Hennepin County, MN Accessory Structures: Carport Rules (2026)

Hennepin County has been fully incorporated since 2012, so there is no unincorporated territory under direct county zoning and no county carport rule. Authority belongs to each city. Minneapolis Zoning Code Chapter 537 (Accessory Uses and Structures) classifies a carport as a detached accessory structure when freestanding, and as part of the principal dwelling when attached. Detached carports in Minneapolis must observe the standard accessory-structure caps: 800 sq ft or 10 percent of lot area maximum, 13 ft height by right (16 ft with administrative review), 6 ft from the principal dwelling, 10 ft from neighboring habitable space, and reduced rear-yard setbacks (down to 1 ft) only when located in the rear 40 ft or rear 20 percent of the lot. Eaves cannot encroach within 6 inches of a lot line under zoning, and the building code typically requires 8 inches. Permanent carports require a building permit under the 2020 Minnesota State Building Code (MN Rules Ch. 1305) and the Minnesota Residential Code (Ch. 1309); a temporary fabric or canopy carport on a private driveway is generally treated as a tarp or canopy, not a structure, but cities such as Minneapolis prohibit fabric carports as long-term storage. Other Hennepin County cities (Bloomington, Brooklyn Park, Edina, Plymouth, Maple Grove) each set their own carport setbacks and permit thresholds; confirm with your city planning department.