Visalia treats carports as accessory structures under Title 17 zoning. Most accessory structures must observe the same front, side, and rear setbacks as the main dwelling, but carports receive a special allowance: they may be located on a side property line and as close as 5 feet from the rear property line, subject to review by the Planning Director.
Under the Visalia Municipal Code Title 17 zoning ordinance, accessory structures other than carports and enclosed storage structures must observe the same front, side, and rear setbacks as the main structure. Carports receive a tailored standard: a carport structure may be permitted on a side property line and may extend to within not less than 5 feet of the rear property line. All carport structures are subject to review by the Planning Director, who confirms compliance with development standards, height, fire-separation, and design requirements. Building height is measured vertically from the average elevation of the natural ground level along the front property line to the highest point of the structure. Carports must also satisfy California Building Code and IRC provisions adopted by the city, including fire-resistive construction where the carport is close to a property line, and they must not encroach into required driveway, sight-distance, or fence-height envelopes. A building permit is required for new carport construction; site plan review through the Permit Counter at 315 E. Acequia Avenue precedes permit issuance.
Carports built without a permit, placed inside the 5-foot rear setback, encroaching into a required front yard, exceeding the height limit, or built without Planning Director review are subject to code enforcement, stop-work orders, and removal or relocation orders under Title 17.
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See how Visalia's carport rules rules stack up against other locations.
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