When can’t you add a portable garage or carport to your home? In the case of historical sections in Richmond, VA, carports interfere with the historical appearance of the neighborhood. So, when your house does not come with a garage and you want your vehicles protected, what is a resident of Richmond to do? In the case of this article, resident Kate Hearn had a large $4,000 carport constructed on her property. She didn’t have the carport approved according to the historical district and now the neighborhood wants her to take the carport down. The carport, which has a 30-foot metal roof, looks like it could protect at least five vehicles.
Upscale and historical neighborhoods, often one in the same, are often quick to put restrictions on what can and can’t be done to properties. In some cases, this can be painting a home a certain color or using certain materials – such as plastic for a fence – on one’s property. Other times, as we’ve seen in similar posts in the past, this means restricting the type of structures and how large they can be on one’s property. Adding a carport or a fence often means asking a neighborhood or city district for approval.
The historical neighborhood Hearn lives in wants her to take the structure down and have fined her for it. But, what if the structure added to the property has a practical purpose? Or, what if the structure isn’t visible from the street level? As we’ve seen before, some carports need to be small enough to be placed behind a house according to local zoning laws? In these cases, what should a resident do? While discussing with the neighborhood or city is a must to prevent fines, the town or neighborhood should consider the needs of its residents, as well.
