Weymouth, MA Accessory Structures: Carport Rules (2026)

Carports are treated as an accessory use under Chapter 120 of the Weymouth Town Code (Zoning). Section 120-54 (Confinement of accessory uses to rear yard) provides that buildings of an accessory use, other than a private garage or carport, shall be confined to the rear yard area, and that no building of any accessory use shall be permitted in the required front yard. The carve-out for private garages and carports gives Weymouth homeowners more flexibility than residents of most Norfolk County towns - a carport may be placed in a side yard provided it satisfies the side-yard setback for the underlying district under Article XV (Dimensional Requirements) and the Schedule of District Regulations (Table 1) attached to Chapter 120. One-story accessory structures with a permit may sit no closer than five feet from a side or rear lot line, while accessory structures over one story must meet the principal-structure setbacks for the district. An attached carport is part of the principal structure and must meet the principal-structure setbacks. Permits - building, electrical, and structural - are issued by the Weymouth Department of Municipal Licenses and Inspections (Building Division) under 780 CMR (the Massachusetts State Building Code, Tenth Edition based on the 2021 IBC/IRC). Per 780 CMR §R105.2, one-story detached accessory structures of 200 square feet or less and not used for habitation generally do not require a building permit, but a carport sized for a vehicle typically exceeds that threshold, and any carport attached to the dwelling requires a permit. Variance requests for carports that cannot meet the dimensional standards are heard by the Weymouth Board of Zoning Appeals.