THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO
Visit our web site: sandiego.gov/dsd.
Upon request, this information is available in alternative formats for persons with disabilities.
DS-5205 (07-22)
Carports
This Information Bulletin describes the minimum requirements for obtaining a Building
Permit for carports accessory to a single-family dwelling unit or duplex. The carport shall be
constructed to comply with this information bulletin, a product evaluation report, research
published by International Code Council Evaluation Services (ICC-ES) or similar approved
product evaluation agency.
I. Definition
A carport is a covered motor vehicle parking structure accessory to a one or two family dwelling units. It may be
freestanding or attached to another structure. A carport cannot exceed 1,000 square feet in area or one story in
height and must be entirely open on two or more sides except for structural supports per California Residential
Code (CRC) R309.2. There can be no enclosed use above a carport. Any carport which does not meet the above
definition must comply with all regulations relating to a private garage (CRC R309.2).
II. When is a Permit Required?
A building permit is required for any new carport or for repair or enclosure of an existing carport. A final inspection
must be passed by the City of San Diego before the work is considered complete.
III. Submittal Requirements
Forms
1. Project Contacts Information Form (DS-345)
2. Owner-Builder Verification Form (DS-3042)
This form is required if the property owner is acting as the general contractor. If you are not a licensed
contractor and intend on performing the work yourself or hiring licensed subcontractors, an Owner-Builder
Verification form must be completed and submitted with your project documents
Plans
Plans must be drawn to scale and be of sufficient clarity to indicate the location, nature and extent of the proposed
work. Existing and proposed construction should be clearly shown. Plans must show that all work conforms to the
provisions of the current edition of the California Residential Code (CRC), Zoning Ordinances and all other relevant laws,
ordinances and regulations applicable in the City of San Diego.
1. Site plan and vicinity map (See Figure 1). See Information Bulletin 122 for detailed information.
2. Foundation and framing plans. Provide one of the following:
a. Building permit template (specifications in this information bulletin) with the proposed footing sizes,
rafter sizes, and beam sizes highlighted, or
b. Copy of (ICC-ES) evaluation reports approved plan available from your material supplier, or
c. Copy of any other plans. These plans should include a roof framing plan, foundation plan, elevations,
cross-sections, and connection details. The copy also shall be permanently incorporated and imprinted
into plans submitted for permit approval. Structural calculations may be required for designs that do
not conform to this Information Bulletin.
3. Floor plans. For carports within six feet of a dwelling, include a floor plan of the dwelling and show the
following information:
a. Use and dimensions of all rooms adjacent to the carport.
b. Size and type of all windows and doors from those rooms.
INFORMATION
BULLETIN
205
August 2022
City of San Diego • Information Bulletin 205 • August 2022 Page 2
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Upon request, this information is available in alternative formats for persons with disabilities.
DS-5205 (08-22)
IV. Construction Specifications
A. Structural Design Criteria
1. Size of rafters and beams (See Table B and C).
2. Size of posts shall be based on the maximum height of the posts above the carport slab:
a. Height from 0 to 8 feet: 4x4 minimum
b. Height from 8 to 10 feet: 6x6 minimum
3. Square pad footing under carport posts (See Table A).
4. Carport posts and beams must be interconnected with diagonal braces with each brace connected at the
lower and upper end per Figure 2 & 3. Decorative-type bracing may be substituted if of similar size and
fastened as required in this Information Bulletin.
5. Posts shall be anchorage to foundations with a standard approved post bases installed per the
manufacturer’s installation instructions (Figure 5).
6. When it is desired to connect and support one side of the carport from a structure by attaching it directly to
the dwelling, the beam may be replaced on the side attached to the dwelling unit with a ledger having the
same size as the rafters (See Figure 7 & 8). Carport rafters shall not be solely supported by the existing
rafter tails or eave fascia of the house.
7. Construction material specifications for the carport shall be as follows:
a. Concrete mix for footings and slab must meet a minimum compressive strength of f’c= 2,500 psi.
b. Lumber must be Douglas fir-larch No. 2 or better. All lumber must be preservative treated or naturally
resistant to decay and termites when required by the (CRC R317.1).
c. Allowable soil bearing pressure is shall be assumed to be not more than 1,500 PSF.
B. Carports shall be covered with listed Class A roof coverings. If nominal one-inch-thick roof sheathing boards are
proposed, the roof framing may include rafters spaced at not more than 32” on center. Roofs shall be sloped
1/4 inch by 12 inches minimum.
C. If carport posts are located less than five feet from the property line, the carport must be protected with a one-
hour fire-resistive wall extending from the foundation to the underside of the roof sheathing on the side of the
carport parallel to the property line [CRC Table R302.1(1)]. No openings shall be permitted in this wall if it is
located less than three feet from the property line. Area of wall openings such as doors and windows shall not
exceed 25% of gross area of the wall when the wall will be located at a distance between three and five feet
from the property line [CRC Table R302.1(1)].
D. No fire protection is required for the common wall between a one- or two-dwelling unit structure and a carport
with no enclosed spaces above and having at least two or more sides that are completely open (CRC R302.6).
E. When exterior wall openings are required for light and/or ventilation and they are located in the exterior wall of
the dwelling common to an attached carport, the carport’s roof shall be located not less than seven feet above
the parking surface when measured to the underside of the rafters (CRC R305.1).
