Des Moines zoning permits carports as accessory structures in residential districts. Building permit required. Setback, height, and coverage rules apply per Chapter 135 accessory structure tables.
Under Des Moines Zoning Chapter 135 (Planning and Design), carports are treated as accessory structures and are permitted in residential N-districts and mixed-use districts. They must comply with Table 135-2.22-1 dimensional standards: minimum 5-foot setback from interior side and rear lot lines, must be located behind the front building line of the principal dwelling, maximum height 15 feet, and counted toward the 35% accessory structure coverage cap on the rear yard. Attached carports must meet the principal-structure setbacks for the district. A building permit is required before construction. Conversion of an existing garage to a carport requires zoning review.
Construction without a permit or in violation of setbacks is a municipal infraction. Fines start at $100 and escalate; the city can require removal or relocation. Repeated violations may trigger civil penalties.
Des Moines, IA
Des Moines establishes building setbacks by zoning district through Chapters 134 and 135. Residential districts use a block-averaging approach for front setb...
Des Moines, IA
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Des Moines, IA
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See how Des Moines's carport rules rules stack up against other locations.
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