A carport is regulated as an accessory building. It must be at least 10 feet from the house, 5 feet from side/rear lines (10 feet if over 720 sq ft), cannot exceed 24 feet in height, and generally cannot sit in front of the principal dwelling.
The Zoning Ordinance has no carport-specific section, so a carport falls under the residential accessory-building standards in Article 4, Division 6, Section 1. The structure must be subordinate to the principal residential use and on the same lot, sit at least 10 feet from the principal structure, and meet side/rear setbacks of 5 feet (720 sq ft or less) or 10 feet (over 720 sq ft). Height may not exceed the principal building or 24 feet, and the carport counts toward district building-coverage limits. It generally cannot be placed in front of the house except under the front-setback exceptions or on qualifying corner lots. A permit is required.
An unpermitted or improperly located carport is a zoning violation subject to correction orders or removal by Polk County Planning & Development.
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