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

Colusa County Code Chapter 44 (Zoning Code) does not define 'carport' separately but defines a 'private garage' as 'a fully enclosed accessory building, either attached or detached, or a portion of a building designed and/or used primarily for the shelter or storage of vehicles, trailers, recreational vehicles, and boats by the occupants of the dwelling' (Sec. 44-0.10). A carport is a roofed vehicle-shelter accessory structure and is regulated under the same accessory-structure development standards as other accessory buildings. In the residential zones (R-R, R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4), the development-standards table at Section 44-2.30.20 sets minimum accessory-structure setbacks of 20 feet in the front yard, 5 feet in the rear yard, and 5 feet on the interior side in the front 50% of the lot (3 feet in the rear 50%); a table footnote notes that an attached, unenclosed shade structure such as a patio cover or awning is treated as an attached accessory building, while detached accessory buildings 'must be 5 feet from any building.' The zone's maximum height and lot-coverage limits also apply. A building permit from the Colusa County Building Division is required for a permanent carport. Because the front-yard setback is the most restrictive (20 feet), a vehicle-shelter that fronts the street must be set well back from the front property line. Standards differ in the agricultural and other classifications, so verify the rules for your zone with Colusa County Planning & Building.