Owasso treats carports as accessory structures requiring a building permit and, when proposed in a residential district, approval by Special Exception from the Owasso Board of Adjustment. The published Community Development FAQ states 'Carports are permitted by Special Exception, which requires approval from the Owasso Board of Adjustment.' A detached accessory building in a rear yard is additionally limited to 20% of the required rear yard area and 500 square feet of total floor area, and Owasso has adopted the 2018 International Residential Code and 2018 International Building Code as the construction standards.
Carports in Owasso are governed by the Owasso Zoning Code (Ordinance No. 1131, adopted June 19, 2018; amended August 2019) and Chapter 6 of the City Code (Building Code), which adopts the 2018 International Residential Code for One- and Two-Family Dwellings and the 2018 International Building Code under the authority of Oklahoma Statutes Title 11 Section 14-107. The Community Development FAQ confirms that 'Carports are permitted by Special Exception, which requires approval from the Owasso Board of Adjustment,' meaning a residential carport is not allowed by right and the homeowner must apply through the Community Development Department, pay the BOA filing fee, and present the request at a publicly noticed hearing. The Zoning Code includes specific provisions on a 'Carport Encroaching into the Front Setback,' so a carport that projects into the front yard requires both the Special Exception and a finding by the Board of Adjustment that the encroachment is consistent with neighborhood character (factors include whether other carports already exist within 300 feet of the subject lot). Detached accessory buildings on residentially-zoned property may not 'cover more than 20% of the area of the minimum required rear yard,' and 'total floor area cannot exceed 500 square feet' (Community Development FAQ). Building permits are issued by the Building Services Division (918-376-1534) for 'Garages, carports, roofed patios, or any other accessory building.' Tulsa County does not separately regulate carports inside Owasso city limits. State law does not preempt the city's Special Exception requirement.
Building a carport without a building permit, without the required Board of Adjustment Special Exception, projecting a carport into the front setback without BOA approval, or exceeding the 500 sq ft / 20% rear-yard cap on detached accessory buildings is enforceable by Owasso Code Enforcement and the Community Development Department. Remedies include stop-work orders, after-the-fact permitting fees, daily civil fines through Owasso Municipal Court, and an order to remove the noncompliant structure.
Owasso, OK
Owasso does not have a separate construction-hours ordinance. Construction noise falls under general nuisance and disturbing-the-peace provisions. Oklahoma s...
Owasso, OK
Owasso addresses nuisance barking under its animal control ordinances. Persistent barking that disturbs neighbors can be reported to Owasso Animal Control at...
Owasso, OK
Owasso Code of Ordinances prohibits noise that creates a public nuisance or disturbs the peace. No device or activity shall create noise, dust, odor, or elec...
Owasso, OK
Owasso enforces parking regulations through its Code of Ordinances and Code Enforcement Division. Vehicles must be parked on improved surfaces. Abandoned or ...
Owasso, OK
Owasso Zoning Code regulates RV storage and use in residential areas. RVs are not permitted for permanent residential occupancy. Storage requirements typical...
Owasso, OK
Owasso Zoning Code restricts commercial vehicle parking in residential districts. Large commercial vehicles not customary to residential use should be stored...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Tulsa County.
See how other cities in Tulsa County handle carport rules.
See how Owasso's carport rules rules stack up against other locations.
Quick Compare
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.