Bowling Green, KY Accessory Structures: Carport Rules (2026)

Carports — covered open-sided vehicle shelters — are treated as detached accessory structures under Joint Zoning Ord. § 4.4.5.E. Bowling Green Building Division exempts residential accessory structures under 200 sq ft from the building permit requirement; carports at or above 200 sq ft require a building permit, engineered anchorage to resist wind uplift, and inspection. Required setbacks under § 4.4.5.B (RS-1 zones) are 5 feet from side and rear property lines. Per § 4.4.5.E(1), the carport must be located behind the front facade of the principal dwelling — front-yard carports are prohibited unless attached to the dwelling and meeting the principal-building front setback (25 ft in RS-1 zones). Per § 4.4.5.E(2), the carport's height cannot exceed the tallest point of the principal dwelling (with an unincorporated AG/RR/R-E exception). The carport counts toward the cap that the total floor area of all accessory buildings may not exceed the principal building's floor area (§ 4.4.5.E(3)). Permanently enclosing a carport with walls is a structural alteration that requires a new building permit converting it to a garage, which triggers full Kentucky Residential Code garage standards including separation from any habitable space and proper firestopping at the dwelling interface.