Carports are accessory structures in Carmel and need an Improvement Location Permit; the detached garage or carport permit fee is $175 plus inspections. A carport attached only by a continuous roof on customary supports is still treated as an accessory building under UDO Section 5.02, subject to its setback, size, and lighting limits.
Carmel's UDO addresses carports as part of its residential accessory building standards. Section 5.02(A)(4) states accessory buildings shall not be attached to the principal building except by an allowable uniform and continuous roof supported by customary supports or joists with no other connection, language that covers an attached carport. The city's Improvement Location Permit fee schedule lists 'Detached Garage or Carport' at $175 plus inspections, confirming a carport requires a permit. As an accessory building, a detached carport must meet Section 5.02(B) setbacks: at least 25 feet behind the front of the home (or the principal building setback line, whichever is greater), and, when more than 10 feet from the house, at least 5 feet from side and rear lot lines or the easement plus 3 feet. A carport within 10 feet of the home is treated as part of the principal building for side/rear yards. The combined ground-floor area of garages and accessory buildings cannot exceed 75 percent of the home's ground-floor area, and lighting cannot exceed 0.1 foot-candle at the lot line. Carmel does not publish a separate maximum height specific to carports in Section 5.02. Confirm height and placement with the Department of Community Services.
Erecting a carport without an Improvement Location Permit, within a required setback or easement, or in a way that exceeds combined accessory-building size limits can result in a stop-work order, relocation or removal, and permit denial until corrected.
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See how Carmel's carport rules rules stack up against other locations.
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