Clarksville, TN Accessory Structures: Carport Rules (2026)

Under the Clarksville City Zoning Ordinance, a carport is regulated as an accessory structure subordinate to a principal residential use, and it must comply with the bulk standards in Table 4.3 for the underlying residential district. In R-1, R-1A, R-2, R-2D, R-3, and R-4 districts, an unattached accessory use must observe a minimum 10-foot side yard setback and a 10-foot rear yard setback, and may not encroach into the required front yard set by Section 4.1.1. Maximum height of structures in residential districts is generally 35 feet, with exceptions under Section 4.1.2. Maximum lot coverage caps apply to all combined uses on the lot - 50 percent in R-2D and 60 percent in R-3 - so a new carport must not push a property beyond its district lot coverage limit. An attached carport follows the principal-dwelling setbacks (5-foot side and 20-foot rear in R-2D and R-3) rather than the accessory-use setbacks. A building permit from the Clarksville Department of Building and Codes is required for new carports, and a current stamped property survey plus site plan showing the proposed location relative to property lines is required at submittal. In areas covered by the Two Rivers Form Based Code or other overlay districts, additional design review applies. Manufactured (prefabricated metal) carports must still be permitted and anchored per the adopted building codes.