A carport is an accessory structure under Durham's UDO. It must be located to the rear of the front building line and, on typical residential lots, set back at least five feet from the rear and side property lines.
Durham's joint City-County Unified Development Ordinance treats a carport as an accessory structure under Section 5.4.1, applying the same rules across the City and unincorporated Durham County. An accessory structure associated with a single-family or duplex home shall be located to the rear of the front building line, so a stand-alone carport generally cannot sit in the front yard. On standard residential lots it must be set back at least five feet from the rear and side property lines, and its height may not exceed the greater of two stories and 32 feet or the height of the main house. An attached carport is governed by the principal building's setbacks. A building permit under the North Carolina Residential Code is
A carport in a required setback, in the front yard, or built without a permit violates UDO Sec. 5.4.1 and the building code. Durham City-County Planning and Inspections may issue correction notices, civil penalties, or removal orders.
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See how Durham County's carport rules rules stack up against other locations.
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