Carports in Bristol County require a building permit under 780 CMR. Zoning treats them as accessory structures with side/rear setbacks typically 5-10 feet. Lot coverage caps apply. Fall River, New Bedford, and Taunton require snow-load-rated design.
Carport construction across Bristol County requires a building permit under 780 CMR R105. Zoning classifies carports as accessory structures — in Fall River, New Bedford, and Taunton, side and rear setbacks are typically 5 to 10 feet with greater setbacks from the front yard. Maximum height is generally 15 feet for single-story accessory structures. Carports count toward lot-coverage limits (usually 25-35% in residential zones). Massachusetts ground snow load of 30 psf (higher in interior Bristol County) requires engineered or pre-approved designs. Pre-fab metal carport kits still require a permit and engineered or stamped plans in most jurisdictions. Attached carports count as building additions and trigger full structural review. HOAs in newer developments may prohibit carports entirely. Historic districts (Fall River Highlands, New Bedford Historic District) require Historical Commission review.
Unpermitted carport: stop-work order, retroactive permit with double fee, fines $200 to $1,000, potential removal. Zoning setback violation: correction or variance required.
Bristol County, MA
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Bristol County, MA
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Bristol County, MA
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Somerset, MA
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Bristol County, MA
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Bristol County, MA
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Bristol County.
See how other cities in Bristol County handle carport rules.
See how Somerset's carport rules rules stack up against other locations.
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