Pawtucket, RI Accessory Structures: Carport Rules (2026)

Pawtucket's zoning code (Chapter 410 of the Code of Ordinances) addresses carports and other accessory structures in Article VII (Supplementary Regulations) and the dimensional tables in Article VI (§ 410-44). Article VII expressly limits the total length of a carport to 50 feet and the height to 20 feet at its highest point, and requires that a carport be entirely open on at least one side, with the exception of necessary support structures. The same article allows attached or detached residential accessory structures or additions to be located five feet from the rear property line, and limits a detached garage in the rear yard to one story or 15 feet in height and 24 feet in depth and width, with the driveway permitted within the required side yard. Article VII also caps the lot at one primary residential structure plus up to two accessory buildings, except in industrial zones. An attached carport is treated as part of the principal structure and must satisfy the front, side, and rear setbacks for the underlying residence district set out in Article VI (§ 410-44 and the dimensional tables). A detached carport must satisfy the Article VII accessory-structure rules as well as the side-yard standards for the underlying zone. Building, electrical, and structural permits for a carport are administered by the Pawtucket Department of Permits and Inspections under the Rhode Island State Building Code (SBC-1, based on the IBC/IRC as adopted by the State Building Code Standards Committee). The State Building Code generally requires a permit for any new accessory structure beyond very small one-story sheds; a vehicle-sized carport invariably requires permits and zoning sign-off. The Pawtucket Guide to Permitting describes the application path through the city Permits and Inspections office. Pawtucket's Zoning Board of Review hears variance and dimensional-modification requests under R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-24-41 where a proposed carport cannot meet the Article VII or § 410-44 standards.