Do You Need a Permit for a Freestanding Carport?

When you think about adding a carport to your property, you probably think about all the fun and exciting parts of the project. Specifically, you’ll be picturing the things you can store under the carport, or the covered parking that it will provide for you and your family. What you probably don’t think about at first are the logistics that need to be handled before this project becomes a reality.

In this post, we’ll talk about how permits play into the process of building a new carport. This is part might not be exciting, but it is important and it should be taken care of as early as possible to clear the way for a successful build later on.

Do Local Research

While it’d be convenient to have standard zoning and building laws, the truth is permit laws vary from place to place. Before starting a large building like adding a carport or garage, double check your local zoning laws to make sure you submit the proper paperwork.

In any case, make it a point to track down local permitting information as soon as possible to know what you are facing. Start by contacting your city or county government office, or visit their website to look for information. It’s best to do this as early as possible so no surprises are waiting for you later on.

Outline of the Permit Process

Many people have never gone through the permit process with their local government agency. If that sounds like you, it will help to know what to expect once you get started. The process may vary depending on where you live, but generally permit processes include:

• Get the right information. This starts with contacting the appropriate agency and requesting the forms you need to submit for your project. You should also be able to ask any questions you may have if you are unclear on how to fill out the paperwork.
• Send everything in. You’ll need to send in all the requested information for your permit, along with making payment for the fee associated with the application.
• Be patient. Unfortunately, these things are notoriously slow to develop. It’s a good idea to do everything as quickly as possible on your end because there is nothing you can do about delays in the approval process. Give yourself plenty of time before you plan to actually construct the carport in case approval for the project takes longer to come through than you expect.
• Building day. Finally, you are done with the permit hassle and can watch your carport be instructed by a professional team of installers.

Can’t I Just Skip the Permit?

Could you go ahead and build your carport anyway, without a permit in hand? Sure, you could build it, but it might not be allowed to stand for long. At some point, it’s possible that the local government will enforce the zoning rules that apply to your property, and your lack of a permit will become a major problem. While getting a permit is a bit of a hassle, but it’s important to cover your bases before starting a large construction project. By taking care of the permit in advance, you can proceed with confidence knowing your new carport is legal and can serve your property well for the coming years.

Stay Ahead of the Game

It’s easy to put something like permitting on the back burner – until it’s too late and your entire project winds up getting delayed. Avoid that frustrating outcome by getting to work on securing the permit or permits you need to build a freestanding carport in accordance with local laws.

When you are ready to start your carport project, we’ll be here to help you along the way! Our Build & Price tool is convenient and easy way to plan and customize your carport. You can also contact us for any questions you may have!