Monroe County municipalities require building permits for carports. Rochester Zoning Code §120-94 treats carports as accessory structures with rear/side yard placement. Setbacks typically 3-5 feet sides. Snow load design per NY RC (35 psf Monroe County).
Carports in Monroe County are regulated as accessory structures under local zoning. Rochester §120-94 limits accessory structures to rear and side yards, with side setbacks typically 3-5 feet and rear setbacks 5-10 feet. Maximum height typically 15 feet. Carports count toward maximum lot coverage (Rochester R-1: 30%; R-2: 35%). Building permits required for all carports; attached carports may trigger principal structure setbacks. NY State Residential Code requires structures to be designed for 35 psf snow load in Monroe County (Zone 5A) — significant given Rochester's lake-effect snow. Pre-fab carports still require permit. Pittsford and Brighton may prohibit carports in front yards via zoning. HOAs in subdivisions (Pittsford, Webster) frequently restrict or prohibit carports.
Unpermitted carport: stop-work, retroactive permit plus doubled fees, potential removal. Fines $250-$1,000. Snow collapse from underdesign: liability exposure.
Monroe County, NY
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Monroe County, NY
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Monroe County, NY
NY State Uniform Code (Residential Code §R404) requires engineered design for retaining walls over 4 feet measured from bottom of footing. Monroe County muni...
Brighton, NY
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Monroe County, NY
Monroe County does not have a separate countywide smoke-alarm ordinance; smoke-alarm requirements come from the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Bu...
Monroe County, NY
Monroe County is not designated a high wildfire hazard area. No defensible space requirements. NY DEC Part 215 brush burn ban (March 16 – May 14) is the prim...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Monroe County.
See how Brighton's carport rules rules stack up against other locations.
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