Dunwoody, GA Accessory Structures: Carport Rules (2026)

Under Dunwoody's Chapter 27 Zoning Ordinance (originally adopted in January 2009 after the city's 2008 incorporation), accessory uses, buildings, and structures in the R-100 (Single-Family Residential) District must be located within the rear yard and may not exceed 20 feet in height or the height of the principal structure, whichever is less, and must comply with Section 27-731 (general accessory-structure standards). Carports are treated as accessory structures when detached, and an attached carport is treated as part of the principal dwelling and must respect the underlying R-100 setbacks. Construction of any carport requires a building permit from the Dunwoody Community Development Department, reviewed under the Georgia State Minimum Standard One and Two Family Dwelling Code (currently the 2018 IRC with Georgia amendments; the 2024 IRC with Georgia amendments takes effect for permits submitted on or after January 1, 2026). Carports counted as roofed area count toward the lot's impervious surface and toward Dunwoody Watershed Protection Ordinance (Chapter 16) limits in the Chattahoochee Corridor. Carports in the Dunwoody Village Overlay (DVO, Section 27-97) and other overlay districts are subject to additional design review. Dunwoody is in DeKalb County, but city-incorporated jurisdiction means Chapter 27 (not the DeKalb County Zoning Code) controls.