Is a Portable Car Canopy Allowed on My Property?

You’ve probably seen them popping up all over your neighborhood in the past few years, those 12 x 20 ft portable white tents that loom over a driveway to create extra storage space for a spare car or boat. Portable carports and storage canopies are low cost alternatives to renting a mini storage unit, and can create onsite storage without the cost of building a carport or a second garage.

Car canopies have a lot of great features going for them. They are usually steel framed and come with a durable rip stop cover that is water proof, tear proof, and UV proof. Some canopies come just with a cover to act as a sort of carport. Other models have roll down sides which are ideal for seasonal storage of a boat, RV, or a hobby car. And, the price certainly can’t be beat with models starting as low as $150.00.

But whatever type of canopy you are considering, before buying anything you should call your city’s Planning & Zoning department first to see if a canopy is permitted.

Canopies fall into that gray area of building codes as a structure that is portable, yet semi permanent since they often remain in the same location for many years. Many people assume that putting up a carport or storage canopy is really no different then setting up a Coleman tent in the back yard, and leaving it there for the summer. Most cities see these differently and may require that you apply for a building permit before erecting one of these structures on your property.

Without applying for a permit, you may make the mistake of placing your tent in an area that is in violation of the city ordinance. Areas that are off-limits for canopy placement in most cities are in the side and rear yard setbacks, the required “green space” of your yard, and areas that were never designed to hold a vehicle in the first place, such as your front lawn. Place a canopy in one of these locations, and the city will require that it be removed along with that concrete pad that you poured to go beneath it.

As long as the covenants of your subdivision permits carport canopies, your city will probably allow it as well. It worth remembering however that a carport canopy will be subject to many of the same building restrictions as a permanent carport or garage. This is an excellent reason why you should always call your building department before setting up a canopy tent, instead of being reported by a neighbor after the fact.