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

In unincorporated Imperial County, carports and garages are 'accessory buildings/structures' under Title 9, Division 5, Section 90501.12. The same height and placement rules that govern sheds apply: no detached accessory building in the R zones may exceed three stories or 35 feet, none may sit in the front yard of the primary use (with a slope-based exception in Section 90501.12.G capping such a front-yard garage at 15 feet in height), and multi-story accessory buildings must be 5 feet from interior property lines. Section 90501.12.F allows an attached private garage of up to 1,000 square feet to be part of the main building when it shares a common wall of at least 5 feet, or sits within 6 feet of the main building connected by a roof at least 5 feet wide; such an attached garage may extend into the required rear yard up to a 20-foot setback distance. An exception in Section 90501.12.F.1 permits larger detached garages outside designated Urban Areas on A-2, A-3, S-1 and S-2 zoned parcels, scaling by acreage (for example up to 2,000 sq ft on 1-2 acres, up to 8,000 sq ft on 7+ acres), provided the structure is not in the front yard, meets primary-use setbacks, and satisfies water-well and wastewater separation; garages of 4,000 square feet and over may not exceed twice the square footage of the living space and require an administrative permit.