Tulare County, CA Accessory Structures: Carport Rules (2026)

A carport - a roofed, open-sided structure for vehicle storage - is treated as an accessory building in unincorporated Tulare County. Its placement, height, and yard/setback requirements are governed by the County Zoning Ordinance (Ordinance No. 352) for the applicable zone (such as R-A Rural Residential, R-O, R-1, or the agricultural zones) together with the General Provisions and Exceptions chapter (Section 15). The Resource Management Agency (RMA) issues the required building permit and zoning clearance; unlike a very small storage shed, a carport is a structural, roofed addition and is not generally exempt from a building permit. The exact setback distances for accessory structures are published in the County's zoning ordinance text, so owners should verify the figures for their specific zone with RMA before construction. If a carport (or other covered parking structure) is converted into an accessory dwelling unit, California ADU law (Gov. Code 66314, subd. (d)(11)) prohibits the County from requiring replacement of the off-street parking that is lost. A carport cannot encroach into a required front, side, or rear yard beyond what the zoning ordinance allows, and it cannot be enclosed and used as habitable space without separate permits and, if a dwelling is created, ADU approval.