Annapolis treats carports as accessory structures under Title 21 (Planning and Zoning), Chapter 21.64. They must comply with the underlying district setbacks, height, and lot coverage in Chapter 21.50 (Bulk Regulations Tables) and require a building permit from the Department of Planning and Zoning before construction.
Carports in Annapolis are regulated as accessory structures under Title 21 (Planning and Zoning) of the City Code. Chapter 21.64 (Standards for Specific Uses and Structures) sets accessory-structure use standards, and Chapter 21.50 (Bulk Regulations Tables) sets the front, side, and rear yard minimums, height limits, and lot-coverage caps for each base zoning district (including R1A, R1B, R1, R2, R3, R3-R, R4, R4-R, MX, and conservation districts). The city's published accessory-structure guidance states that 'setbacks for storage sheds and other accessory structures are based on a minimum setback, plus additional distance depending on the height of the structure,' so taller carports require more clearance from a property line. Front-yard placement is generally not permitted - carports are confined to side and rear yards behind the principal dwelling. Annapolis is wholly within the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area, so any new impervious surface (including a carport with paved floor or pad) within the 1,000-foot Critical Area buffer triggers a Critical Area worksheet and may require stormwater treatment or mitigation. Lots in the Annapolis Historic District also need approval from the Historic Preservation Commission (Chapter 21.56) before a carport can be added to a contributing structure. Building permits are issued by the Annapolis Department of Planning and Zoning (410-263-7961); construction is reviewed under the Maryland Building Performance Standards (currently the 2021 IBC/IRC family adopted by COMAR 05.02.07). Anne Arundel County does not issue permits inside Annapolis city limits, but its accessory-structure form (Code §18-2-204) is informative for unincorporated areas of the surrounding county.
Building a carport without a permit, encroaching into a required yard, exceeding height or lot coverage, or adding new impervious surface in the Critical Area without mitigation is a zoning and building violation enforceable by the Department of Planning and Zoning. Remedies include stop-work orders, removal, retroactive permitting, and fines under the City Code; structures in the Historic District added without a Certificate of Approval may face additional remedies under Chapter 21.56.
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