What is the difference between a garage, carport, and porte-cochere and do I need one?
A garage or carport for at least two vehicles is required for every single family home. If the house is bigger than 3,400 square feet, a garage or carport for three vehicles must be provided. A garage is enclosed on all four sides. A carport must be enclosed from the ground up on three sides by an opaque wall for at least two-thirds of the height of each wall. Four posts with a roof covering but no enclosing walls is not considered a carport, and cannot be used to satisfy the parking requirement. A porte-cochere is a canopy attached to a residence, which is open on all sides, except where attached to a residence. The canopy extends over a driveway to provide shade and shelter, but cannot be used to satisfy the off-street parking requirement.