Wilmington, NC Accessory Structures: Carport Rules (2026)

Wilmington's Land Development Code defines accessory structures broadly to include carports, sheds, detached garages, workshops, gazebos, pool houses, and cabanas, and the dimensional standards in LDC Section 18-249 govern how those structures may be placed. A detached carport must be located only to the side or rear of the principal structure and may not extend toward the front of the lot any further than the forwardmost projection of the principal dwelling, which means a carport cannot sit in a required front yard. Side and rear setbacks for a detached carport are at least 5 feet from the lot line in all districts except the historic districts, where placement and design are reviewed by the Historic Preservation Commission through the Certificate of Appropriateness process. Each lot in a residential district is limited to two accessory structures, with up to four additional structures permitted on agricultural properties of four or more acres, and the gross total square footage of all accessory structures on a lot may not exceed 100% of the heated square footage of the primary dwelling. The height of any accessory structure, including a carport, may not exceed the height of the principal structure or 35 feet, whichever is less, and accessory buildings together may not cover more than 30% of the required side or rear yard. Attached carports are treated as part of the principal structure and must satisfy the underlying zoning district setbacks rather than the 5-foot accessory standard. Building permits are administered by Wilmington Development Services and the New Hanover County Building Safety Department under the North Carolina Residential Code, and a carport more than 12 feet in any dimension generally requires a building permit. Carports in special flood hazard areas along the Cape Fear River and tidal creeks must also comply with the city's floodplain standards in LDC Article 7.