Chattanooga, TN Accessory Structures: Shed & Carport Rules (2026)
Shed permit rules in Chattanooga, TN, also referred to as storage shed, backyard shed, or accessory building regulations, set size limits, setbacks, and when a building permit is required.
Key Facts
- Lot-line setback
- 5 feet minimum
- Front/corner side setback
- not permitted
- Max size
- 24' wide x 22' long x 15' tall
- Street-access setback
- 20 feet minimum
Summary
Detached carports in Chattanooga must sit at least five feet off every lot line, stay out of the required front or corner side setback, and cap out at 24 feet wide, 22 feet long, and 15 feet tall under Sec. 38-51(c).
(c) Carport (Detached). (1) A carport may not be erected closer than five feet from any lot line. (2) No carport is permitted in a required front setback or corner side setback. (3) A carport cannot exceed 24 feet in width, 22 feet in length, and 15 feet in height. If located within the rear yard it may be 24 feet in width. (4) A carport must be located a minimum of 20 feet from the lot line that provides access to the street.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 40 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
Sec. 38-51(c) treats a detached carport as its own accessory-structure category with dimensional limits tighter than the general five-foot accessory-structure rule elsewhere in Article XI. A carport can't go in a required front or corner side setback at all, is capped at 24 feet wide by 22 feet long by 15 feet tall (a rear-yard carport can be 24 feet wide as well), and must sit at least 20 feet back from whichever lot line provides its street access: matching the driveway clearance required of detached garages.
Violations & Fines
A carport that violates the five-foot lot-line setback, skips the 20-foot access setback, or exceeds the size caps is a zoning violation and can be ordered removed or resized under Chapter 38's enforcement provisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put a carport in my front yard in Chattanooga?
How big can a detached carport be?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Chattanooga
How Chattanooga compares: Shed Permit Requirements by City·Compare Chattanooga to another location·View the Tennessee accessory structures overview
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