A carport is an accessory structure under HCC Chapter 25, so it may not exceed 20 feet in height and, if over 6 feet, cannot extend into a required yard. Attached porte-cocheres and roof overhangs get special projection allowances into yards.
Because Hawai'i County zoning (HCC Ch. 25) treats carports as accessory structures, the 20-foot height cap of Section 25-4-23 and the yard rule of 25-4-43(c) apply. However, Section 25-4-45 gives carport-like features a break: 'An attractively designed porte-cochere may extend any distance into a front yard.' Roof overhangs and eaves may also project several feet into required yards under 25-4-44. A carport must still preserve the lot's required off-street parking and needs a building permit. In the RS district, the underlying yards are 15-25 ft front/rear and 8-15 ft side, depending on lot size (HCC 25-5-7).
Carports built without a permit or intruding into required yards are zoning violations subject to County enforcement, correction orders and fines.
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