Porch and Carport Permits

BROCHURE # 46 PORCH AND CARPORT PERMITS

BEFORE YOU DESIGN Pole Buildings YOUR PORCH Pole buildings/structures are not covered prescriptively and require an Building permits are required for engineered design and analysis construction of all new porches, or prepared by a qualified Washington remodeling of existing porches. State licensed professional. Open porches more than six feet wide may require engineering if they REQUIRED PLAN don’t meet the prescriptive details INFORMATION attached. A plans examiner first reviews your Check with Kitsap County plans and identifies potential Department of Community problems. If the plans are incomplete Development (DCD) to find your or incorrect, the plans examiner will property’s required setbacks (see request additional or corrected brochure #47—Setbacks). Setbacks from property information. To help the project go smoothly, the lines vary depending on the zoning district your home plans must be complete and show as much is located in. Some communities have other zoning information as possible. See the examples below to provisions that may apply to a porch, including lot create the plans and drawings for your project. coverage or screening. Remember, the more information shown on the If you hire someone to build your porch, s/he must be plans, the more likely your project will be successful. a licensed contractor,—it is the law in Washington State. To verify your contractor’s licensing, contact Construction Plans the Bremerton office of the Washington State Construction plans do not need to be professionally Department of Labor and Industries (phone: 360-415- drawn, but must include all of the information 4000; or the website: www.L&I.wa.gov). requested, and be neat, legible, and drawn to scale. A porch is typically a covered deck or patio supported At a minimum, plans should include the following on posts and individual pier footings. An addition is items: typically an enclosed, heated expansion of living  Plan view showing space. Additions require a full continuous foundation o Overall dimensions of proposed carport/porch system, whereas covered decks and porches usually o Doors and windows from adjacent structure’s do not. If an existing porch is to be converted to rooms enclosed, heated living space, it is considered an o Use of adjacent structure’s rooms addition and it must comply with all building code  Elevations showing overall height requirements (including a full foundation) the same  Structural Details including: as any other addition would. o Footings o Porches Attached to Mobile Homes Stairs/railings (if applicable) o Cross section drawing All structural connections (including porches) to a o Size and spacing of framing members mobile/manufactured home must be approved by o Type and specie of lumber used Washington State Department of Labor and o Type of roof sheathing, underlayment and Industries Bremerton office (360-415-4000). See covering brochure #42—Mobile/Manufactured Homes. o Method of attachment to existing structure

Kitsap County Department of Community Development Phone: (360) 337-5777 614 Division Street, MS-36 Form Number: 2405B Port Orchard, WA 98366-4682 Email: [email protected] www.kitsapgov.com/dcd/ Page 1 of 4 Revision Date: 11/1/16 General Building Codes for Covered 7. Handrails are required on all stairways having 4 Porches/Carports or more risers. Handrails may not be less than 1. The bottom of the footings must be extended 1.25" nor more than 2" in cross sectional area below grade a minimum of 12". Pier blocks are (diameter). Handrails must be installed not prohibited. neither less than 34" nor more than 38" above the nosing (front edge) of treads and they must be 2. Porches need to be designed for a 40 pound per returned to a wall or post at the ends (see square foot live load. All parts of the porch brochure #67— Hand and Guard Rail (including horizontal members such as beams, Requirements). joists, ledger boards decking; and vertical members such as posts, poles, and columns) 8. Carport floor surfaces shall be of approved must be constructed of pressure-treated wood or noncombustible material (typically concrete). approved wood with natural resistance to decay. Asphalt surfaces shall be permitted at ground Ledger boards must be bolted or lagged to the level in carports. building and all connections between the deck 9. The area of floor used for parking of automobiles and dwelling must be flashed with metal flashing. or other vehicles shall be sloped to facilitate the 3. Columns and posts exposed to the weather or movement of liquids to a drain or toward the main water splash must be pressure treated and vehicle entry doorway. supported by and connected to concrete piers or 10. Carports not open on at least two sides shall be metal pedestals projecting above grade. considered a garage and shall comply with the 4. Covered porches & carports that exceed the provisions of the section for garages. maximum length from structure will require a Kitsap County Prescriptive Porch Details lateral bracing design prepared by an engineer or architect licensed by the state of Washington. Generally, all porches/carports that exceed 6 feet Engineering must be complete with calculations from a braced wall line (a building’s exterior wall) and must have the original stamp and signature require a lateral bracing design prepared by an of the engineer/architect. Alternatively, see the architect or engineer licensed by the state of Kitsap County prescriptive porch details below. Washington. 5. All covered porches, with open sides or stairs However, Kitsap County has developed the following which are more than 30" above grade or a floor prescriptive methods of constructing relatively simple below must be protected by a guardrail not less porches and carports. In order to use the following than 36" high (including common areas of multi- methods, strict adherence to the requirements below family dwellings). Open guardrails and stair is necessary. railings require intermediate rails or an See Figure 1 for porches with a shed roof attached to ornamental pattern such that a ball 4" in diameter an existing structure. See Figure 2 for porches with a cannot pass through. gable-type roof attached to an existing structure. 6. If a stairway is to be provided, it must be not less Any variations or alternate materials (such as than 36" wide. Stairs may have a 7 3/4-inch different shapes, aluminum sunrooms, etc.) will maximum rise (height) and a 10-inch minimum require a full lateral and vertical design prepared by run (length). The largest tread rise and tread run an architect or engineer licensed by the state of may not exceed the smallest corresponding tread Washington. rise or run by more than 3/8 inch (see stairs).

Kitsap County Department of Community Development Phone: (360) 337-5777 614 Division Street, MS-36 Form Number: 2405B Port Orchard, WA 98366-4682 Email: [email protected] www.kitsapgov.com/dcd/ Page 2 of 4 Revision Date: 11/1/16 Figure 1: Prescriptive Construction Details for a Residential Porch or Attached Carport – Shed Roof

Kitsap County Department of Community Development Phone: (360) 337-5777 614 Division Street, MS-36 Form Number: 2405B Port Orchard, WA 98366-4682 Email: [email protected] www.kitsapgov.com/dcd/ Page 3 of 4 Revision Date: 11/1/16 Figure 2: Prescriptive Construction Details: Residential Porch or Attached Carport—Gable Roof