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Residential Carport Permits

You are here: Home Unified Permit Center Building Permits & Safety Apply for a Building Permit Residential Carports
Are Plans Required? Yes. Application Requirements for Residential Structures- PLG280 provides details on required plan content.
Submitted Through ePlan Review 
ePlan User Guide
How to Submit a Project in ePlan Overview
Required Forms See forms available under the "Building" section on the ePlan Review webpage.
Fees Fees are based on square footage. Fees typically range from $2,000 to $5,000.
Additional Forms, as applicable Submit an Environmental Health Building Clearance, if the parcel is served by an OWTS (septic system).
Minimum Plan Size
  • 18 x 24 inch minimum landscape format
  • Other accepted sizes: 24 x 36, 30 x 42, and 36 x 48 inches
If you need help or have questions Contact Building staff by email: Planning.BuildingInfo@santacruzcountyca.gov, or by Scheduling an appointment using the Appointment Scheduler .
IMPORTANT NOTE Check with Zoning for development standards, including lot coverage, floor area ratio, and setbacks, by email: Planning.ZoningInfo@santacruzcountyca.gov, or by Scheduling an appointment using the Appointment Scheduler.

NOTE: SCCC 13.10.323(E)(5) provides a setback exception when parcels slope steeply down from the road.
Additional Information & Resources:

General Information
Carports shall be open on not less than two sides. Carport floor surfaces shall be of approved noncombustible material. The area of floor used for parking vehicles shall be slope to facilitate the movement of liquids to a drain or toward the main vehicle entry doorway. (CRC R309.2) Exception: Asphalt surfaces shall be permitted at ground level.

Structural Analysis by a licensed design professional is required for non-conventional construction, especially for lateral design since carports typically have very limited shear walls due to the open nature of the structure.

Common Features Requiring Structural Calculations & Plans

  • Load-bearing beams, including glu-lams
  • Large or high strength timber connections
  • Non-standard foundations, including pier and grade beams
  • Trusses -when they are site built or not manufactured by an approved truss company
  • Construction other than conventional, wood framing, per CBC or CRC
  • A structure with one or more plan or vertical irregularities, as defined in ASCE

If structural plans and calculations are required, they must be stamped and signed by a design professional licensed in California. You'll need to hire one of the following California licensed professionals:

  • Licensed Architect
  • Civil Engineer (P.E.)
  • Structural Engineer (S.E.)

Conventional Wood-Framed Construction (maximum two-story structures only)

Simple two-story structures that meet certain criteria for conventional construction prescribed in the CA Building Code or the CA Residential Code do not require structural engineering.

Wildland Urban Interface (WUI):

If a carport is in the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) area, CRC Chapter 337 or CBC Chapter 7A apply. Per County Code 12.10.220(H) and 12.10.215(D), accessory structures such as carports are not exempt.

  • The underside of the roof covering is subject to the same requirements for covered porches.
  • Posts need to be heavy timber, wrapped in a WUI-compliant material, or be fire resistant-treated lumber.
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