Check with your local municipality to see if you need a building permit for your carport. If required, be sure to budget for building permit costs. Permits and HOA rules might regulate the size, style, and location of your new carport. Regulations vary by state and can differ significantly between neighboring counties or neighborhoods.  “While many municipalities don’t require a permit in order to add a carport, more affluent neighborhoods may be more likely to heavily regulate adding carports in order to maintain a certain standard throughout the neighborhood,” says Ezra Laniado. “Similarly, your HOA would be more likely to regulate the use of carports in order to preserve a homogenous community.”