be in the back, some governments impose that it is at least five feet away from the rear and side of the boundary. You may also check its distance from the front boundary, which is according to some zoning codes should be around 75 feet.
If it’s either on the left or right of the property, it is safe to put your carport more than five feet away from the rear and side boundary.
With all these concepts and suggestions, it is clear that guessing the measure of your carport from a boundary is not a good idea. Instead, it’s wise to be diligent in checking what’s in and around your property, as well as the rules you need to follow. This frees you to experience possible legal woes and even disputes with your neighbors.