F. All electrical wiring and equipment must comply with regulations for exterior installation.
G. Carports located in the environmentally sensitive lands and brush management zones must comply with
Sections 143.0101 and 142.0412 of the SDMC.
H. Carports located in the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone or within Brush Management Zones, governed by
the City of San Diego’s Brush Management Ordinances, may need to comply with c additional fire protection
requirements.
City of San Diego • Information Bulletin 205 • August 2022 Page 3
Visit our web site: sandiego.gov/dsd.
Upon request, this information is available in alternative formats for persons with disabilities.
DS-5205 (08-22)
V. Public Property Curb cuts
Cutting the curb, closing an existing curb cut or paving a driveway on public property requires a separate permit
and must comply with parking regulations Division 5 of the SDMC [142.0501]. See Information Bulletin 165,
Obtaining a Public Right-of-Way Permit for Standard Public Improvements.
VI. Options for Service
Plans for carport requires a building permit and must be submitted electronically through the online portal,
selecting Building Permit.
VII. Project Fees
The following fees are required to be paid prior to review unless otherwise indicated below. For your convenience,
DSD offers online payments. Payment may also be made in person by cash, check, debit card, Visa or MasterCard
credit cards. Checks shall be in the exact amount, drawn on US banks, and made payable to the “City Treasurer.”
Refer to Information Bulletin 501
, Fee
Schedule, Construction Permits – Structures, for all applicable fees.
Please note that plan check fees and other administrative fees are non-refundable. See Refund Policy noted within
Refund Application Form DS-721
for additional refund information.
VIII. Inspection
For inspection requirements, refer to Information Bulletin 120.
Reference Table
• San Diego Municipal Code, (SDMC)
•
Building Permit Template
•
California Residential Code (CRC)
•
Project Submittal Manual, Section 2A
•
Project Contacts Information Form, DS-345
•
Owner-Builder Verification, DS-3042
•
Information Bulletin 117, Regulations Covering Permit Expiration and Extension
•
Information Bulletin 165, Obtaining a Public Right-of-Way Permit for Standard Public Improvements
• Information Bulletin 501 , Fee Schedule Construction Permits – Structures
City of San Diego • Information Bulletin 205 • August 2022 Page 9
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Upon request, this information is available in alternative formats for persons with disabilities.
DS-5205 (08-22)
Table A – Minimum Square Footing Size (inches)
*
* See dimension A on Figure 5
1
For footing reinforcement, See Figure 5
Table B – Minimum Rafter Spacing (inches)
Rafter
Rafter Spacing Center-to-Center (Inches)
1, 2
Span
12
16
24
32
(Feet)
5/16" plywood
sheathing
3/8" plywood
sheathing
1/2" plywood
sheathing
5/8" plywood
sheathing
6
2x4
2x4
2x4
2x4
7
2x4
2x4
2x4
2x4
8
2x4
2x4
2x6
2x6
9
2x4
2x6
2x6
2x6
10
2x6
2x6
2x6
2x6
11
2x6
2x6
2x6
2x6
12
2x6
2x6
2x6
2x8
13
2x6
2x6
2x8
2x8
14
2x6
2x6
2x8
2x8
15
2x6
2x8
2x8
2x10
16
2x8
2x8
2x8
2x10
17
2x8
2x8
2x10
2x10
18
2x8
2x8
2x10
2x10
19
2x8
2x10
2x10
2x12
20
2x8
2x10
2x10
2x12
1
Deflection based on L/360 (LL only)
2
Load Duration Factor = 1
Post Spacing
Rafter Span (Feet)
1
(Feet)
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
4
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
6
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
14
8
12
12
12
12
12
14
14
14
10
12
12
12
14
14
14
16
16
12
12
12
14
14
16
16
18
18
14
12
12
14
16
16
18
18
20
16
12
14
14
16
18
18
20
20
18
12
14
16
18
18
20
20
22
20
14
14
16
18
20
20
22
24
City of San Diego • Information Bulletin 205 • August 2022 Page 10
Visit our web site: sandiego.gov/dsd.
Upon request, this information is available in alternative formats for persons with disabilities.
DS-5205 (08-22)
Table C – Minimum Beam Sizes (inches)
Post
Spacing
Rafter Span (Feet)
1, 2
(Feet)
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
4
4x4
4x4
4x4
4x4
4x4
4x4
4x4
4x4
4x4
6
4x4
4x4
4x4
4x4
4x4
4x4
4x4
4x4
4x6
8
4x4
4x4
4x6
4x6
4x6
4x6
4x6
4x6
4x6
10
4x4
4x6
4x6
4x6
4x6
4x6
4x8
4x8
4x8
12
4x6
4x6
4x6
4x8
4x8
4x8
4x8
4x8
4x10
6x8
6x8
6x8
6x8
14
4x6
4x8
4x8
4x8
4x8
4x10
4x10
4x10
4x10
6x8
6x8
6x8
6x10
6x10
6x10
16
4x8
4x8
4x8
4x10
4x10
4x10
4x12
4x12
4x14
6x8
6x8
6x8
6x8
6x10
6x10
6x10
6x10
18
4x8
4x8
4x10
4x10
4x10
4x12
4x12
4x14
4x14
6x8
6x8
6x8
6x10
6x10
6x10
6x12
6x12
20
4x8
4x10
4x10
4x12
4x12
4x14
4x14
6x8
6x8
6x10
6x10
6x10
6x12
6x12
6x12
6x14
1
Deflection based on L/360 (LL only)
2
Load Duration Factor = 1
