The Montgomery, AL Zoning Ordinance treats carports as accessory structures: they may not be erected in any required front or side yard, may not exceed two stories, may not cover more than 30% of any required rear yard, must be at least 5 ft from all lot lines, and at least 10 ft from any other structure on the lot. Building permits are required through the Department of Community Development.
Under the City of Montgomery Zoning Ordinance (originally adopted August 12, 1985, as amended), accessory structures - including detached carports - are subject to general accessory-use standards. No accessory structure may be erected in any required front yard or side yard. Accessory structures may not exceed two (2) stories in height, may not cover more than thirty percent (30%) of any required rear yard, must maintain a setback of at least five (5) feet from all lot lines, and must be at least ten (10) feet from any other structure on the premises. Attached carports (those structurally connected to the principal dwelling) are part of the principal structure and must meet the principal-building setbacks of the underlying zoning district rather than the accessory-structure five-foot rule. Carports count toward lot coverage in districts that limit the percentage of a lot that can be covered by buildings and structures. A building permit through the Department of Community Development (Building Inspections) is required before construction, and the carport must comply with the wind-load and structural provisions of the adopted International Residential Code. In SmartCode districts (the city's form-based zoning overlay), carports and other accessory buildings are governed by the SmartCode building disposition standards rather than the standard accessory-structure section. Properties in historic districts (Old Cloverdale, Garden District, Cottage Hill, Old Alabama Town, etc.) require Architectural Review Board approval for carports visible from the street, in addition to a building permit.
A carport built without a permit, encroaching into a required front or side yard, exceeding the 30% rear-yard coverage cap, or set closer than five feet from a lot line is a Zoning Ordinance violation. Enforcement is through the Department of Community Development's zoning officer and Building Official, including stop-work orders, citations, and orders to remove or modify the structure. Historic-district carports erected without ARB approval may be ordered removed even if they meet zoning setbacks.
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