Spring Hill, FL Accessory Structures: Carport Rules (2026)

Hernando County Code Appendix A Article II Section 2 (general accessory structure regulations) and Article IV (zoning district setbacks) regulate carports as follows: Attached carports must meet the principal building yard requirements of the district — in R-1B (the dominant Spring Hill zoning) that means 25 ft front, 10 ft side, 20 ft rear (or 7 ft side / 15 ft rear for lots created prior to Ordinance 72-3, common in the original Deltona-platted Spring Hill subdivision). Detached carports with pervious or impervious roof coverings are permitted in the side and rear yards with a minimum 5-ft setback from side and rear property lines. Accessory structures in the secondary front yard (corner lots) must meet the front yard requirements of the district for the principal building (25 ft typical). Building permit thresholds: accessory buildings or structures 5 ft or less in height and smaller than 40 sq ft don't require a zoning permit but must still meet setbacks. Carports larger than 40 sq ft, or with wall height greater than 5 ft, require a zoning permit. Carports with structural framing require a building permit from the Hernando County Building Division under the Florida Building Code 7th Edition with engineered anchorage for Hernando County's basic wind speed (130 mph inland to 140 mph closer to the Gulf coast). Mobile-home-style aluminum carports, custom steel structures, and engineered wood-frame carports all require permit submittals showing footing details, post anchorage, beam sizing, and wind-uplift calculations. Hernando County is within FEMA Special Flood Hazard Areas in portions of Spring Hill (lakes, Weeki Wachee River, coastal areas); structures in flood zones must comply with Hernando County Code Chapter 9 floodplain regulations including elevation requirements. Permanently enclosing a carport with walls converts it to a garage and triggers a new building permit with full Florida Building Code requirements (fire-rated separation from the dwelling under FBC R302, vehicle barrier, garage door rating). HOA covenants in Spring Hill subdivisions (Timber Pines, Glen Lakes, Wellington at Seven Hills, Silverthorn, Sterling Hill) frequently restrict or prohibit aluminum carports and require matching materials with the principal dwelling.