Loudoun County, VA Accessory Structures: Shed & Carport Rules (2026)
Shed permit rules in Loudoun County, VA, 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
- Max height
- 12 feet
- Side/rear setback
- More than 5 feet from property line
- Regular-lot road setback
- 60 feet front, 25 feet other roads
- Permit needed
- Zoning Permit under Section 10.04.A.2
- Applies to
- Single-family dwellings, unincorporated county
Summary
A carport in unincorporated Loudoun County counts as a non-habitable accessory structure under the Zoning Ordinance's definition: a roofed space outside a building used to shelter vehicles. Attached to a single-family home, it must sit more than 5 feet from a rear or side property line and meet road setbacks of 60 feet (regular lots) or 40 feet (irregular lots), plus a Zoning Permit before construction.
Carport: Any space outside a building and contiguous thereto, wholly or partly covered by a roof, and used for the shelter of motor vehicles. A carport may have a side enclosure that is more than eighteen inches in height, exclusive of required supports and the side of the building to which the carport is contiguous. ... In conjunction with single-family dwellings only, any non-habitable, accessory structure not exceeding 12 feet in height that is more than 5 feet from a rear or side property line or a common wall in portions of required yards that are located as follows: 1. On regular lots, at least 60 feet from roads at the front of the lot, and at least 25 feet from any other road abutting the lot; 2. On irregular lots, at least 40 feet behind the front line of any building adjacent to the lot line, and at least 25 feet from any private road. ... Zoning Permits are required prior to ... Construction or occupancy of any structure.
Full Breakdown
Loudoun's Zoning Ordinance defines a carport narrowly at Chapter 12: 'any space outside a building and contiguous thereto, wholly or partly covered by a roof, and used for the shelter of motor vehicles,' and allows a side enclosure taller than 18 inches without converting the structure into something else. g's rule for accessory structures on single-family lots: it can rise no higher than 12 feet, must stay more than 5 feet from a rear or side property line or common wall, and must meet a separate road setback.
On a regular lot, that road setback is at least 60 feet from the road at the front of the lot and at least 25 feet from any other road the lot touches; on an irregular lot, the structure must sit at least 40 feet behind the front line of any adjacent building and at least 25 feet from any private road. A rule that only the largest of any overlapping buffer, setback, or yard measurement controls. 2, the ordinance only exempts accessory structures under 30 inches in height and less than 20 square feet in area, a threshold a functional carport will always exceed.
The Zoning Permit review confirms the structure meets the setback and height limits before a building permit or certificate of occupancy is issued. None of this applies inside Leesburg, Purcellville, Hamilton, Middleburg, Round Hill, Hillsboro, or Lovettsville, where each town's own code governs accessory structures.
Violations & Fines
Building a carport without a Zoning Permit, or placing one closer to a property line or road than Section 7.01.04.B.2.g allows, is a zoning violation. The Zoning Administrator can issue a notice of violation requiring removal or relocation, and unresolved violations may be referred for civil penalties or enforcement in Loudoun County General District Court.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to build a carport in Loudoun County?
How close to my property line can I build a carport?
Does this carport rule apply inside Leesburg or Purcellville?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Loudoun County
How Loudoun County compares: Shed Permit Requirements by City·Compare Loudoun County to another location·View the Virginia accessory structures overview
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